Helle runs for 227 but Central nipped in football OT
Central Dutch Athletics
STORM LAKE—Simultaneously spectacular and frustrating, the Central College football team came away empty following a 39-38 overtime football loss at Buena Vista University Saturday.
Kohle Helle (senior, Guttenberg, Clayton Ridge HS), in his second start at quarterback in place of injured regular Nate Boland (junior, Iowa City, West HS), ran for more yards than any quarterback in Central history, dancing for 227 yards on 26 carries with one touchdown. And running back Nathan Fitzgerald (sophomore, Lowden, North Cedar HS) followed with 123 yards on 22 attempts with two scores as the Dutch churned out 419 rushing yards and 555 yards total offense.
But there were also maddening missteps on both sides of the ball, coach Jeff McMartin said, and after Buena Vista running back TJ Lint tumbled into the end zone for an overtime 2-point conversion, the Dutch were left 0-1 in Iowa Conference play and 1-2 overall. Buena Vista (2-0 overall, 1-0 conference) topped Central for the first time since 2012 and just the third time since 1979. The Dutch hold a lopsided 57-13 advantage in the teams’ all-time series.
“We didn’t execute well in certain situations,” McMartin said. “Turnovers hurt us and we gave up big plays. Also, our special teams didn’t play as well as we needed to, outside of extra points and field goals.”
It was an uphill struggle all day for Central, which still almost pulled off the road win after trailing at halftime 14-13 and 28-21 after three quarters. Tied 28-28, Helle ripped off runs of 15, 20 and 22 yards to help Central get a first down at the BV 5-yard line before Jon Alberts (sophomore, Huntley, Ill.) booted a go-ahead 21-yard field goal with 2:46 left, his third field goal of the game and seventh in two weeks.
“We put ourselves in great position to win the football game, but we needed to score a touchdown on that last drive,” McMartin said. “We’ve got to get better in the red zone and get in the end zone. Our kicker is doing a great job kicking field goals but I’d love to see him kick more extra points.”
Buena Vista raced downfield and was in position for the win with a first down at the Central 2, but this time the Dutch defense answered, forcing a tying field goal.
“That was a big stop,” McMartin said.
With just 19 seconds remaining when Central took over at its own 31, a 30-yard Helle scamper put the Dutch in position to think about a last-second field goal. But instead, an interception nearly proved disastrous. Only tight end P.J. Norem’s (senior, Iowa Falls) tackle at the 8-yard line as time expired prevented a game-ending touchdown.
In overtime, an 18-yard Helle run set up a 2-yard Fitzgerald score for a 38-31 lead. But Buena Vista needed just three plays to answer, leading to the winning 2-point try.
Central outgained the Beavers 555 yards to 463, but gave up 358 yards through the air. BV quarterback Cole Miller completed 26 of 42 passes with three touchdowns and one interception.
Helle connected on 15 of 24 throws for 136 yards with two interceptions and one touchdown.
“Kohle made some really great runs and big plays for us,” McMartin said. “He’s a competitor.”
Wide receiver Sam Markham (senior, Atlantic) had six catches for 70 yards and a score.
Linebacker Sam Norgaard (senior, Naperville, Ill., Neuqua Valley HS) had 11 tackles, including seven solos, with one breakup. Linebacker Chris Neeld (senior, New Boston, Ill., Mercer County HS) had nine stops, including a half sack and a blocked field goal try.
“All of our guys played hard,” McMartin said. “They never quit. They battled.”
Central returns to Pella for its homecoming game next Saturday with Nebraska Wesleyan University. The Prairie Wolves are 0-3 overall and 0-1 in the league, landing some early shots against defending league champion Coe College Saturday before suffering a 35-25 loss. Central was a 43-17 winner at Nebraska Wesleyan last fall. Game time is 1 p.m. at Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium.
“We have to regroup and stay together,” McMartin said. “We need to take it one day at a time and one game at a time, keep our focus and don’t get outside of ourselves.”
