After seeing a 17-point lead erased, the Central College football team mustered one last score to earn a victory in the 2022 season finale Saturday, 24-21 at Dubuque in a game heard live on 92.1 KRLS.

The Dutch started fast, getting a three-and-out on the Spartans’ first drive of the game, then moving 55 yards in nine plays for a Cooper Downs two-yard touchdown. Logan Sunvold booted a 22-yard field goal early in the second quarter, and Downs hit Ryan Neu for his 12th-touchdown reception of the season less than two minutes later, and it looked like Central was in control.

Dubuque scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive, then scored a pair of TDs in a four minute stretch in the third quarter to take a 21-17 lead. But Central answered right back on the following drive, marching 65 yards on 13 plays, capped by another Downs two-yard run.

The Dutch defense sealed the deal with a Cameron Bannister interception on Dubuque’s penultimate drive, then Ben Crist recovered a fumble on a desperation hook-and-ladder play in the final seconds.

Downs completed 23-of-37 passes for 289 yards, and fifth-year running back Jason Hopp closed out his career with a 29 carry, 135 yard effort on the ground.

Central finishes the season with a 7-3 record and a 5-3 mark in the American Rivers Conference, good for fourth place. Wartburg defeated Coe 19-14 Saturday to wrap up an undefeated regular season and clinch the league’s automatic berth into the NCAA playoffs.

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