Central and Simpson have played 97 football games against each other, dating back to 1905.  Today adds a new twist to the rivalry, as the Dutch and Storm will square off for the spring football opener for both schools.

Simpson matched up against Buena Vista in a scrimmage last week, which gave coach Matt Jeter a chance to evaluate his team, but Central has yet to take the field.  Jeter says that other than film from the 2019 season, they’ve got nothing to go on as they prepare for the Dutch.

“We’ve still got a game plan, but we haven’t seen them play, so it’s like a first game for us.  Who knows what they’re going to do and who knows who’s going to play.  We just need to make sure that we can get off the bus and get lined up and come out and play and punch somebody in the mouth.”

This is one of just two games for each team, plus a scrimmage.  There’s no conference championship on the line and no playoff berth to chase.  But Central head coach Jeff McMartin says they’ll be playing to win.

“If they say that this is a football game, they’re going to get a football game.  We’ve prepared that way, we’re going to play that way and we’re going to utilize our personnel that way.  We’re going to work hard to play our best and to play our best players.”

Central leads the all-time series 65-29-3 and have won the last six matchups, including a 51-34 victory in Indianola in 2019.  Today’s game will kick off at 1:00 at Ron & Joyce Schipper Stadium in Pella.  Trevor Castle and Andrew Swadner will call the action on both 92.1 KRLS and 94.3 KNIA, beginning with pregame at 12:35.