What was trending towards another dramatic comeback victory for the Central College football team came to a sudden, sour finish Saturday with a 33-30 setback at unbeaten Coe College.
A potential game-tying 22-yard field goal by kicker Aaron Marcellus (senior, Hudson) was blocked with 2 seconds remaining to preserve the victory for Coe (6-0 overall, 4-0 Iowa Conference).
"We just weren't able to make enough plays," coach Jeff McMartin said. "There were things throughout the course of the game we didn't take advantage of."
The Kohawks had taken the lead on a 1-yard keeper by quarterback Gavin Glenn with just 1:26 left, completing a 12-play, 65-yard drive.
But quarterback Riley Gray (senior, West Des Moines, Waukee HS) swiftly maneuvered the Dutch into Coe territory as receiver Sam Markham (senior, Atlantic) and S-back Kyle Gritsch (junior, Brooklyn, BGM HS)came up with key back-to-back grabs for 21- and 22-yard gains, respectively. Central (4-2 overall, 2-2 conference) had a few shots at the end zone but were at the 5-yard line with time nearly expired, forcing the field goal try.
"We had chances, we just weren't able to execute," McMartin said. "But it was a great drive. A lot of people made big plays. The guys were focused, their composure was good and they were very confident. I didn't sense any doubt."
Central had opened the year in even more compelling fashion with a 50-49 overtime win at Whitworth (Wash.) Sept. 3. But the mistakes the Dutch had so deftly avoided in the first four weeks of the season dogged them for a second straight game. Central had just three turnovers in four games, then had six giveaways in a 35-17 loss to the University of Dubuque last week, and saw two lost fumbles lead to Coe scores Saturday. But the Dutch also converted a Coe fumble into a touchdown. The mistakes loomed large, McMartin said.
"You cannot turn it over," he said. "A lot of times teams that turn the ball over are the teams that lose. We hadn't done that but we've turned it over now the last two weeks and we've got to get that corrected. You just can't do it."
Coe senior running back Trevor Heitland was a difference-maker once again, rushing for 210 yards on 24 carries, including an 82-yard TD run that got the Kohawks on the board with 11:19 left in the second quarter after Central jumped to a 10-0 lead. Heitland also had five receptions for 57 yards.
"He's a very good football player," McMartin said. "He made it hard for us."
Coe outgained Central, 499 yards to 421, getting 267 yards on the ground. Glenn completed 22-of-30 for 232 yards and one score.
"I thought their quarterback played very well," McMartin said. "He was on target."
Central got 330 yards through the air. Gray completed 27 of 38 passes for 272 yards with three touchdowns. Nate Boland (sophomore, Iowa City, West HS) hit on nine of 13 passes for 58 yards.
Markham flirted with his own single-game receptions record again with 13 catches for 134 yards and a score while Kohle Helle (junior, Guttenberg, Clayton Ridge HS) grabbed a career-high 12 passes for 93 yards and Gritsch had six catches for 62 yards and a touchdown.
Running back Nathan Fitzgerald (sophomore, Elkader, Central Elkader HS), in his first collegiate start, churned out 69 hard-earned yards on 24 carries. The Dutch rushed for 91 net yards on 41 carries overall, losing 20 yards on four sacks.
Linebacker Jessie Peterson (senior, Coralville, Iowa City West HS) was credited with a team-high 12 tackles, including eight solos with a pass breakup. Linebacker Sam Norgaard (senior, Naperville, Ill., Neuqua Valley HS) had 11 stops and cornerback Trevor Smith (sophomore, Audobon) and linebacker Chris Neeld (junior, New Boston, Ill., Mercer County HS) each had eight. Neeld recorded two of Central's four sacks.
Coe's 16-point second quarter left Central trailing 16-10 at intermission. But on the opening possession of the second half, Boland directed an 11-play, 67-yard touchdown drive with Fitzgerald getting the 2-yard score. The teams traded leads the rest of the way, with Coe up 24-23 after three quarters while the Dutch were clinging to a 30-26 advantage before surrendering the late score. Gray hit tight end Mitchell Boerm (senior, Traer, North Tama HS) with a 13-yard TD pass with 1:34 left in the third quarter, and Markham with a 19-yard scoring toss with 6:52 remaining.
McMartin credited the Dutch defense for making some important stops against a high-powered Coe offense, including turning the Kohawks away on fourth down in the fourth quarter.
"This team has the ability to score more points," he said. "There are some things we have to do on offense for us to have success."
Yet while McMartin has concerns about execution, he has none about his team's intensity and energy.
"Our guys played hard," he said. "They gave it everything they had and were all in for the entire game. I couldn't be happier with the effort they gave."
Markham extended his school career receptions record to 182 and, with 2,333 career receiving yards, vaulted within 233 yards of Chris Johnson's (1995-98) mark. His 17 career touchdown receptions rank seventh in school history, he's up to eighth in season receiving yards with 703 and his 61 receptions this season rank third all-time, trailing his own school mark of 69 set last year and 63 by Johnson in 1998.
Central makes its fifth road trip in seven weeks next Saturday, traveling to Lincoln, Neb. for the first time since 1985 to take on new conference member Nebraska Wesleyan. The Prairie Wolves (2-4 overall, 1-3 conference) made an even longer trek to Dubuque Saturday, tumbling 42-23.