Central Passes by Dubuque for Football Victory
Spreading the ball around Saturday afternoon, the Central College football team secured a 38-21 win on the road at the University of Dubuque heard live on 92.1 KRLS.
The Dutch (6-2, 4-2 American Rivers Conference) racked up 333 yards through the air as starting quarterback Brady Ketchum completed 24 of 32 passes. Cam Schulte headlined the wide receivers with three touchdowns and 134 receiving yards on just six catches. Ryan Neu also had five catches and 65 yards with a touchdown. Running back Jase Grunder had 32 carries, totaling 122 yards and a touchdown.
The game’s pivotal sequence happened near the end of the second quarter with Central clinging to a 21-7 lead. Dubuque scored a touchdown on third and goal but had the score nullified by a chop block personal foul penalty. The Spartans were forced to kick a 36-yard field goal, which Dutch defensive lineman Ethan Thomas blocked. Three plays later, Ketchum found Schulte for a 74-yard catch and run to go in front 28-7 right before halftime.
Defensively, the Dutch yielded a season-high 419 yards, including 338 passing yards. Yet, Central was able to get stops when they needed, including the game’s only turnover with a fourth-quarter interception by cornerback Gavin Smith. Central’s pass rush recorded three sacks and seven quarterback hurries. Defensive end Nick Bandy led the Dutch in both categories with 1.5 sacks and a pair of hurries. Thomas also had a solo sack with defensive lineman Tate Hagen recording a half sack. Linebacker Cael Fiderlein had a team-high 10 tackles while fellow linebackers Reid Pakkebier and Cole Clark each had nine. Pakkebier had two solo tackles for loss and two pass break-ups.
Central returns home next Saturday, hosting Loras College for Senior Day at 1 pm.
Dutch Win Twice in Volleyball Triangular
Stepping into non-conference play for the final time this season, the Central College volleyball team defeated both Lake Forest College (Ill.) and Illinois College Saturday afternoon.
Central (18-7) started by beating Lake Forest 25-12, 25-21, 18-25, 25-12 before sweeping the hosts from Illinois College 25-18, 25-18, 25-20. Outside hitters Gracie Pierson and Paige Sexton each had nine kills to lead the Dutch against the Forresters. Makayla Ribble had a team-high 22 assists, while libero Colleen Kenney had 25 digs and middle hitter Kaitlyn Mumm had five blocks. Pierson added another 10 kills against Illinois College. Ribble added 13 assists and Kenney had five of the team’s 10 service aces.
Central hosts Wartburg College next Friday at 6 pm for a critical American Rivers Conference match.
Eighmy Leads Central Women’s Soccer in Win
Piper Eighmy recorded a natural hat-trick in the Central College women’s soccer team’s 6-0 win against Nebraska Wesleyan University Saturday.
Eighmy scored her first goal in the sixth minute, taking advantage of a corner kick from MiMi Pavelka. In the 17th minute Eighmy struck again on an assist from Alli Seegers, before completing the hat trick just after halftime in the 46th minute from Amber Santana’s assist. Central (10-5-2, 3-2-2 American Rivers) continued the scoring when Grace Coates scored her sixth goal of the season on Seegers’ second assist. Santana added a goal to her assist in the 53rd minute scoring her fifth goal of the season after a shot from Kylie Bloomstrom. The final goal for the Dutch came on a converted penalty kick by Coates in the 65th minute. The team outshot Nebraska Wesleyan 28-7 along with shots on goal with 13-1. Goalkeeper Zoey Sizemore saved the only shot she faced.
The Dutch travel to Dubuque Tuesday to close their regular season, taking on Loras at 3:30 p.m.
Central Men’s Soccer Falls to Nebraska Wesleyan
Despite holding possession for 60 percent of the game, the Central College men’s soccer team fell to Nebraska Wesleyan University 3-0.
The Dutch (7-7-2, 3-3-1 American Rivers) were outshot 11-8, along with 7-2 in shots on goal. Nebraska Wesleyan opened the scoring in the 12th minute before adding goals in the 34th and 69th minutes. Ethan Rodriguez and Lucas Bartachek were the two Central players to put a shot on goal.
The Dutch finish up the regular season Tuesday, traveling to Dubuque to take on Loras College at 1 pm.