Dutch Ground Attack, Defense Clobbers Beavers in Football Victory
Outgaining Buena Vista University by 424 yards, the Central College football team was dominant Saturday in a 52-0 road win heard live on 92.1 KRLS.
The Dutch had 554 yards of total offense including 334 on the ground while limiting the Beavers to just 130 yards. Sophomore running back Jase Grunder had his name called early and often, carrying the ball eight straight times on Central’s opening drive for 77 yards, before finishing it off with a 41-yard score. Grunder finished the game with 26 carries for 190 yards and two rushing touchdowns, and also caught a seven-yard touchdown in the third quarter. He’s the first Central running back to hit 190 yards in a single game since Josh Osborn did it against Albion College in September of 2013.
Central added a 24-yard field goal by Logan Sunvold early in the second quarter. The Dutch only had four possessions in the first half and under 12 minutes of time of possession. The Beaver offense tallied 70 of its 130 yards on its only possession of the second quarter. A first and goal from the 8-yardline did not yield any points, as the Dutch made three stops and forced a field goal that went wide. Buena Vista had just 23 yards and one first down in the second half.
Linebacker Cael Fiderlein led the team with 13 tackles, while defensive tackle Ethan Thomas had six tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. The Dutch defense forced a punt to start the second half and the offense needed just five plays and 47 yards to push the lead to 17-0 on Grunder’s TD catch. Central caught Buena Vista off guard on the ensuing kickoff as Sunvold recovered his own onside kick to give the Dutch the ball back.
Six plays and 52 yards later, quarterback Hunter Hoffman found receiver Cam Schulte for a 34-yard touchdown grab down the sideline. Hoffman had a third touchdown pass in the third quarter after a Ben DeMeulenaere interception set up an 18-yard pitch and catch to wide receiver Brendan Bogaard. Hoffman finished with 200 yards passing and three touchdowns while completing 10 of 14 attempts.
A pair of Dutch freshmen scored their first collegiate rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Cole Duty ran it in from 46 yards out while Kaden Abbas capped the scoring with a five-yard plunge. Eli Rouse also had seven carries for 19 yards and Cody Klein gained 14 yards on four touches.
Central returns to Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium next Saturday, hosting Simpson College for Homecoming at 1 pm.
Dutch Volleyball Captures Two Sweeps Saturday
A triangular hosted by Concordia University – Chicago (Ill.) yielded a pair of three-set victories for the Central volleyball team on Saturday. The Dutch beat Lawrence University (Wis.) 25-17, 25-20, 25-21 in its first game and then beat the hosts 25-21, 25-10, 25-19.
Against Concordia, middle hitter Kaitlyn Mumm had a team-high 10 kills and chipped in three blocks and three service aces. Middle hitter Emma Wagler also had four blocks in the match. Right-side hitter Kaitlyn Koel also had nine kills against the host team. Libero Colleen Kenney had a team-high 15 digs while setter Makayla Ribble led the team with 18 assists. Against Lawrence, Landry Pacha led the team with seven kills and setter Avery Rexroat had 16 assists. Wagler had three more blocks and outside hitter Leslie Snow led the team with three service aces. Kenney had 13 digs.
The Dutch start American Rivers Conference play next Friday with a 6 pm match against Luther College at P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium.
Central Women’s Soccer Falls in American Rivers Conference Opener
Competing in their first American Rivers Conference game of the season, the Central women’s soccer team fell to Simpson College 3-1.
The Dutch were outshot by Simpson 30-7 and 12-2 with shots on goal. Goalkeeper Zoey Sizemore collected nine saves in the loss. The Storm opened the scoring in the fourth minute, then added on to their lead in the 56th minute. Three minutes later, Central midfielder Kylie Bloomstrom scored for the third straight match, with Amber Santana assisting the goal on a corner kick. Simpson answered back with their third goal in the 64th minute to cap off the scoring.
The Dutch return to action next Saturday, traveling east to take on the University of Dubuque at 1 pm.
Central Men’s Soccer Fights Back to Earn Draw Against Simpson
After a second half battle, the Central College men’s soccer team earned a 1-1 draw in their first American Rivers Conference match against Simpson College on Saturday.
After a slow start and letting in an own goal in the first half, the Dutch outshot Simpson 9-8 in the second half. Central’s only goal came off the foot of Coleman Manuel, who scored his first goal of the season off an assist from Teddy Apostolopoulos. Goalkeeper Ronan Murphy grabbed seven saves, only allowing the own goal.
The Dutch return to the pitch next Saturday, going on the road to face the University of Dubuque at 3:30 pm.
Central Women’s Tennis Dominates Singles Matches at Loras
After losing the doubles point in a tiebreaker, the Central women’s tennis team took five out of six singles matches to grab a 5-2 win against Loras College Saturday.
Madi Whalen and Kalina Schubert were the lone doubles match winners when they won 6-3 at No. 3 doubles. Becca Vala and Jenna Mitsuko Mahoney battled at No.2 doubles, but lost in a tiebreak 7-6. The Dutch won three of the singles matches in three sets. Mahoney won her match 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 at No. 2, Vala won 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 at No. 3, and Lauren Gano won 7-5, 1-6, 6-4 at No. 4. Emily Blom took care of business at No. 5 singles, winning 6-0, 6-3. Keleigh Hall added the final win at No. 6, 6-1, 6-4.
The Dutch have three matches this week, beginning with a home match against Buena Vista University on Wednesday at 5:30 pm at the Pella High School tennis courts.