PELLA, Iowa. – The 2021 American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) champion Central Dutch (11-0) football team opened up the NCAA Division III Playoffs with a 61-35 home field victory over Bethel University (8-3) out of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC). A 14-0 lead within the first five-and-a-half minutes and a Dutch kicking game that won the battle of field position kept Central in the drivers seat from start to finish. 

Next up for Head Coach Jeff McMartin's Dutch are the Thunder of Wheaton College, Ill. (10-1).  No. 10 Central will face No. 6 Wheaton next Saturday, November 27 at a site to be determined. The NCAA will announce game locations tomorrow. The Thunder defeated Aurora, Ill. (8-3) 63-31 in Wheaton, Ill. this afternoon in another first round matchup.

Central amassed over 500 yards of total offense for the 10th time this season, passing for 331 yards and rushing for 170 yards. This all while starting in Bethel territory 6-out-of-14 drives. 
 
From the quarterback position, Central's Blaine Hawkins, A-R-C Offensive Player of the Year, tallied seven touchdown passes, bringing his season total to 57, just five shy of the all-time NCAA Division III record of 62. He finished the day 27-of-41 for 331 yards passing and added 52 yards rushing on 10 carries. Hawkins' top target was Tanner Schminke, who hauled in 12 receptions for 194 yards and two touchdowns. Erick Knaack snagged five receptions for 55 yards and one touchdown, followed by Jeff Herbers and Grant Nelson, each with four receptions. Herbers recorded 47 yards and two scores, while Nelson picked up 25 yards and one TD grab. 

The Dutch's leading rusher on the day was Jason Hopp, who carried the ball 25 times for 115 yards. Hopp added 10 yards receiving and a critical third quarter reception that resulted in a touchdown. A-R-C Defensive Player of the Year, Central defensive lineman Blade Durbala made his debut on the offensive side of the ball today. Durbala first converted a crucial fourth-and-one rush for the Dutch and next touted the ball on two carries from the one yard line, scoring on his second attempt. 

Linebacker Josh Van Gysel led the Dutch defense with 14 tackles, including eight solo stops, one tackle for loss, and two interceptions. Brayden Egli and Brody Klein each had 10 tackles. Klein had one tackle for loss and both recorded one pass break-up. 

A-R-C first-team All-Conference place kicker Logan Sunvold had a pivotal day for the Dutch, going 2-for-2 on field goals from distances of 21 and 37 yards. He was also a perfect 7-for-7 on extra points and a key reason Central was able to own the field position battle, averaging 57.1 yards per kick off with three touchbacks. 

A program rich in football tradition, Central claimed the school’s 32nd conference crown to earn their place in this year's 32-team Division III playoff field as the A-R-C's automatic qualifier. It also marks the 22nd time in program history that Central is in the Division III playoffs.

After finishing runner-up in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW), the Thunder earned an at-large bid to the to the 2021 NCAA Division III Playoffs. Wheaton is making its 12th overall appearance in the Division III Playoffs.