The Central College football team started slow, and had to hold on late, earning a 35-29 win at Nebraska Wesleyan to stay atop the American Rivers Conference standings.

Down 3-0 at the end of the first quarter, Central went ahead on a 1-yard Nathan Fitzgerald run on the first play of the second.  The Prairie Wolves then marched down the field for a go-ahead touchdown, before the Dutch went ahead for good on a 4-yard catch by Eric Knaack.

The Dutch took a 14-9 lead into the locker room, and eventually built a 35-16 advantage early in the fourth.  But Nebraska Wesleyan scored back-to-back touchdowns before the Central defense forced a critical punt and the offense chewed up the rest of the clock.

Donny Groezinger ran for a career high 145 yards, part of a 287-yard ground game for the Dutch.  Blaine Hawkins shook off two early interceptions to complete 22-of-29 passes for 190 yards and three scores.

The 23rd-ranked Dutch are 6-0 overall and 4-0 in A.R.C. play.  They’ll host Simpson in a pivotal league matchup on Saturday.