Photo by Dan L. Vander Beek Photography

The 9th-ranked Central College football team has already locked up the American Rivers Conference championship and a berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs.  Today, the Dutch travel to Storm Lake to take on Buena Vista with their eyes set on capping off an undefeated regular season.

In 113 seasons dating back to 1903, Central has had 16 such seasons.  Coach Jeff McMartin says that the opportunity for number 17 is special.

“When you look at it comparatively through the history of our program, it’s rare air.  You can have a really good team and still not be undefeated.  You can have a conference winning team and not be undefeated.  What that does is make a big statement about what kind of football team you are, and we’ve talked all this year about trying to separate ourselves – separate ourselves from our competition and do things differently, be a different team.  And when you go 10-0, you’ve separated yourself from everybody else.”

Central is also looking to close strong in what has been without question the greatest offensive season in school history.  The Dutch have broken numerous program records, both individually and as a team.  They enter the final week of the regular season as the number one offense in the entire NCAA, regardless of division, in terms of both yards per game (620.3) and points per game (58.3).

Temperatures are expected to stay in the 30’s for the game this afternoon off the shores of Storm Lake on what will be by far the chilliest game of the season for the Dutch.  Kickoff is at 1:00, and Trevor Castle and Don DeWaard will call the action on 92.1 KRLS, beginning with pregame at 12:35.