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A first-round NCAA Division III football playoff game will be staged at Central College this Saturday as the Dutch tackle a Texas powerhouse, the University. of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Game time is noon at Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium. It’s a top-10 matchup as Central is rated 5th in the American Football Coaches Association poll while Mary Hardin-Baylor is 9th. In the D3football.com rankings, Central is 6th and Mary Hardin-Baylor is 7th. It’s the 20th NCAA Division III playoff appearance for the Dutch. Only Mount Union (Ohio), and Washington and Jefferson (Pa.) have more, with 21.
Central captured a record 30th Iowa Conference title and its fourth in five seasons. The Dutch recorded their 17th undefeated regular season and their third in four years. Central, 6-4 a year ago, is 47-8 over the past five seasons.