More D3football.com selections for Central

Central College

PELLA — Following a 587-yard, 43-point outburst over the weekend, the Central

College football team received a pair of offensive spots on the D3football.com team of the week.

Central’s starting offensive line of left tackle Yaqoob Ahmad (senior, Gilbert, Ariz., Dobson HS), left guard Kyle Pepper (senior, Overland Park, Kan., Blue Valley Southwest HS), center Josh Brunk (junior, West Des Moines, Valley HS), right guard Cole Tanner (senior, Greenfield, Orient-Macksburg HS) and right tackle Cal Smith (junior, Orland Park, Ill., Carl Sandburg HS) were chosen as a unit. Also, S-back Kyle Gritsch (junior, Brooklyn, BGM HS) was chosen for the team as an H-back, a hybrid position combining the fullback and tight end skill sets.

A dominating performance up front helped Central to a total of 587 yards on 87 plays, an average of 6.7 yards per snap. Keeping the Nebraska Wesleyan pass rush at bay, the Dutch didn’t allow a sack on 45 pass attempts. Central has had 500 yards of total offense in six of seven games this season and are No. 7 in Division III with an average of 530.7 yards per game.

Gritsch is listed as an S-back but also lined up at wide receiver, tight end, and running back in Saturday’s game. He caught two first-half touchdown passes and finished the game with six catches for 62 yards. He has five touchdown receptions in 2016 on 25 total catches.

Central players have now received the award six times this season. Wide receiver Sam Markham (senior, Atlantic) has been honored twice while defensive end Edwin Etienne (senior, Lehigh Acres, Fla., Riverdale HS) and cornerback Trevor Smith (Audobon) each have one selection. In the 18-year history of the award, Central has had 33 recipients, tied for the most by any Iowa Conference school.

Central will host Wartburg College on Saturday at 1 p.m. from Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium.