Central run game, pass rush overpower Cornell
Central College rolled up 529 yards, including 340 yards and six touchdowns on the ground, while recording five sacks in a 49-17 triumph over Cornell College to complete an undefeated home season.
Running backs Ross Doehrmann (junior, Williamsburg) and Josh Osborn (freshman, Burlington) rushed for 115 and 95 yards, respectively. It was Doehrmann's first 100-yard game of the season and Osborn's career high. Osborn had two touchdowns in a span of 2:03 in the second quarter, including a 64-yard jaunt, while Doehrmann had one TD and S-back Preston West (senior, Swisher, Cedar Rapids Prairie HS) had two scores and 50 yards on 10 carries. Quarterback Nate Snead (senior, Altoona, Southeast Polk HS) also had a score while running for 12 yards on five carries.
Central improved to 6-2 overall and 5-1 in Iowa Conference play, while completing the 2011 home slate with a 5-0 mark at Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium.
"We wanted to have the seniors go out winners at home," coach Jeff McMartin said. "I couldn't be happier for them. It's a great group. We've been blessed to have them here the past four years."
The Dutch scored touchdowns on their first five possessions and were up 35-10 at the half.
"I thought we had some good momentum coming off the last game and wanted to make sure we kept moving forward, working hard, continuing to improve and play to our standard," McMartin said. "I thought we did a good job of that in the first half."
Central was scoreless in the third quarter as Cornell (2-5 overall, 0-5 conference) closed the gap to 35-17, but the Dutch pass rush produced some fourth-quarter points. Cornell quarterback Juan Flores, who was sacked five times, was trying to escape the rush when he threw the ball up for grabs. Sophomore defensive lineman Danny Samson (Baxter, CMB HS) corralled it and raced 36 yards to the end zone. West, who bulled his way in from 5 yards out in the second quarter, added a 4-yard TD with 10:30 left to complete the scoring.
Flores completed 23 of 41 passes for 228 yards and one TD with two interceptions. He gained 6 yards on 11 carries.
"They present some real problems to you," McMartin said. "They have a very talented quarterback and a big wide receiver. Their scheme fits their personnel very well and they're well-coached. It was a long day for the defense in keeping that quarterback under wraps."
Defensive back Jake Petersen (senior, Gladbrook, Gladbrook-Reinbeck HS) had eight tackles, including six solos, while linebacker Seth Carson (junior, Woodridge, Ill., Downers Grove South HS) had five stops. Defensive lineman Holden Blythe (senior, Williamsburg) had 2.5 tackles for loss while linebacker Ryan Steinkamp (senior, Carroll, Kuemper Catholic HS) and Samson each had 1.5 tackles for loss. Defensive back Spencer Boeyink (freshman, Pella) had an interception on the game's opening drive to set up Central's first score. It was his second pick of the season.
Snead completed 12 of 22 passes for 174 yards with one interception. Jeremy Snead (senior, Altoona, Southeast Polk HS) had four catches for 85 yards.
It was Central's second straight game with more than 500 yards offense and the third straight time the Dutch have limited their opponent to less than 300 yards.
Central has two road games left on the schedule, starting with a trip to Waverly to face preseason league favorite Wartburg College in a 1 p.m. game next Saturday. The game will be televised on KCRG-TV (Cedar Rapids) and www.kcrg.com and broadcast on KRLS-FM (92.1).
