The Dutch defense wouldn't give in.
Simpson College had six drives reach the Central College football team's territory, including three penetrations inside the 15-yard line, but the Dutch (6-2 overall, 4-1 Iowa Conference) pitched their first shutout in four years with a 17-0 whitewashing Saturday.
Central's defense was on the field for 33:37, including 11:40 of 15 minutes in the third quarter.
"It felt like our defense was on the field a lot the whole game," coach Jeff McMartin said. "Simpson did a nice job of possessing the ball. They ran the ball a lot, so they chewed up a lot of clock and I think that got our offense out of rhythm, too."
It was Central's first shutout since a 52-0 blanking of Cornell College Oct. 2, 2010. Simpson (3-5 overall, 0-5 conference) came into the game averaging more than 23 points.
"Give our defense a lot of credit," McMartin said. "To pitch a shutout against anybody, especially a rival like Simpson, that's a great effort. I was really happy with how they played."
Central had to adjust its offensive attack as running back Josh Osborn (senior, Burlington) was held to less than 100 yards for the first time in nine games, finishing with 63 on 16 carries. The Dutch had just 110 rushing yards overall.
"(Simpson) has a very good run defense," McMartin said. "They did a very good job up front and made it tough for us. We had to throw the ball, use play action and do some different things on the perimeter to try to make things work a little better."
And things did work better through the air. Quarterback Aaron Eiseler (senior, Mesa, Ariz., Red Mountain HS) completed 20 of 32 passes for 249 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. Sam Markham (freshman, Atlantic) continued his eye-opening rookie campaign with a game-high nine catches for 116 yards and a score. Wide receiver Taylor Cox (junior, Pella) and tight end Jack Norgaard (senior, Naperville, Ill., Nequa Valley HS) each had three receptions.
It was Markham's 44-yard catch that fueled Central's only first-half scoring drive. Markham made a 4-yard grab of Eiseler's toss for the go-ahead touchdown with 13:10 remaining in the second quarter.
On Central's first possession of the second half, receiver Brendon Boerm (senior, Traer, North Tama HS) took the snap in the wildcat formation and sprinted 47 yards for the end zone to make it 14-0 with 13:26 left in the third quarter.
Central controlled the ball just 1:46 the rest of the period. Simpson had its first drive of the period stall at the Central 39. The Storm was then denied on a fake field goal attempt at the 11 and early in the fourth quarter came up inches short of a first down at the 6-yard line on fourth-and-13
Starting at the 6, Central drove to the Simpson 17, and Kevin Sheldon (senior, West Des Moines, Valley HS) put the game out of reach with a 34-yard field goal for a 17-0 advantage with just 3:47 left.
Dutch cornerback Cael Halfman (junior, Manly, St. Ansgar HS) closed it out with his first career interception, allowing Central to then run out the clock.
Linebacker Jordan Wachter (senior, Clive, Waukee HS) notched a career-high 15 tackles, including nine solos, while linebacker Drew Carlson (sophomore, Ankeny) had a career-best 13 stops and linebacker Jessie Peterson (sophomore, Coralville, Iowa City West HS) had 12 tackles.
Central was outgained on the ground, 172 yards to 110, but held a lopsided advantage in passing yards, 249-86, and led in total offense 359-258. Simpson quarterback Dylan Berkey, out of action last week due to injury and not listed as a starter this week, returned to the lineup and completed 10 of 21 passes.
"I feel like we're getting better every week," McMartin said. "There were some things we didn't do perfectly today but I thought we had a great effort. We had great passion and enthusiasm, and our guys played as a team, even when we maybe didn't have our A game in certain areas. To come away with a win is a good thing and I'd have to say our defense has really improved. Simpson has scored points on everybody this year, we're the first team to shut them out. Give our defense a lot of credit."
That defense will be challenged again Saturday when Central travels to Storm Lake in a battle for second place in the league at Buena Vista. The Beavers (5-3 overall, 4-1 conference) are tied for second with Central after suffering their first league defeat Saturday as first-place Wartburg rolled up a 43-24 win at Storm Lake.