The normally high-flying quick-strike Central College football team used a ground and pound approach in a convincing 37-7 victory over Nebraska Wesleyan Saturday afternoon as heard live on 92.1 KRLS.

The 16th-ranked Dutch rushed 63 times for 364 yards, including 25 carries and 170 yards from Jason Hopp.  Coach Jeff McMartin said that game flow dictated that the Dutch continue to pound the rock.

“I thought that we ran the ball pretty well other than the turnovers.  We’ve got to hold onto the football, I’m disappointed in that.  But overall we ran the ball well, and we really didn’t throw the ball like we have been.”

Quarterback Blaine Hawkins was 9-of-19 for 164 yards and two touchdowns, and Tanner Schminke caught five passes for 120 yards and a score.  The Dutch defense forced two turnovers, picked up a pair of sacks and limited Nebraska Wesleyan to just 236 yards of offense.

Central starts American Rivers Conference play at 1-0 and is 3-0 overall.  They’ll head to Indianola next Saturday to take on rival Simpson.

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