https://www.d3football.com en-us https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2025/contrib/202512096epj1c PELLA—For the third time since 2000, a member of the Central College football coaching staff was selected as the American Football Coaches Association’s Division III Assistant Coach of the Year as longtime offensive line coach Eric Jones was selected as the 2025 recipient. Tue, 09 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2025/contrib/202512096epj1c https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2025/contrib/2025110884rlkm Sat, 08 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2025/contrib/2025110884rlkm https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2025/contrib/20250906q1us92 Outlasting a hungry Illinois Wesleyan University squad, the Central College football team opened with a 27-18 road victory Saturday. Sat, 06 Sep 2025 04:00:00 GMT https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2025/contrib/20250906q1us92 https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2024/contrib/20241026ax6psk DUBUQUE— Spreading the ball around to its offensive talent, the Central College football team secured a 38-21 win on the road at the University of Dubuque Saturday afternoon. Sat, 26 Oct 2024 04:00:00 GMT https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2024/contrib/20241026ax6psk https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2024/contrib/20241005536qjl Six touchdowns and three turnovers forced in the first half by the Central College football team propelled it to a 59-14 romp over Simpson College Saturday afternoon. Sat, 05 Oct 2024 04:00:00 GMT https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2024/contrib/20241005536qjl https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2024/contrib/20240928ppfvw6 STORM LAKE— Outgaining Buena Vista University by 424 yards, the Central College football team was dominant in a 52-0 road win Saturday. Sat, 28 Sep 2024 04:00:00 GMT https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2024/contrib/20240928ppfvw6 https://www.d3football.com/columns/around-the-nation/2024/finding-a-scheduling-fit Filling out a schedule with non-conference games, which is something almost every Division III head coach needs to do, presents a variety of challenges. Greg Thomas looks at it through the lens of one unusual non-conference game in this week's Around the Nation. Thu, 19 Sep 2024 04:00:00 GMT https://www.d3football.com/columns/around-the-nation/2024/finding-a-scheduling-fit https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2024/contrib/20240914agc6ac 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. Sat, 14 Sep 2024 04:00:00 GMT https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2024/contrib/20240914agc6ac https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2023/contrib/20231109y88y6a PELLA, Iowa—Saturday marks the end of the Central College football season but work remains as the Dutch travel to Simpson College. Thu, 09 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2023/contrib/20231109y88y6a https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2023/contrib/20231104qot0v5 PELLA, Iowa - Seven touchdown strikes helped keep the shine on an occasionally unsteady performance as the Central College football team put a bow on the home season with a 56-22 runaway over Buena Vista University Saturday. Sat, 04 Nov 2023 04:00:00 GMT https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2023/contrib/20231104qot0v5 https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2023/contrib/20231102obvj6o PELLA, Iowa - Saluting its 21 seniors, the Central College football team makes its final home appearance of the season Saturday with an American Rivers game against Buena Vista University. Thu, 02 Nov 2023 04:00:00 GMT https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2023/contrib/20231102obvj6o https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2023/contrib/20231028xbblhk WAVERLY, Iowa—Quarterback Hunter Hoffman (sophomore, Pecatonica, Ill.) threw for 267 yards but it was a one-dimensional Central College football attack and a bid for title contention was turned away by No. 3-ranked Wartburg College Saturday. Sat, 28 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2023/contrib/20231028xbblhk https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2023/contrib/202310257bqowl PELLA, Iowa - For Central College to remain in the American Rivers football race, the Dutch must do what no other team has done since 2018 and that's defeat Wartburg College in Waverly. Wed, 25 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2023/contrib/202310257bqowl https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2023/contrib/202310219ja115 PELLA, Iowa - Unleashing a blizzard of touchdowns, the Central College football team erupted for 51 points in two periods in overwhelming Nebraska Wesleyan University 72-0 on a windy Saturday at Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium. Sat, 21 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2023/contrib/202310219ja115 https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2023/contrib/20231007r2qe9x DUBUQUE, Iowa - Some second-half adjustments and better execution helped Central break away from a halftime tie in a 38-14 win at Loras Saturday. Sat, 07 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2023/contrib/20231007r2qe9x https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2023/contrib/202309300ekvce PELLA, Iowa - The offensive potential the Central College football team hinted was possible surfaced in a big way with seven touchdown passes and 552 yards total offense Saturday, overwhelming the University of Dubuque 55-16 Sat, 30 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2023/contrib/202309300ekvce https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2023/contrib/202309238squ24 DECORAH, Iowa - Like so many that preceded it, career football win No. 150 for Central College coach Jeff McMartin Saturday was a textbook performance. Sat, 23 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2023/contrib/202309238squ24 https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2022/contrib/20221112ms7v1z DUBUQUE, Iowa—In a season filled with flashy offensive numbers from a young squad, it was the Central College football defense that was able to secure a gritty, bone-chilling 24-21 victory in the season finale Saturday at the University of Dubuque. Sat, 12 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2022/contrib/20221112ms7v1z https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2022/contrib/20221110261twf PELLA, Iowa—Authoring a happy ending to the 2022 campaign story tops the week's agenda for the Central College football team. Thu, 10 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2022/contrib/20221110261twf https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2022/contrib/20221105ekzlkn PELLA, Iowa—It was perhaps the sign of a good day for the Central College football team Saturday at windswept Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium when Luther College's opening kickoff made an abrupt U-turn and bounded backwards 5 yards.             Sat, 05 Nov 2022 04:00:00 GMT https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2022/contrib/20221105ekzlkn https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2022/contrib/20221008d05kgr PELLA, Iowa-No. 24 Central College's resilient second-half effort pushed No. 20 Wartburg College to the brink before the No. 24 Dutch surrendered a last-minute touchdown in a 35-28 homecoming football defeat Saturday. Sat, 08 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2022/contrib/20221008d05kgr https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2021/contrib/20220330gr7b67 PELLA, Iowa - After two seasons as defensive coordinator at Lakeland University (Wis.), Mitch Shepherd has been named defensive coordinator for Central College’s defending American Rivers champion football team. Wed, 30 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2021/contrib/20220330gr7b67 https://www.d3football.com/notables/2021/12/hawkins-named-gagliardi-winner Blaine Hawkins, who led Central to the national quarterfinals and was named D3football.com Offensive Player of the Year, learned on Friday afternoon that he had won the 2021 Gagliardi Trophy. Fri, 17 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3football.com/notables/2021/12/hawkins-named-gagliardi-winner https://www.d3football.com/notables/2021/12/gagliardi-finalists-announced Three quarterbacks, one wide receiver and a safety make up the five finalists for the 2021 Gagliardi Trophy, an award presented by Jostens to the most outstanding football player in NCAA Division III. Thu, 09 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3football.com/notables/2021/12/gagliardi-finalists-announced https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2021/contrib/20211204wxnb8x WHITEWATER, WIS.—This dizzying ride of a Central College football season, with each week's performance seemingly surpassing the last, finally came to a halt in the frosty chill of a December afternoon in southern Wisconsin Saturday with a 51-21 NCAA Division III playoff loss to the No. 3-ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Saturday, but not before etching still more remarkable numbers into the record books. Sat, 04 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2021/contrib/20211204wxnb8x https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2021/contrib/20211201w2bkyp PELLA, Iowa—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. Wed, 01 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2021/contrib/20211201w2bkyp https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2021/contrib/20211127i1lm0k PELLA, Iowa- Already the author of one of the best offensive seasons in NCAA Division III history, Central College quarterback Blaine Hawkins punctuated it Saturday with one of the tradition-rich program's most memorable finishes. Sat, 27 Nov 2021 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2021/contrib/20211127i1lm0k https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2021/contrib/20211126t302nm PELLA, Iowa—It's a playoff rematch but the Central College football team hopes it's not a repeat when Wheaton College (Ill.) visits Saturday for a second-round NCAA Division III playoff game. Fri, 26 Nov 2021 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2021/contrib/20211126t302nm https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2021/contrib/20211120emujl5 PELLA, Iowa-Bethel University (Minn.) threw some of the season's biggest blows at the Central College football team Saturday but quarterback Blaine Hawkins answered with seven touchdown passes and yet another record day in a 61-35 first-round NCAA Division III playoff victory. Sat, 20 Nov 2021 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2021/contrib/20211120emujl5 https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2021/contrib/20211118gvqaby PELLA, Iowa - The first NCAA Division III playoff game promises to be the season’s stiffest challenge for the undefeated Central College football team. Thu, 18 Nov 2021 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2021/contrib/20211118gvqaby