Another chapter in the storied history of the Central College football team begins today in Pella. The 14th-ranked Dutch will open the 2022 season at home against St. Olaf.

The two teams squared off in Minnesota one year ago, and Central’s 46-27 victory was a springboard to a record-setting 12-1 season that stretched all the way to the national quarterfinals.

Change is constant in college football, and the bad news for Dutch fans is that five All-Americans from last year are gone, including Gagliardi Award winning quarterback Blaine Hawkins. The good news is that five starters return on defense, four starters return on offense, and all 22 starters saw significant varsity action last season as Central was able to empty its bench week after week as most games were essentially over at halftime.

One game that wasn’t was the season opener against the Oles. Central’s 19-point win was its narrowest of the regular season, and Dutch head coach Jeff McMartin expects another battle today.

“St. Olaf has a good football team and they’re well coached”, McMartin said. “We’re really new in a lot of areas, so we’re going to learn a lot about ourselves. You just have to keep your mistakes to a minimum. You’re going to make some, but don’t make too many. It’s going to be an exciting challenge to learn more about ourselves and get started. You have to start somewhere and we’re going to start today.”

The biggest question this offseason is who will start at quarterback, replacing Hawkins. Sophomore Brady Ketchum, who was the top backup last season, gets the first chance, while fellow sophomore Cooper Downs, a transfer from St. John’s, is likely to see action today as well.

Kickoff is at 1:00 at Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium in Pella. We’ll have live coverage beginning with pregame at 12:35 on 92.1 KRLS, the free KNIA/KRLS app and www.centraldutchnetwork.com.