Dutch blank Prairie Wolves in football finale
LINCOLN, NEB.- Forcing turnovers at the right times helped the Central College football team to a 32-0 shutout against Nebraska Wesleyan University Saturday afternoon.
Central (8-2, 6-2 American Rivers Conference) held Nebraska Wesleyan (3-7, 2-6 conference) scoreless for the third consecutive year. The Dutch allowed just 187 yards of total offense while reaching 404 yards themselves.
The Dutch struck first with an opening drive touchdown when Jase Grunder (sophomore, running back, Tampico, Ill., Prophetstown HS) took a handoff on 3rd and 1 and went 56 yards for a score. Grunder totaled 150 yards on 21 carries.
“We had a really good play call in a short yardage situation,” coach Jeff McMartin said. “Our line and tight ends did a good job of blocking it up and executing it. It was a huge play and great momentum.”
Central added 10 points in the second quarter with a 1-yard Cam Schulte (sophomore, Pella) touchdown catch and a 27-yard field goal by Logan Sunvold (fifth year, Monroe, Southeast Polk HS).
Starting the second half with a 17-0 lead, the Dutch forced and recovered fumbles on consecutive drives. The second was a strip sack by linebacker Josh Dennison on 2nd and goal from the 4-yard line recovered by Nick Bandy (senior, Dubuque, Wahlert Catholic HS). Central launched a 12-play 82-yard drive that was punctuated by a 2-yard plunge by Grunder on the opening play of the fourth quarter.
Central’s third fumble recovery was also forced by Dennison and this time Austin Burns (fifth year, Williamsburg) recovered it on Central’s 35-yard line late in the fourth quarter. It ended just the third drive Nebraska Wesleyan had in Dutch territory. Reid Pakkebier’s (senior, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy) blocked field goal in the first quarter also thwarted the Prairie Wolves.
“Reid’s block and Josh’s sack were both in or very near the red zone,” McMartin said. “We even recovered a fumble on their last offensive possession to keep the shutout.”
Central’s final touchdown of the season came from a most unlikely player. Offensive lineman Kade Tippett (senior, Eldridge, North Scott HS) flipped from his normal right tackle position over to the left tackle and caught a two-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Hunter Hoffman (junior, Pecatonica, Ill.).
“I’m happy for Kade and offensive linemen everywhere,” McMartin said. “Kade’s a great athlete who played soccer and wrestled in high school. He has really good hands to begin with so I knew that him catching it wasn’t going to be a problem.”
McMartin had high praise for two of Central’s specialists. Sunvold made all four of his kick attempts today to finish a perfect season while Burns averaged 53 yards on his two punts, both of which were touchbacks.
“Logan’s going to do down as one of the most accurate and successful kickers in Central history. “Austin had his best year ever for us and I think he’s the best punter in Division III.”
Linebacker Cole Clark (senior, Lisbon) had a team-high 10 tackles with a sack and 2.0 tackles for loss. Cael Fiderlein (senior, linebacker, West Branch) added nine tackles.
Central will graduate 33 seniors or fifth-year seniors off this year but still have plenty of depth and talent returning for 2025.
“This group has been great leaders and great players,” McMartin said “I’ve really appreciated everything they’ve done. They’ve left the jersey in a better place and unified our team.
“We have a good core group of men coming back. We’ll have some spots to fill for sure but we have a lot of good young players waiting in the wings that are ready for that challenge.”
