STORM LAKE, Iowa (Nov. 3, 2023) - The Buena Vista University football team (1-7, 1-5 A-R-C) is set to play its final road game of the season when it travels to Pella, Iowa, for a 1 p.m. kickoff on Saturday against Central College (6-2, 4-2 A-R-C).

GAME COVERAGE

Radio: 97.5FM KBVU (local)
Live Audio: https://www.kbvu975.com/
Live Video: https://www.centraldutchnetwork.com/centraldutchsports/
Live Stats: https://athletics.central.edu/sidearmstats/football/summary

INSIDE THE SERIES: The two programs meet on the gridiron for their 78th all-time match-up. The Dutch lead the all-time series 64-13 and have won the last four overall and eight of the last nine. BVU’s lone victory during that stretch was a thrilling 39-38 OT victory in 2017 as the Beavers converted a walk-off 2-pt conversion. Central is averaging 56.5 points per game during the current win streak with the Beavers at 20.0. 

2023 INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

Rushing yds per game
BVU: Eman Alaniz (32.6)
CEN: Keegan Glover (34.4)

Passing yds per game
BVU: Zach Herrera (108.9)
CEN: Hunter Hoffman (185.6)

Receiving yds per game
BVU: Eman Alaniz (62.1)
CEN: Ryan Neu (56.2)

Total Tackles
BVU: Trey Ortman (49.0)
CEN: Reid Pakkebier (60.0)

Total Sacks
BVU: Dylan Berens (3.0)
CEN: Bradley Warren (5.0)

Interceptions
BVU: Three tied (1.0)
CEN: Cameron Bannister (3.0)

KO Return Avg.
BVU: Isaia Morones (37.7)
CEN: Ryan Neu (25.3)

Punt Return Avg.
BVU: Eman Alaniz (15.0)
CEN: Hunter Wilkinson (6.7)

SCOUTING THE DUTCH

SCHEDULE | ROSTER | STATS

The Dutch (6-2, 4-2) look to bounce back from a tough 10-point road loss at No. 3 Wartburg last Saturday. The 24-14 setback snapped the team's four-game overall win streak. It's only other defeat was a narrow 19-11 loss to Coe College to begin A-R-C play. Both losses for the team this season have been by a combined 18 points. Aside from those two outings, the team has scored over 30 points in each contest while allowing fewer than 20.

During conference play this season, the team ranks third in both scoring (38.5ppg) and scoring defense (14.8ppg). It's been very efficient on third downs, converting over 52 percent of their attempts. Despite being held to a season-low 25 rushing yards against the Knights, the Dutch have three games this season of rushing for at least 200 yards. Through the air, Central has passed for over 200 yards in all but two games this season with three games of more than 300. Quarterback Hunter Hoffman is completing over 63 percent of his attempts for 1,485 yards, 21 touchdowns and only five interceptions. Six players have chalked up at least 100 receiving yards this season, including Ryan Neu and Jeff Herbers, who have both gone for over 400. Neu leads the way with 37 catches, 450 yards and 11 touchdowns while Herbers is right behind with 37 catches, 426 yards and six scores. Logan Mont has also hauled in 37 catches for 329 yards and has found the endzone once.

On the ground, the Dutch have four players who have carried the ball at least 40 times this season and all four are averaging better than 25 yards per game. Keegan Glover leads the group with 66 rushes for 275 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Hoffman is one of two players with 53 rushing attempts and has two rushing touchdowns.

Defensively, Reid Pakkebeier leads the way with 60 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss and two sacks. Brody Klein is next with 51 tackles, including a team-high seven for a loss, to go along with five pass breakups. Cameron Bannister has intercepted three passes for a unit that has picked-off 14 overall. The Dutch allow just 336 yards of total offense per game this season which ranks third in the A-R-C. They also have four defensive touchdowns which are second-most in all of Division III and rank in the top-15 of the nation in turnover margin.

ABOUT BUENA VISTA

The Beavers will wrap up their road schedule on Saturday against the Dutch in what should be much more favorable playing conditions than they played in a week ago during a tough 49-21 home loss to Loras College. The team's only win this season came inside of J. Leslie Rollins Stadium - a 17-10 victory over Luther College on Homecoming three weeks ago.

Over the last three games, the offense has become a bit more consistent, averaging 90.7 yards per game on the ground during that span and an average of 120.0 through the air. Defensively, it has held two of its last three opponents under 400 yards of total offense after allowing more than 500 yards in four of the first five contests.

Junior Eman Alaniz hauled in three touchdown catches against the Duhakws and now has a team-high 10 total touchdowns on the year. He's averaging nearly 33.0 yards per game rushing per game to go along with an average of over 62.0 yards receiving per game. He leads the receiving corps with 35 catches on the year while Dolan Pospichal and Keaton Huebner are second with 10. Junior quarterback Zach Herrera is closing in on 1,000 yards passing on the year and has thrown for five scores. He's split time with Caleb Green the last two games with Green using his legs against the Duhawks to rush for 80 yards on 23 carries.

Trey Ortman has a team-high 49 total tackles on the year with Matthew Beisswenger close behind with 42. The two have also combined for 10 pass breakups and two of the team's three interceptions. As a unit, Buena Vista is allowing an average of 471 yards of total offense for the year but has allowed an average of only 371 over the last three contests.