Scratch the concerns about the Central College football passing game.
Quarterback Blaine Hawkins (sophomore, Ankeny) needed just a half to toss a school-record-tying five touchdown passes as the Dutch (3-0) struck hard and fast in overwhelming Luther College (0-3) Saturday 63-14 in an American Rivers Conference opener. Central set a team record with six TD passes overall as freshman quarterback Brayden Egli (Saint Charles, Iowa, I-35 HS) tacked on his career-first in the third quarter
The Dutch graduated last year's top targets but, working with a new cast of receivers, Hawkins hit on first-quarter scoring passes of 41, 60, 40, and 51 yards and had three first-half scoring drives of two plays or less. Central sprinted to a 42-0 halftime lead and after one third-quarter series, Hawkins took a seat to watch the rest of the steamy afternoon's action. After passing for 336 yards in the first two games, he completed 13 of 15 passes for 349 yards with no interceptions Saturday.
"We do want to keep getting better in the passing game, and that's going to be important for us to be a balanced football team," coach Jeff McMartin said. "We're kind of sophomore-heavy at receiver and these guys haven't had a lot of reps. Coming into this season we really wanted to figure out who we are, what are strengths are, some of the route combinations (we want to use) and what we're going to ask guys to do. I thought they really stepped up today and made plays. We've had some good plays from our receivers this year and I thought today was their best day so far."
Hawkins tied the single-game passing touchdowns record he already shared with Chris Nelson (vs. Wartburg, 1972) and Riley Gray (vs. Wartburg, 2016). Hawkins had five TD passes against Loras last October. For the season, Hawkins has connected on 45 of 65 throws (69.2 percent) for 685 yards and seven scores.
"He's had some really special games so far in his career and having a five-touchdown game is certainly special," McMartin said. "The thing about Blaine is he really works hard during the week and spends a lot of time with (offensive coordinator Ryan) Maiuri. Coach Maiuri does a good job of putting him and the offense in good position to have success. Then Blaine is really smart and he typically makes very good decisions."
Central scored on its first four possessions. The Dutch needed just 1:51 on the opening drive to move 75 yards in seven plays, with Erik Knaack (sophomore, Reinbeck, Gladbrook-Reinbeck HS) hauling in a 41-yard scoring pass. On the first play of Central's next possession, Tanner Schminke (sophomore, Boone) notched his first career TD, a 60-yarder. Then a 40-yard TD strike to Knaack and a 51-yarder to Schminke on the first play after a Luther fumble closed out a dizzying first quarter.
A blocked punt and 27-yard score by strong safety Jordy Borman (junior, Eagan, Minn.) and a Caleb Schlatter (sophomore, Story City, Roland-Story HS) 33-yard TD reception, his collegiate first, made it 42-0 at intermission.
Running back Donny Groezinger (senior, Sulphur Springs, Texas; Eastland, Ill. HS) made an injury-delayed season debut and got Central's first rushing TD, a 15-yarder with 8:04 left in the third quarter and Hayden Vroom (freshman, Pella, Pella Christian HS) had another career-first TD catch, a 12-yarder from classmate Egli. Egli completed Central's scoring with a 7-yard scamper early in the fourth quarter before Luther got its two scores in the final nine minutes.
Central's quick-strike offense resulted in Luther controlling the ball 37:27 of the game's 60 minutes and actually leading the Dutch in first downs, 28-20. Central outgained the Norse 550 to 435 yards, getting 393 yards passing and 157 yards rushing on 41 carries. Eleven Central players carried the ball and nine had pass receptions. Schminke was the top rusher, with 38 yards on just five carries.
It turned into a long, hot afternoon for the Dutch defense.
"They played a lot of snaps," I thought they played played really hard. I like what our defense has done through three games."
Linebacker Jake Poster (senior, Davenport, Assumption HS) had 10 tackles, including one for loss. Free safety Collin Erickson (senior, Gilbert, Ariz., Dobson HS) and linebacker Tate O'Tool (junior, Fort Dodge, St. Edmond HS) each had seven stops and linebacker Drew Smith (sophomore, Joliet, Ill., West HS) had six. The Dutch recorded two sacks and recovered a pair of fumbles.
Central is back on the road for the third time in four weeks next Saturday with a 1 p.m. American Rivers game at the University of Dubuque. The Spartans are 2-1 overall and 1-0 in league play after knocking off Coe College on the road Saturday, 27-18.