PELLA — Coming off its bye week, the Central College football team cruised to a 34-13 win over Nebraska Wesleyan University Saturday afternoon.
It took 12 seconds of game time for the Dutch (6-0, 4-0 American Rivers) to score their first touchdown of the game when Avion Bailey (freshman, El Mirage, Ariz., Dysart HS) took the opening kickoff 89 yards to the house on his first collegiate touch. It's Central's first kick return touchdown since 2018.
"He's got great speed," coach Jeff McMartin said. "He caught it clean and got some great blocks. With his speed he's going to be hard to catch when he gets the corner."
Wide receiver Cam Schulte (junior, Pella) had season highs with nine catches and 167 yards while scoring a pair of touchdowns from 45 yards and 35 yards out.
"He continues to be the guy who make plays for us," McMartin said. "He's got some size, speed, strength and his route running continues to improve."
Quarterback Hunter Hoffman (senior, Pecatonica, Ill.) finished the day with 20 completions on 27 attempts for 255 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Jase Grunder (junior, Tampico, Ill., Prophetstown HS) had 105 yards on 22 carries with a 1-yard scoring plunge. Wide receiver Keegan Glover (senior, Benton, Ill.) also had a seven-yard rushing score.
Nebraska Wesleyan (1-6, 1-4 conference), which had not scored against the Dutch since 2021, took advantage of a short field off a turnover with an eight-play, 57-yard scoring drive. A 76-yard rushing touchdown near end of the first half was the only other score for the Prairie Wolves, who were blanked in the second half despite making three trips inside the 30-yard line.
"We had a couple of really good stops," McMartin said. "Those are good for the soul of a football team. To know even when somebody has good field possession, they're not going to score."
The Dutch had their first game of the season without an interception but countered with a pair of second-half fumbles. Cornerback Gavin Smith (senior, Audubon) knocked a ball loose for defensive lineman Ethan Thomas (senior, Ankeny) to recover in the third quarter to set up a Schulte touchdown. Linebacker Diego Garcia (sophomore, Sycamore, Ill.) forced and recovered a fumble on Nebraska Wesleyan's final possession.
"It would have been nice to get an interception, I felt we had a couple of chances," McMartin said. "But to get a few turnovers is still a good thing."
Defensive lineman Trent Cakerice (sophomore, Grundy Center) and linebacker Cole Clark (fifth year, Lisbon) each had eight tackles to lead the Dutch. Cornerback Ben DeMeulenaere had three pass break-ups while defending one of the league's most prolific wide receivers in Nebraska Wesleyan's Joey Aguilar.
The win sets up a showdown next week in Waverly as the Dutch take on fellow undefeated team Wartburg College (7-0, 5-0 conference). The Knights were ranked No. 8 entering their 40-20 win over Loras College Saturday afternoon.
"Our mindset has been to play our best each week and make each week important and not put too much weight on to one game or another," McMartin said. "It's two talented teams and it's going to be exciting with both teams coming in with great records."