Preseason expectations are always high for the Central College football team, but they’ve reached another level for 2021 as Dutch fans dream of a deep playoff run.

Central went 10-2 in 2019, won a share of the American Rivers Conference championship and advanced to the second round of the playoffs.  A loaded senior class was expected to take the next step in 2020, but covid limited the Dutch to just a pair of games this past spring.

Joining us on last night’s Central College Radio Coaches Corner, head coach Jeff McMartin says that most of those 2020 seniors are taking advantage of a blanket NCAA waiver to give it one more go.

“Eighteen of what would have been our seniors last year came back.  So we have 18 fifth year seniors to add to what would be our true senior class this year.  So a lot of the names and faces will be familiar, and those are guys that have helped us have success in the past.”

That large group of fifth year seniors includes an anchor on each side of the ball – record setting quarterback Blaine Hawkins and preseason All-American defensive lineman Blade Durbala.

Central opens the 2021 season this Saturday in Northfield, Minnesota against St. Olaf.  You can follow the Dutch all season long with live play-by-play of every game, home and away, on 92.1 KRLS, www.kniakrls.com and the free KRLS mobile app.