Central Dutch Advances to Quarterfinals of NCAA Division III Playoffs in Walk-Off Fashion

11/27/2021 7:29:41 PM

PELLA, Iowa. – The 2021 American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) champion Central Dutch (12-0) football team advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2021 NCAA Division III Playoffs with a 30-28 home field victory over Wheaton College (10-2) out of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW). The Dutch were playing from behind in the second half until a touchdown with 8:47 remaining in the fourth quarter put them up 24-21. Wheaton scored with 2:41 remaining in the game to take the lead back. Central scored on a last-second touchdown to secure their spot in the quarterfinals of this year’s playoffs.
 
Next up for Head Coach Jeff McMartin’s Dutch are the Warhawks of University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (12-0). No. 8 Central will face No. 3 UW-Whitewater next Saturday, December 4 at a site to be determined. The NCAA will announce game locations tomorrow. The Warhawks defeated DePauw University (9-3) 45-0 in Whitewater, Wis. this afternoon in another second round matchup.
 
Central recorded over 440 yards of total offense, passing for 434 yards and rushing for just eight yards.
 
From the quarterback position, Central’s Blaine Hawkins, A-R-C Offensive Player of the Year, tallied four touchdown passes, bringing his season total to 61, just one shy of the all-time NCAA Division III record of 62. He finished the day 41-of-65 for 434 yards passing. The fifth-year senior converted on one of his two, two-point conversions. Hawkins’ top target was Jeff Herbers, who hauled in 16 receptions for 163 yards and one touchdown. Tanner Schminke snagged 13 receptions for 151 yards and two touchdowns, with one of them being in the final seconds, and hauled in a two-point conversion. Following Herbers and Schminke, Jason Hopp picked up five receptions and one touchdown, and Erik Knaack tallied four receptions. Hopp recorded 51 yards, while Knaack picked up 27 yards.
 
Linebacker Josh Van Gysel led the Dutch defense with 16 tackles, including eight solo stops, one forced fumble, and one pass break-up. Hunter Maddy had nine tackles, including one tackle for loss for two yards.
 
A-R-C first-team All-Conference place kicker Logan Sunvold had another outstanding day for the Dutch, making his only field goal try of the day from 27 yards. He also made his only extra point attempt. Sunvold averaged 60.0 yards per kick off with four 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. This year is the first time since 2007 the Dutch advance to the quarterfinals of the Division III Playoffs.
 
After winning the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC), the Warhawks earned the conference’s automatic bid to the 2021 NCAA Division III Playoffs. UW-Whitewater is making its 15th overall appearance in the Division III Quarterfinals
 
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