A bid for another dramatic victory was cut short on an overtime interception as the injury-hampered Central College football team stumbled against Coe College 27-24 Saturday.
That knocked the Dutch out of first place in the American Rivers Conference with a 5-2 mark and a 7-2 overall record.
Playing without standout quarterback Blaine Hawkins (sophomore, Ankeny), the Dutch forced overtime with a clutch nine-play, 70-yard fourth-quarter drive. Freshman quarterback Brayden Egli (Saint Charles, Interstate 35 HS) tossed a 7-yard touchdown pass to Erik Knaack (sophomore, Reinbeck, Gladbrook-Reinbeck HS) with 3:01 left. Jon Alberts' (junior, Huntley, Ill.) extra point on a bobbled snap tied it 24-24. It was Knaack's eighth touchdown catch of the year.
Coe's attempt for the winning score ended at the Dutch 29-yard line when linebacker Louis Kriegel (senior, Victor, HLV HS) forced a fumble that was recovered by linebacker Drew Kithcart (senior, Atkins, Benton HS).
The Dutch limited Coe to a 31-yard Tristan Connell field goal in the overtime. But on Central's second play of its possession, the Dutch attempted a halfback pass that was intercepted. Coach Jeff McMartin said his squad felt good about forcing the field goal and was taking a shot at a win.
"It was something we had worked on and we felt that we had an opportunity," he said. "But we weren't able to execute it the way we wanted to."
Without Hawkins, who was injured in the first quarter last week in a loss at Wartburg College, and with some additional starters limited or sidelined, the Dutch lacked consistency. Central had led the league in first downs but Coe held a 29-15 advantage there Saturday along with a 99-69 edge in total plays.
"(Coe) was able to convert and stay on the field," McMartin said. "They ran a lot of plays today and we weren't able to get first downs. The third quarter was pretty challenging for us. We really had to battle."
Coe outgained Central 440 yards to 300. Egli, in his first collegiate start, completed 20 of 30 passes for 197 yards with one interception and two touchdowns. The Dutch mustered just 103 yards rushing with 40 on 10 carries by Nathan Fitzgerald (senior, Elkader, Central HS).
Freshman Jason Hopp (Earlham), one of those called on to replace an injured veteran, helped Central grab the early momentum when he returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown. That tied the school record shared by Dennis Descoteau (vs. Luther, 1966) and Pat Gray (senior, West Des Moines, Waukee HS) (at Maranatha Baptist, 2015).
"He's gotten better as the year has wore on," McMartin said. "We had some guys a little banged up and we decided to put him out there. He'd earned the chance. He's practiced really well and you play like you practice. He had some good kick and punt returns today and so did Connor Lewin (junior, Stillman Valley, Ill.)."
An Alberts 40-yard field goal, his fifth in six tries this season, extended the lead to 10-0 with 5:19 left in the first quarter.
But after Coe scored a touchdown on the first play of the second quarter, a fumble gave the Kohawks another chance, which they converted into a 31-yard field goal.
Central regained the lead with a 31-yard Egli strike to Tanner Schminke (sophomore, Boone) and it was 17-10 at intermission. However, Coe tied it in the third quarter and took the lead with 14:54 left in the fourth quarter before Central rallied.
Kithcart had a career-high 14 tackles, including four solos while defensive lineman Blade Durbala (sophomore, Blairstown, Benton HS) had 11 and linebacker Drew Smith (sophomore, Joliet, Ill., West HS) and Kriegel each had 10.
It was Central's 17th overtime game and its first since a 39-38 loss at Buena Vista Sept. 16, 2017. While it was a stinging defeat for the Dutch, who started the season 7-0, the effort was championship-level, McMartin said.
"Our kids never quit," he said. "They really wanted this game and they gave everything they had. Through all the adversity this week and during the game, they kept believing and they kept battling. I'm really proud of our team."
Central has a week off before closing out the season Nov. 10 with a 1 p.m. game at Loras College in Dubuque. The Duhawks are 4-4 overall and 3-3 in the league after getting overwhelmed 56-14 at Wartburg College Saturday and are at Coe next week before meeting the Dutch.