The 13th-ranked Central College football team dominated Wartburg Saturday, 49-24, earning a statement victory in a game heard live on 92.1 KRLS.

After the Knights kicked a field goal on the opening drive of the game, Central scored the next 21 points on three Blaine Hawkins touchdown passes, and took a 21-10 lead into halftime.

The teams traded third quarter touchdowns before the Dutch forced back-to-back turnovers and scored three straight fourth quarter touchdowns to put the game out of reach.

It’s the first time Central has won two in a row against Wartburg in 14 years, and coach Jeff McMartin says it’s a victory worth savoring.

“It’s nice to be 5-0 and it’s nice to beat a really great team like Wartburg.  They’re fantastic, they’re really well coached and they’ve got some really good kids.  It’s on to the next one now, but we’re going to enjoy this one today.”

Hawkins was 21-of-29 passing for 297 yards and six touchdowns, giving him 21 on the season with no interceptions.  Tanner Schminke, Erik Knaack and Jeff Herbers all caught two touchdown passes, with Schminke leading the way with eight grabs and 135 yards.

Central is now 5-0 on the season and 3-0 in the American Rivers Conference.  Loras (3-0) and Dubuque (2-0) are the other undefeated teams in the league.  Up next for Central is a trip to Cedar Rapids to take on Coe next Saturday.

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