PELLA—An 89-yard touchdown catch by Ryan Neu (fifth year, wide receiver, West Des Moines, Valley HS) in the third quarter swung the game in favor of the Central College football team in a 35-10 win over California Lutheran University Saturday.
Leading 14-0 to start the second half, quarterback Brady Ketchum's (senior, Mount Vernon) pass was tipped and intercepted deep inside Central's territory. The Dutch defense held up and limited the Kingsmen to a 22-yard field goal.
On its next possession and faced with a 3rd and 13 from the Dutch 11-yardline, Ketchum found Neu who outraced the defensive backs for an 89-yard score and a 21-3 lead.
"That sequence really swung the momentum in our favor," coach Jeff McMartin said. "It ended up being a big difference in the game."
Ketchum had three touchdown passes on the day, connecting with wide receiver Jack Johnson (senior, Mount Pleasant) for a 13-yard score in the first quarter and Keegan Glover (junior, Benton, Ill., Benton HS) from 61 yards out in the second quarter.
Central's offense was limited to 133 yards of offense in the fist half.
"It's not how you want to start a game," McMartin said. "Cal Lutheran did a good job controlling the tempo of the game and the clock. We just couldn't get much going but there were some plays we took advantage of."
Jase Grunder (sophomore, running back, Tampico, Ill., Prophetstown HS) led the Dutch ground game with 55 yards on 11 carries. Grunder also capped off the scoring with a 2-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
In addition to his five catches for 96 yards, Glover ran the ball 15 times for 44 yards and threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Nolan Meyer (junior, Bondurant, Bondurant-Farrar HS) in the third quarter.
Central's defense limited the Kingsmen to 210 yards of offense. All 10 points came off turnovers deep within Central's territory.
"Our guys are playing really hard and are in position to make plays," McMartin said. "Our defensive coaches are making good adjustments and playing to the strengths of our roster. Each week the goal is to get better, and I think there were some good signs of that today."
The Dutch defense had a pair of takeaways itself as fifth-year seniors Reece Miller (Center Point, Center Point-Urbana HS) and Austin Burns (Williamsburg) both snared fourth-quarter interceptions.
"It was great to get those takeaways," McMartin said. "It's good for the players to build some confidence and keep the score low while giving our offense more opportunities."
Cael Fiderlein (senior, West Branch) and Cole Clark (junior, Lisbon) led the team with nine and eight tackles, respectively. Nick Bandy (senior, Dubuque, Wahlert HS), Johnathan Weaver (junior, Lenox) and Josh Dennison (senior, Romeoville, Ill.) each had solo sacks.
Central was strong across the gamut of special teams play. Logan Sunvold (fifth year, Monroe, Southeast Polk HS) was 5-5 on point after attempts and averaged 60.5 yards on his six kickoff attempts. Burns stuck the Kingsmen inside on their own 20-yardline on one of his five punt attempts and contributed to them amassing just two yards in punt returns.
"We really won the battle of field position," McMartin said. "As a unit, the special teams guys came through and we won that aspect of the game."
Central will host Wartburg College (1-1) next Saturday at 1 p.m. from Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium.