CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The 2021 American Rivers Conference champion, Central College (12-0) is set to compete in the quarterfinals of the 2021 NCAA Division III Football Playoffs. After a win over No. 6-ranked Wheaton (30-28) in walk-off fashion, the Dutch are traveling to Whitewater, Wisconsin to take on No. 3-ranked UW-Whitewater (12-0) on Saturday, December 4^th.
 
Central College will be entering into the quarterfinals of the Playoffs and is the second American Rivers Conference team to advance to the quarterfinals after Wartburg College in 2017.
 
The Dutch are advancing to the quarterfinals after a 30-28 home field victory over No. 6-ranked Wheaton (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.
 
Central Dutch At-A-Glance - (all rankings in NCAA Statistics):

• Perfect record coming into the game, 12-0
• The Dutch are making the Playoffs for the second consecutive season.
• 22 NCAA Division III playoff appearances
• 23-20 all-time record in the Playoffs
• Non-conference win over St. Olaf College (MIAC)
• Scored 50+ points in six of nine A-R-C games
• AQ bid from the A-R-C and conference champions
• 1 of 7 teams left in NCAA DIII who are undefeated
• 4^th Down Conversion Percentage – 0.774 (5^th) 
• Completion Percentage – 0.717 (2^nd)
• First Down Offense – 365 (1^st)
• Passing Offense – 403.5 (1^st)
• Punt Return Defense – 0.38 (2^nd)
• Red Zone Offense – 0.893 (8^th)
• Scoring Offense – 56.2 (2^nd)
• Team Passing Efficiency – 195.96 (1^st)
• Total Offense – 595.3 yards (1^st)
• SR QB Blaine Hawkins – Completion Percentage – 0.717 (4th), Completions Per Game – 25.33 (9^th), Passing Efficiency – 199.3 (1^st), Passing TD – 61 (1^st), Passing Yards – 4,189 (1^st), Passing Yards Per Game – 349.1 (2^nd),  Points Responsible For – 398 (1^st), Points Responsible For Per Game – 33.2 (1^st), Total Offense – 371.4 (2^nd), Yards per Pass Attempt – 9.88 yards (4^th).
• SO K Logan Sunvold – Field Goal Percentage – 0.833 (8^th)
• SR WR Tanner Schminke – Receiving TDs – 19 (1^st), Receiving Yards – 1,421 (1^st), Receiving Yards Per Game – 118.4 yards (5^th)
• JR WR Jeff Herbers – Receiving TDs – 14 (7^th)

 
The Warhawk are advancing to the quarterfinals after defeating DePauw 45-0 in Whitewater, Wis. on Saturday, November 27^th. Senior runningback, Alex Peete, led the Warhawks wit 14 carries for 209 yards and four touchdowns, tying the program record for the most scoirng runs in one game in program history. Max Meylor, senior quarterback for the Warhawks, completed 13-of-20 passes for 208 yards and one touchdown while adding a rushing touchdown. The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) foe, UW-Whitewater entered the NCAA Football Playoffs with an AQ bid after taking home the conference title.
 
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater At-A-Glance - (all rankings in NCAA Statistics):

• 12-0 record coming into the game
• The Thunder are making the Playoffs for the 16th time in program history
• Since 2005, UW-Whitewater has been NCAA National Champions six times, National Runner-Up four times, and National Semifinalist twice, and one-time National Quarterfinalists.
• In 2019, the Warhawks were National Runner-Up
• 58-11 all-time record in the Playoffs
• Scored 40+ points in seven of twelve opponents this year
• Earned an at-large bid to enter the Playoffs
• 1 of 7 teams left in NCAA DIII who are undefeated
• 4^th Down Conversion Percentage – 0.769 (7^th)
• Completion Percentage – 0.688 (6^th)
• Rushing Defense – 62.0 (6^th)
• Scoring Defense – 10.5 (4^th)
• Team Passing Efficiency – 177.21 (6^th)
• SR QB Max Meylor – Completion Percentage – 0.701 (6^th), Passing Efficiency – 184.5 (4^th), Passing Touchdowns – 33 (8^th)
• SR RB Alex Peete – Rushing Touchdowns – 22 (2^nd), Scoring – 12.5 (7^th), Total Points Scored – 150 (1^st), Total Touchdowns – 25 (1^st)

This will be the fourth time the Dutch and the Warhawks will be meeting, dating all the way back to 1966 (1966, 1988, 2005). For the first time since 2005, the two teams will be battling it out to see who survives and advances to the semifinal round of the 2021 NCAA Football Playoffs. The winner of the quarterfinal round will take on the winner of the quarterfinal round matchup between No. 7-ranked Linfield (11-0) and No. 2-ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor (12-0) at Crusader Stadium in Belton, Texas.

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