PELLA—Making its first NCAA Division III quarterfinal round appearance since 2007, the Central College football team will search for a win Saturday in a place where few visitors have found one.
           
The Dutch (12-0) travel to the Division III powerhouse University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (12-0) for a noon game at Perkins Stadium. The Warhawks, who will be playing their ninth home game of the season, are 118-4 at home since 2005 and are riding a 28-game home-field winning streak. They've won six national titles (2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014).
           
They're ranked No. 3 in the AFCA Division III Coaches' Poll and in the D3football.com Top 25. Central is ranked No. 10 in the AFCA poll and No. 8 by D3football.com.
           
The bracket--The winner of Saturday's game advances to meet the winner of a quarterfinal-round contest Saturday at Belton, Texas between No. 6/7 Linfield University (Ore.) (11-0) and the No. 2-rated University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) (12-0). The semifinal will be played noon Saturday, Dec. 11 at a site to be determined in a contest that will air on ESPN Plus. The eight remaining playoff teams are playing for the right to compete in the championship contest, the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, played Friday, Dec. 17 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium at Canton, Ohio. That game will air on ESPNU.
           
On the air and online—The Voice of the Dutch, Trevor Castle, will call Saturday's action on KRLS-FM (92.1), with NFCA Hall of Fame softball coach George Wares providing the color along with former Dutch defensive coordinator and current Pella mayor Don DeWaard. A special KRLS playoff pregame show will air at 11 a.m. The broadcast can be accessed through www.kniakrls.com or directly at rdo.to/krls. It's also accessible via mobile device with the KRLS app available through iTunes and other outlets.
Twitter users can get updates through @CentralDutch.
Castle also hosts "Coaches' Corner" with coach Jeff McMartin each Monday at 6 p.m. on KRLS, which is available on demand online as well.
           
Playoff experience— Central, which captured a record 32nd American Rivers Conference title, is making its 22nd NCAA Division III playoff appearance. The Dutch won the 1974 NCAA title and finished second in 1984 and 1988. Central is making its first trip to the quarterfinals since 2007 and carries a 24-20 playoff record with a 5-6 mark in quarterfinal round games.
           
Wis.-Whitewater is making its 17th NCAA playoff appearance and its 14th in the past 16 seasons, going 12-2 in quarterfinal-round games and 57-10 in playoffs overall.
           
The series—Saturday's game will be the schools' fourth meeting and their third NCAA playoff clash. All have been played at Whitewater, with the Warhawks winning two of the three previous games. The most recent was a 34-14 Dutch loss in the first round of the 2005 playoffs. The teams first met in an NAIA postseason game in 1966, a 41-18 Wis.-Whitewater victory. Central's lone win in the series was in 1988, when back-up tight end Lance Kooiker came off the bench to rally the Dutch at quarterback after the team's top two signal-callers were injured in the previous two weeks. Rob Phipps kicked a late field goal for a 16-13 upset second-round win.
           
The coaches—Wis.-Whitewater's Kevin Bullis is in his seventh year as head coach, posting a lofty 69-9 career mark. He's guided the Warhawks to five NCAA berths in six seasons, reaching the semifinals three times and advancing to the 2019 Stagg Bowl.
           
Dutch coach Jeff McMartin, a member of the AFCA Board of Trustees, is in his 18th year, posting a 140-42 mark. He's making his sixth playoff appearance as head coach with a 5-5 record.
           
The Warhawks—Wis.-Whitewater had only had two close calls this year, escaping the University of Wisconsin-River Falls 34-28 on the road Oct. 23 and outlasting the No. 15 University of Wisconsin-La Crosse 13-7 at home Nov. 6.
           
"They're a very talented team," coach Jeff McMartin said. "They've got a lot of speed. There's not a weak position on the field."
           
The Warhawks' offense ranks No 6 in Division III in pass completion percentage (.688) and passing efficiency (177.21), No. 12 in first downs (262), No. 14 in scoring offense (42.9) and No. 11 in Red Zone offense (.885).
           
Running back Alex Peete is first in scoring (150) and total touchdowns (25), second in rushing touchdowns (22) and 14th in rushing yards (1,222). Quarterback Max Meylor is sixth in completion percentage (.701), fourth in passing efficiency (184.5), eighth in TD passes (33) and 14th in points responsible for (216). Receiver Ryan Wisniewski is 12th in TD receptions (13th), kicker Matt Maldanado is 14th in field goal percentage (.786) and Dain Hudson is 15th in punt returns (14.5 yards),
           
"They have a lot of weapons," McMartin said. "The offensive line is big and they're physical. What they ask their players to do fits them really well. They're going to come at you in a lot of ways in the running game. Their tailback is outstanding, but when he isn't in the game, there's no drop-off. Their receivers have good size and speed. They'll work to get it to them on the perimeter and also push it down the field. The quarterback is exceptional."
           
The squad is No. 4 in Division III in scoring defense (10.5), No. 6 in rushing defense (62.0 yards per game), No. 14 in Red Zone defense (.579), No. 18 in defensive touchdowns (3) and No. 19 in turnovers gained (25).
           
"They've got a great defensive line," McMartin said. "Their linebackers are extremely fast and physical and it's a very talented secondary. They're not a team that will bring a lot of pressure because they're talented enough that they don't need to. But when they do bring it, it really affects the game.
           
"They've also got a great kicker and punter and their return game is very good. We're going to have to be at our best there."
           
Central's approach doesn't change.
           
"Our goal is to bring a very focused football team into that stadium and be ready to battle," McMartin said. "We're not there just to show up. We're there to compete and play hard, to give great effort and be focused on every play."
           
Savoring the process—McMartin said the team is benefiting from the guidance provided by a record 15 fifth-year players in learning to enjoy the ride.
           
"We've been blessed with great leadership," he said. "We had a lot of guys come back for a fifth year for a reason and they want to take advantage of every day. And I think they've also imparted on our young guys to don't take this for granted.
           
"The attitudes have been great at practice. I enjoy coaching these guys every day. I tell my wife every day how much I enjoy coaching them and a big part of it is just their attitude. Our attitudes have been good."
           
NCAA best-- Quarterback Blaine Hawkins (5th-year, Ankeny) has an opportunity to set the NCAA all-divisions record for season touchdown passes. His four TD passes Saturday gave him 61, tying the 2004 Division III mark established by Brett Elliott of Linfield (Ore.). Hawkins is among 11 players in NCAA history with 55 or more TD passes in a season and one of only four who reached that total in 12 games or less. He ranks third on the career TD passes list in Division III with 146.
Most touchdown passes, season - all NCAA divisions
Name, school                                                    Div.        No.         G             Yr.
Brett Elliott, Linfield (Ore.)                                III            61           13           2004
Blaine Hawkins, Central                                III            61           12           2021
Joe Burrow, LSU                                                I-FBS      60           15           2019
Colt Brennan, Hawaii                                      I-FBS      58           14           2006
Gavin Zimbleman, Aurora (Ill.)                    III            57           11           2021
Jeremiah Briscoe, Sam Houston St.           I-FCS      57           13           2016
Bruce Eugene, Grambling                             I-FCS      56           12           2005
Willie Totten, Mississippi Valley St.            I-FCS      56           10           1984
Broc Rutter, North Central (Ill.)                   III            56           15           2019
Joe Callahan, Wesley (Del.)                          III            55           14           2015
Vernon Adams, Eastern Washington         I-FCS      55           15           2013
David Klingler, Houston                             I-FBS      54           11           1990
Dusty Bonner, Valdosta State                      II             54           14           2012
Zach Zulli, Shippensburg State                    II             54           13           2012
Justin Peery, Westminster (Mo.)                III            54           10           1999
Jimmy Garoppolo, Eastern Illinois              I-FCS      53           14           2013      
Justin Dvorak, Colorado School of             II             53           13           2016
        Mines
Dustin Vaugh, West Texas A&M II             53           13           2013

Nation-leading numbers--Central leads all NCAA divisions in total offense (595.3 yards per game), passing efficiency (195.96) and first downs (365) while also leading Division III in passing offense (403.5 yards). The Dutch are second in Division III in completion percentage (.717), scoring offense (56.2) and in punt return defense (0.38 yards), eighth in Red Zone offense (.893), 11th in 3rd down conversions (.512) and 23rd in turnover margin (plus 1.08).

Individually, Hawkins, who was recently named a Gagliardi Trophy semifinalist and received the American Rivers Offensive Player of the Year Award for the second time, leads Division III in touchdown passes (610), passing efficiency (199.3), passing yards (4,189) and points responsible for (398, the all-time NCAA record). He's fourth in completion percentage (.717) and total offense (371.4), fourth in yards per pass attempt (9.88) and ninth in completions per game (25.3).

Receiver Tanner Schminke (5th-year, Boone) is the Division III leader in touchdown catches (19) while Jeff Herbers (junior, Urbandale, Des Moines Christian HS) is tied for seventh with 14. Schminke is first in receiving yards (1,421) and 11th in total touchdowns (19). Running back Jason Hopp (senior, Earlham) is 21st in rushing yards per carry (6.40), cornerback Brayden Egli (senior, Saint Charles, I-35 HS) is 22nd blocked kicks (2), defensive end Hunter Maddy (5th-year, Mystic, Centerville HS) is 31st in fumbles recovered (2) and kicker Logan Sunvold (sophomore, Monroe, Southeast Polk HS) is eighth in field goal percentage (.833), 19th in scoring (110) and 34th in points per game (9.2).

Linebacker Josh Van Gysel (sophomore, Anthem, Ariz., Boulder Creek HS) is the team tackles leader with 83 along with four interceptions. Egli has 69 stops and a team-high five interceptions along with five pass break-ups and two blocked kicks. Free safety Brody Klein (sophomore, Rainier, Wash.) has 65 tackles and two interceptions while safety Cameron Bannister (junior, State Center, West Marshall HS) has 59 stops with three picks. Lineman Blade Durbala (5th-year, Blairstown, Benton HS), the American Rivers defensive player of the year, has 44 tackles including 11.0 for loss and 5.5 sacks. Maddy has a team-high 13.0 tackles for loss with 9.5 sacks.

Hawktober milestones—For his career, Hawkins has now completed 861 of 1,270 passes (.678) for 11,516 yards with 30 interceptions and 146 touchdowns. This season he's completed 304 of 424 passes with six interceptions (.717), throwing for 4,189 yards.

Also Saturday Hawkins broke his own single-game completions mark (41) and the pass attempts record (65), surpassing the 55 passes thrown by Mark Isaacson against Coe in 2003. He also broke the season pass attempts mark of 407 set by Connell in 2007 with 424 this year. He's connected on 304 of 424 throws (71.7%) for 4,189 yards with six interceptions and 61 scores.

Team record rewrite--The Dutch have broken team season marks for passing yards (4,842), pass completions (360), first downs (366), first downs passing (216), total offense (7,144 yards), all-purpose yards (8160), touchdowns (93), extra points (86) and points (681). They're on pace to break the scoring margin record (339 points, 1994) and average scoring margin record (34.5 points, 1989). Currently the Dutch have a scoring margin of 465 points and an average scoring margin of 38.7 points. The team's completion percentage (71.7) and pass efficiency rating (195.96) would also be season marks.
           
Fast starts--The Dutch have scored touchdowns on their opening possession in 11of 12 games and have reached the end zone on 59 of 87 first-half possessions, while booting field goals on four others. Central has scored six or more first-half touchdowns in seven of the 12 games and have only 13 first-half punts.
           
Last Saturday against Wheaton, however, after the Dutch found the end zone on their opening drive they were limited to just a field goal until the fourth quarter, when they erupted for 20 points.
           
Playoff road—Central has traversed one of the most treacherous paths to the quarterfinals of the eight remaining teams. The Dutch are among three teams to play two AFCA ranked opponents, defeating No. 17 Bethel and No. 9 Wheaton. No. 6 Linfield University (Ore.) has earned its way as well, defeating No. 21 Redlands (Calif.), then traveling to Minnesota to knock off No. 5 Saint John's. No. 2 Mary Hardin-Baylor had to defeat No. 14 Trinity University (Texas) and No. 19 Birmingham Southern (Ala.). Wis.-Whitewater is the only squad among the eight to not yet meet a ranked team in the playoffs although the Warhawks were 13-7 winners Nov. 6 over the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, currently rated No. 15, and emerged unscathed from a demanding Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference slate.
           
McMartin said that there's no easy path to the Stagg Bowl.
           
"In almost every situation you're playing really good teams and each week when you advance, you're playing somebody at another level beyond what you've experienced already," he said.

It's difficult to perform at optimum levels each week, but that's what is required.

"For some teams, there are no breaks," McMartin said. "You're playing a great team and then you get to reload and do it again the next week and the next week. Physically, you have to be ready and mentally you have to be ready. I think that good teams are mindful of that throughout the year because it's another half of their season to continue to advance."

This is Central's first 13-game season since 2007, but McMartin said the Dutch conditioning work is serving them well.

"We look at our data on our conditioning and speed and those types of things and we seem to be in a good place for week 13," McMartin said.

Props from ESPN - ESPN.com ranked 20 games from college football "Rivalry Week" and Central's playoff win over Wheaton came in at No. 11. An ESPN Plus subscription is required to access the story.

Notes— Hawkins' season mark of 4,189 passing yards by itself would rank seventh on Central's career charts…Hawkins is 846 yards away from doubling the previous school career passing yards record of 6,181 yards set by Tim Connell (2004-07). He's thrown for 11,516…This is Central's third 12-win season and first since 2007. The regular season and the playoff path were both shorter in earlier years. Central's 1967 (9-0) and 1974 (11-0) teams both finished with undefeated records but didn't play 12 games. The Dutch have never recorded 13 wins …Central has scored 49 or more points in eight of the season's 12 games. Saturday's 30-point total was the lowest of the season. The previous low was in a 37-7 victory over Nebraska Wesleyan Sept. 18…This is the eighth time Central has played a game in December and is the latest date for a Dutch football game since playing in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl Dec. 9, 1988…Schminke has 25 pass receptions for 345 yards and four touchdowns in the past two games. He's had at least four catches in every game except Central's 69-13 victory over Kalamazoo College (Mich.) Sept. 11 when he had two…. Herbers' school-record 16 catches Saturday nearly doubled his previous career high of nine receptions at Coe Oct. 9…McMartin was in his second year as head coach when the Dutch played at Whitewater in 2005. Assistants Jeff Bollard and Matt Paulsen were the only current staff members also coaching then for the Dutch. However, current Dutch defensive coordinator Nick Mulder was a junior defensive lineman for Central in that game while receivers coach Cody Huisman was a sophomore wide receiver and offensive line assistant Drew Sikkink was a senior offensive lineman.

School records set by Blaine Hawkins
Passing yards
Game - 503, at Coe (Oct. 9, 2021)
Season - 4,189, 2021
Career - 11,516, 2017-present
 
Pass completions
Game - 41 vs. Wheaton (Ill.) (Nov. 27, 2021)
Season - 304, 2021
Career - 861, 2017-present
 
Pass completion percentage
Game - 94.1 (16-17-0) vs. Buena Vista (Sept. 29, 2018)
Season - 67.1 (147-219-5), 2018
Career - 67.8 (861-1,270-30), 2017-present
 
Passing touchdowns
Half - 7, at Simpson (Sept. 25, 2021)
Game - 7, tie, at Simpson (Sept. 25, 2021); vs. Bethel (Minn.), (Nov. 20, 2021)
Season - 61, 2021
Career - 146, 2017-present
 
Passing attempts
Game - 65 vs. Wheaton (Ill.) (Nov. 27, 2021)
Season - 424, 2021
Career - 1,207, 2017-present
 
Passing efficiency rating
Game – 336.32 (22-24-0, 424 yards, 7 TDs) at Simpson (Sept. 25, 2021)
Season – 169.26, 2019
 
Total offense
Game - 514 (503 passing, 11 rushing), at Coe (Oct. 9, 2021)
Season - 4,457 (4,189 passing, 268 rushing), 2021
Career - 13,254 (11,516 passing, 1,738 rushing), 2017-present
 
Consecutive passes without interception - 251, April 3-Oct. 30,
  2021
 
Consecutive games with five touchdown passes or more - 8,
  2021
Consecutive games with six touchdown passes or more - 6,
  2021
Games with 300 yards passing, season - 7, 2021

Probable starters
OFFENSE
QB       3         Blaine Hawkins (5-11, 210, 5Y)                      
RB        8         Jason Hopp (6-0, 230, sr.)                                          
TE/SB   49        Aaron Roelfs (6-2, 260, sr.)                
WR      5         Jeff Herbers (6-1, 180, jr.)                  
WR      10        Tanner Schminke (6-0, 195, 5Y)                                             
WR      13        Ryan Neu (6-1, 165, so.)                                
LT        69        Que Baker-McCaulay (6-3, 285, jr.)   
LG        61        Colton Anderson (6-0, 265, sr.)                     
C          72        Ian Den Herder (6-1, 280. jr.)            
RG       58        Joshua Mayhew (6-2, 260, 5Y)                      
RT        70        Travis Wagner (6-5, 275, 5Y)                                     
 
DEFENSE        
DE        54        Hunter Maddy (6-4, 215, 5Y) 
DT        52        Tom Adolph (5-11, 260, sr.)               
DT        92        Blade Durbala (6-1, 280, 5Y)              
DE        97        Matt Glockel (6-1, 255, 5Y)                
OLB     6         Cade Humphries (5-9, 220, 5Y)                      
MLB     10        Josh Van Gysel (6-1, 235, so.)            
OLB     47        Reid Taylor (6-1, 205, sr.)                                          
CB        2         Benjamin Crist (5-10, 195, jr.)           
SS         7         Cameron Bannister (6-0, 195, jr.)      
FS         17        Brody Klein (6-1, 195, so.)                  
CB        4          Brayden Egli (6-2, 190, sr.)                
 
SPECIALTY
K/PK     26        Logan Sunvold (5-9, 175, fr.)              
P           3        Austin Burns (5-11, 185, so.)             
KR        13        Ryan Neu (6-1, 165, so.)                                                                    
            7         Cameron Bannister (6-0, 195, jr.)
PR        4         Brayden Egli (6-1, 180, sr.)
            7         Cameron Bannister (6-0, 195, jr.)
LS         25        Josh Dennison (5-11, 175, fr.)
SS         70        Travis Wagner (6-5, 275, 5Y) 
H          10        Tanner Schminke (6-0, 195, 5Y)                     
 
2021 NCAA DIVISION III FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
 
FIRST ROUND, SATURDAY, NOV. 20
Saint John's (Minn.) 41, Lake Forest (Ill.) 14
Linfield (Ore.) 44, Redlands (Calif.) 10
Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) 13, Trinity (Texas) 3
Birmingham-Southern (Ala.) 24, Huntingdon (Ala.) 14
 
Wis.-Whitewater 69, Greenville (Ill.) 7
DePauw (Ind.) 26, Rose-Hulman (Ind.) 21
Central 61, Bethel (Minn.) 35
Wheaton (Ill.) 63, Aurora (Ill.) 31
 
North Central (Ill.) advanced over Carnegie-Mellon (Pa.)
Wis.-La Crosse (Wis.) 58, Albion (Mich.) 23
SUNY Cortland 26, Springfield (Mass.) 21
Rensselaer (N.Y.) 20, Endicott (Mass.) 14
 
Mount Union (Ohio) 52, Wash. & Lee (Va.) 0
Johns Hopkins (Md.) 45 at Salisbury (Md.) 20
Delaware Valley (Pa.) 62, Anna Maria (Mass.) 10
Muhlenberg (Pa.) 45, Framingham St. (Mass.) 0
 
SECOND ROUND, SATURDAY, NOV. 27
Linfield (Ore.) 31, Saint John's (Minn.) 28
Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) 42, Birmingham-Southern (Ala.) 7
Wis.-Whitewater 45, DePauw (Ind.) 0
Central 30, Wheaton (Ill.) 28
North Central (Ill.) 34, Wis.-La Crosse 20
Rensselaer (N.Y.) 21, SUNY Cortland 14
Mount Union (Ohio) 45, Johns Hopkins (Md.) 35
Muhlenberg (Pa.) 14, Delaware Valley (Pa.) 0
 
QUARTERFINALS, SATURDAY, DEC. 4
No. 6 Linfield (Ore.) (11-0) at No. 2 Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) (12-0)
No. 10 Central (12-0) at No. 3 Wis.-Whitewater (12-0)
No. 20 Rensselaer (N.Y.) (11-1) at No. 1 North Central (Ill.) (12-0)
No. 13 Muhlenberg (Pa.) (11-1) at No. 4 Mount Union (Ohio) (12-0)
 
SEMIFINALS, SATURDAY, DEC. 11
 
AMOS ALONZO STAGG BOWL, FRIDAY, DEC. 17
Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium
Canton, Ohio
7 p.m. (ET) (ESPNU)