Non-conference road football games for Central College are usually limited to places like Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois. But every once in a while the Dutch will venture far from home when the opportunity allows.

The last of those was in 2016, when Central knocked off Whitworth 50-49 on a two-point conversion in overtime in Spokane, Washington. Today, the Dutch are about 1,200 miles down the coast in Thousand Oaks, California to take on California Lutheran.

Central is 1-0 on the young season, having beaten Illinois Wesleyan 49-14 in their season opener last Saturday in Pella. This is the season opener for the Kingsmen, who went 3-7 in 2023. Dutch coach Jeff McMartin says that they’re trying to keep their guys focused on the task at hand.

“We’re out of our element a little bit and out of our routine. But the nice thing is that we have a veteran team here and I think that’s going to be the message – stay focused, don’t get out of your routine and don’t get distracted. We’re out here with a job to do, and it’s not to sightsee, it’s to win a football game.”

Opening kickoff is at 1:00 at Cal Lutheran, which is 3:00 in Iowa. Trevor Castle and Don DeWaard will call all of the action live on 92.1 KRLS, beginning with pregame at 12:35.