STORM LAKE, Iowa (November 12, 2021) - The Buena Vista University football team (5-4, 4-3 A-R-C) has made significant strides this season, but one thing that would put the finishing touches on a turnaround season would be an upset victory at home on Senior Day over ninth-ranked Central College (9-0, 7-0 A-R-C).

Inside the Series - Saturday marks the 76th all-time meeting between the two teams in a series that began back in 1926 with Buena Vista blanking the Dutch, 26-0, in Storm Lake.  The two sides have played every year since 1958 (except for 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic) with Central posting a 38-3 mark against BVU since 1979.  The Beavers last win in the series was a thrilling 39-38 OT victory inside of J. Leslie Rollins Stadium in 2017.

Game Details
Who | #9 Central (9-0, 7-0 A-R-C) at Buena Vista (5-4, 4-3 A-R-C)
When | Saturday, November 13, 2021 | 1:00 p.m.
Where | Storm Lake, Iowa | J. Leslie Rollins Stadium
Live Video | https://team1sports.com/simpson/
Live Stats | https://simpsonathletics.com/sports/fball/2021-22/boxscores/20211023_wzbr.xml
Listen | 97.5FM KBVU

2021 Central Individual Leaders

Rushing | Jason Hopp, 108 ATT, 792 YDS, 5 TD, 80 LNG
Passing | Blaine Hawkins, 208-of-276, 2975 YDS, 45 TD, 1 INT, 89 LNG
Receiving | Tanner Schminke, 55 REC, 973 YDS, 13 TD, 89 LNG
Tackles | Brayden Egli, 49.0 TKLS, 3.0 TFL, 4 INT, 3 BU
Sacks | Hunter Maddy 5.5-33.0
INT's | Brayden Egli, 4.0

Full Statistics

2021 Buena Vista Individual Leaders

Rushing | Brandon Kyles, 137 ATT, 529 YDS, 7 TD, 75 LNG
Passinig | Brandon Kyles, 179-of-275, 2187 YDS, 19 TD, 13 INT, 75 LNG
Receiving | Eric Pacheco, 72 REC, 1128 YDS, 12 TD, 75 LNG
Tackles | Brady McConaty, 66 TKLS, 16.5 TFL
Sacks | Brady McConaty, 7.5, 43 YDS
INT's | Brandon Lance, 4.0

Full Statistics

LAST WEEK: The Beavers had their three-game win streak snapped when they suffered a tough 31-28 road loss at Coe College.  The Kohawks (7-2, 5-2 A-R-C), which are ranked sixth in this week's NCAA DIII regional rankings did not take their first lead until midway through the third quarter.  BVU still had a chance to either tie or win the game in the end but were stopped short on 4th-and-1 from the Coe 43-yard line.  BVU led 14-0 after one quarter and remained in front 21-17 at halftime.  The Kohwks led 31-21 heading to the fourth where the Beavers scored the game's only points in the final frame.  Senior Eric Pacheco finished with 10 catches and 103 yards receiving, including two touchdowns, while also setting the program's all-time record for career touchdowns (35) and the single-season mark for receiving yards (1,128).  Quarterback Brandon Kyles completed 20-of-27 attempts for 220 yards and two scores.  Jeremy Woodward led the ground game with 77 yards on 19 carries.  Brandon Lance tallied his team-leading fourth interception of the year as BVU now has picked off 16 passes overall (second in the A-R-C).

About Central - The Dutch have been one of the top offensive teams not only in the American Rivers Conference this season but in all of DIII.  The unit has been led by fifth-year starting quarterback Blaine Hawkins who is putting together one of the best all-round seasons in college football history, regardless of divsion.  He'll enter the final week of the regular season with 45 touchdown passes against just one interception.  His touchdown total is the highest among any college quarterback this season regardless of divsion.  The Dutch are averaging over 620 yards of total offense and have scored at least 50 points in four straight games and six times this season.  They lead the country in scoring offense at 58.3ppg.  Defensively, they are holding opponents to just 16.3ppg which is also tops in the league and are allowing just over 300 yards of offense per contest (2nd).  

About Buena Vista: The Beavers had their three-game win streak snapped last Saturday with a 31-28 road loss at Coe College.  In that contest senior wideout Eric Pacheco set the program's all-time career record in receiving touchdowns and with his two scoring grabs against the Kohawks, now has 35.  He also surpassed the single-season receiving yards mark and enters his final collegiate contest with 1,128 on the year.  His 12 touchdowns this season are second on the single-season charts behind only Gunner Gilland's 15.  Quarterback Brandon Kyles leads the team in both passing and rushing yards on the year.  He's completing 65 percent of his pass attempts for 2,187 yards and 19 touchdowns.  He's also rushed for 529 yards and seven scores.  Keaton Huebner is right behind on the rushing list with 525 yards and eight touchdowns.  Both are ranked in the top-eight of the A-R-C in rushing yards per game this season.  Defensively, BVU is second in the league against the run during conference play, allowing just 91.3 per game while sitting fifth against the pass.  The unit has recorded 16 total interceptions on the year which is second in the league and 10th in DIII.  Brady McConaty has a team-leading 62 total tackles, including 16.5 for a loss.  Brandon Lance leads the way with four interceptions.

UP NEXT - The game is the season finale for the Beavers.