I’m in Central Iowa at Central (Iowa) to watch Central take on Wartburg, where it’s a tad bit warmer and a heck of a lot drier than the last time I was here.
That was the national quarterfinal game between Central and Bethel, a game that was delayed by more than an hour and on a day in which our crew nearly didn’t get out of Iowa, after a massive accident closed I-35 just north of the Minnesota/Iowa border.
Much better today, sunny, low 80s, a little wind. Great crowd. Good conditions for football.
We also got a tip from elsewhere, that Shane McSweeney was getting the start at quarterback for Wesley instead of Jason Schatz. Plenty of games to keep track of today.
And a quick review on what’s going on early: Christopher Newport and Salisbury are tied approaching halftime, Ithaca is up 28-14 on Hartwick with 10 minutes left in the second. St. Vincent, which got its first win since the program was revived last week, is leading Westminster (Pa.) 10-0.
McSweeney was 11-for-13 in the first half for Wesley and the wolverines lead Widener 13-6.
Wartburg 3, Central 0 after 1. Central quarterbacks a combined 0-for-6 passing, Wartburg 2-for-6 with an interception.
Nick Yordi hits Jason Roskom in stride and he scampers the final 45 yards to the end zone. 77-yard catch. PAT wide right, 9-0 Wartburg.
Randolph-Macon continues to struggle, but beat SUNY-Maritime 30-21.
Central gets on the board with a 32-yard field goal by Jake Viggers with 9:22 remaining in the first half.
Wesley 34-6 at end of 3rd. McSweeney 16-of-18 262 and 3 TDs, Beavers 8 catches 143 -2 TD
Central is making a drive in the final 1:15 with consecutive first down passes to Dustin Velduizen and Jacob Nero.
A bit more as expected for Wesley there.
Hobart took an intentional safety and Carnegie Mellon’s Hail Mary fell incomplete. 21-16 Hobart win.
Hats off to the Mules today. Left when the game was 31-7. Muhlendurg is a very good football team. The Dutchmen have no identity on offense. Tough day for the Dutch.
Central has begun to figure out where it can have success on offense. Zach Bandow is 13-for-25 passing in the past two quarters and Veldhuizen has seven carries for 36 yards in that span.
First big upset of the day as #4 St John’s goes down at Concordia-Moorhead, 9-6.
Wartburg driving, down 17-16 with under a minute left.
A reminder there is video.
http://www.central.edu/athletics/video/
Spencer Herzber 41-yard field goal with 40.6 left gives Wartburg a 19-17 lead. Central has three time outs.
Good quality A/V. Not sure I’d agree that Herzber “nailed” the FG, tho 😉
Blake Suckow interception ends Central’s drive at the 33.
How about this one: St. Olaf beats St. Thomas 29-23 in Northfield, MN in 6 OT’s!!! That has to be a record for DIII, right?
With St. John’s and Bethel going down for their first conference losses, the MIAC is up for grabs. UM YA YA!