ABOUT BUENA VISTA: The Beavers have dropped back-to-back games after its home win over Luther which remains the team's only American Rivers Conference triumph of the year. Turnovers have plagued the team most of the year as it continues to move the ball downfield by averaging over 32:00 in time of possession and over 316.0 yards of offense per game. It has been a balanced offensive attack for the most part all season with 128.0ypg on the ground and 187.0ypg through the air. Senior Meven Obregon has emerged as the team's leading rusher for the year at 74.86 yards per game. He had back-to-back 100+ yard performances against both Coe and Luther and his two rushing scores both came during the win over the Norse. Junior quarterback Zy Gravitt has seen the majority of action under center to this point and has completed 55 percent of his attempts for 834 yards and six touchdowns but has been intercepted 10 times. Sophomore Brett Garcia came on for the second half last week against Loras and passed for a career-high 200 yards and two scores. Seven different players have hauled in over 10 catches this season with sophomore Johnny Messerly leading the way with 27 receptions for 569 yards and four touchdowns. Defensively, the Beavers have generated 21 tackles for a loss over the last three games while combining for only 12 through the first four. Drew Volkmann and Wyatt Hatcher are both tied with a team-high 43 tackles overall with Hatcher breaking up four passes and Volmann tacking on three interceptions. Brody Boeckman is tied for third on the team with 37 stops and tied with four breakups. Overall, BVU ranks seventh in the A-R-C against the run and fourth in defending the pass.
SCOUTING THE DUTCH: No. 18 Central, which dropped four spots in this week's D3football.com poll, is looking to bounce back after suffering its first loss of the year last week at No. 7. The Dutch are the highest scoring team during conference play at 38.0ppg and fourth in points allowed at 22.0. The team is also second in total offense per game at 422.0ypg. It's a balanced attack with nearly 190 yards per game on the ground which is second in the league and another 232.0 per game through the air which sits fifth. Junior running back Jase Grunder leads the A-R-C in rushing yards per game at 115.2 which includes a 241-yard and 3-touchdown performance against Loras three weeks ago. He also leads the league with his nine rushing touchdowns during conference play. Senior quarterback Hunter Hoffman is fifth in the league in passing yards per game at over 217.0. For the year, he is completing over 66.0 percent of his attempts for 1,607 yards and 12 touchdowns. He has thrown for over 200 yards in all but one game this season and has went over 250 in each of the last two. Cam Schulte and Keegan Glover have been the top-2 targets for the majority of the year. Schulte leads all players on the team and is fourth in the A-R-C during conference play averaging 81.6ypg. He has 44 receptions on the year overall, including eight touchdowns. Glover is right behind with 30 grabs and one score. The duo has combined for over 1,000 receiving yards on the year. Defensively, the Dutch are allowing 120.0 yards rushing against league foes which ranks third while giving up 217.0 through the air which is fifth. Fifth-year middle linebacker Cole Clark leads the team with 62 tackles, including 4.5 for loss. Senior defensive lineman Evan Schroeder leads the way with 7.0 tackles for a loss and three quarterback hurries. The team has been able to flip the field due to the leg of punter Broderick Lee. He is averaging nearly 40.0 per attempt with a long of 71 and has landed seven punts inside the 20-yard line. Following Saturday's game, the Dutch will close out the regular season at Simpson College (Nov. 8) and then at home versus Coe College (Nov. 15).
LOOKING AHEAD: The Beavers will play their final home game of the season on Saturday, Nov. 8, against Nebraska Wesleyan University. Kickoff inside of J. Leslie Rollins Stadium is set for 1 p.m. Senior Day recognition will take place following pre-game warm-ups. The team will then close out the season on Nov. 15 at No. 7 Wartburg College at 1 p.m.
