The Central College football team came through in the clutch once again. Fans vividly recall the last-second walk-off Dutch touchdown for a 30-28 second-round NCAA Division III playoff win over Wheaton College (Ill.) on November 27th. But for freshman defensive lineman Brock Jackson and his family, the squad’s magic moment was Sunday when 30-40 players, traveling on their own on short notice, arrived at the Jackson’s farm home near Runnells. The family’s house and farm buildings sustained significant damage in the tornado that ripped through parts of south-central Iowa Saturday evening.

After the stunned family eyed the damaged buildings along with the branches and personal belongings that littered the yard and nearby fields Saturday night, Jackson turned to Head Coach Jeff McMartin for help. He contacted Coach McMartin at 9:30 p.m. and the veteran coach sent out a plea. By 9 a.m. the next morning, the stream of players arrived at the farm.

Jackson’s parents and siblings took shelter in his grandmother’s nearby home as the tornado approached about 7 p.m. Jackson was out for dinner when the storm hit, but immediately raced home. The house lost part of the roof and several windows. Some storage buildings were destroyed, and a corn crib was damaged. Trees that were still standing were stripped bare. The Dutch players were among 150 family friends and relatives who assisted with the clean-up.

An aunt was also forced out of an adjacent home, leaving the entire family at Jackson’s grandmother’s home while repairs are completed, and power is restored. Before repairs can be made, a structural engineer will need to assess the Jackson family home.