Pella, Iowa -- The 2021 season came to an end for the Thunder football team on Saturday afternoon, as Wheaton suffered a heartbreaking defeat to the Central College Dutch in the second round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs. Central prevailed on home turf by a score of 30-28, and their last-second touchdown was enough to propel them into the quarterfinals where they will take on UW-Whitewater. The eighth-ranked Dutch avenged their 2019 playoff exit at the hands of the Thunder and improve to 12-0 on the season as a result of today's win. The Thunder finish their fall campaign with a record of 10-2.

A back-and-forth contest saw both teams give up leads and fight back into the game, and there were plenty of memorable moments across the field for the two squads. What started out as a defensive battle sprang into life in the fourth quarter with Wheaton and Central combining for 34 points and both offenses duking it out in an attempt to outlast their opponents. Central out-gained Wheaton 442-396 in total offense, despite only rushing for eight total yards across all four quarters. The Thunder were a perfect 4-4 on red zone trips on Saturday, finding the end zone on each of their drives inside the 20. Central came up with three crucial fourth down conversions that ultimately extended the game long enough to allow the Dutch to find the winning score. Central picked up 26 first downs to Wheaton's 23. The two teams combined for nine punts in the game, most of them coming in a defense-heavy first half. The Thunder defense picked off Central's quarterback twice, while Wheaton only committed one turnover from open play, a lost fumble in the third quarter. But the Thunder also muffed a punt reception, allowing Central to regain possession after their first drive of the second half. The visitors went 5-11 on third down, while the home side posted a 7-18 mark. 

Statistical leaders for the Thunder included Luke Anthony, Giovanni Weeks, and Terrelle Brown on the offensive side of the ball, while Dallas McRae, Josh Shafley, Caleb Grotelueschen, and Daniel Herber were the defensive standouts for Wheaton on Saturday. Anthony threw for 256 yards and three scores, while maintaining a 68.8% completion rate. The senior quarterback also scampered in for a three-yard touchdown rush, adding to his impressive performance on the ground in last week's victory over Aurora. Weeks once again hit triple figures, finishing the game with 105 rushing yards and 57 receiving yards. His 162 all-purpose yards was a team-high on the day, and he finishes the 2021 season with 1,470 rush yards, a new program record. Brown tallied 52 receiving yards off of four catches and registered Wheaton's final touchdown of the season via a spectacular juggling catch late in the fourth quarter. Shafley led the Thunder defense with 11 tackles (seven solo) and a pair of pass break-ups. Grotelueschen and Herber each picked up nine tackles and a well-timed interception, and the latter added a PBU for good measure. But the defensive headlines belonged to senior lineman, Dallas McRae, who collected three more sacks in Saturday's game, moving him into fourth place on the single-season sack record list for Wheaton football with 13 in the 2021 campaign. Additionally, McRae now sits alone in fifth on the career sack table for the Thunder program with 26.5 to his name.

For the hosts, star quarterback Blaine Hawkins led the way with 434 passing yards and four touchdowns. The Dutch had a pair of triple-digit receivers on the day with Jeff Herbers going for 163 yards and a touchdown, while fellow wide-out Tanner Schminke tallied 151 yards and two scores, including the last-second game winner. Central's Josh Van Gysel had a game-high 16 tackles, forced Wheaton's fumble, and registered a pass break-up. Hunter Maddy came next with nine tackles, including one of Central's four tackles for loss, a number that the Dutch shared with Wheaton.

Saturday's matchup promised to be an intriguing one with two top ten teams facing off in a do-or-die format. Wheaton's dominant 2019 victory over Central at this same stage of the playoffs only added to the intrigue. And the game lived up to the hype.

Despite Wheaton's first possession resulting in a punt after only picking up a single first down, history was made in the short series, as Giovanni Weeks set a new benchmark for rushing yards in a single season, surpassing Garrett Granberg's previous school record of 1,371 in the 2004 campaign. Central needed no more than one trip to open the scoring, however, as a 12 yard pass from Hawkins to Jason Hopp capped a seven-play, 58 yard drive and gave the Dutch an early advantage. The Thunder struggled to find any offensive momentum on their second drive of the game, and John Bickle was forced to punt the ball away once again. Central were able to move the ball 56 yards upfield on the ensuing possession, but a false start penalty on fourth down backed the Dutch up to the Wheaton 28 yard line, and their ensuing pass play fell incomplete, allowing the visitors to take over on downs. A Thunder three-and-out on the next series sealed a disappointing opening period for the offense, but Wheaton's defense gave the team a much-needed spark when Daniel Herber picked off a Central pass attempt on the last play of the quarter to give Wheaton the ball back in plus territory.

The Thunder needed only three plays to level the score at the start of the second quarter. Weeks carried the ball for 15 yards, Anthony found Matthew Tucker for a first down at the Central seven yard line, then Michael Gehl punctuated the drive by catching Anthony's toss on the very next play. Wheaton's defense stepped up again on the next drive by allowing Central to move the chains only once before the Dutch were made to punt from their own 40. The home side had moved the ball into Wheaton's half of the field and had a manageable third and seven look, but McRae brought Hawkins down for an eleven yard loss and snuffed out any chance of Central regaining the lead. After taking over at their own 27, Wheaton methodically moved the ball all the way down to Central's three yard line. Anthony went from gunslinger to roadrunner and extended across the goal line to break the tie and give Wheaton a 14-7 edge. Central's responding possession saw a couple of big pass plays take the Dutch inside the Wheaton red zone. But this series was also cut short by a Wheaton interception, this time coming courtesy of a jumped route by Caleb Grotelueschen. At this point, the Thunder had firmly seized the momentum and were threatening to pull away before halftime. But the Central defense stepped up and used the short field against the Thunder, and Wheaton had to settle for another punt. Both teams got one more crack at adding to the scoreline before time expired, but defense was the name of the game through the first two quarters, and only one more first down was earned between either side in the closing minutes. After a first half that saw Wheaton and Central feel each other out rather than try for a killer blow, the Thunder went into the locker room holding a tight 14-7 lead.

The second half began with the Dutch receiving the kickoff and immediately looking to level the score. An important third-and-long conversion gave Central some confidence, and it looked as though Hawkins had found a receiver for another long pass play shortly after, but offensive pass interference was called, and the drive stalled out. Wheaton were prepared to get the ball back off of the ensuing punt, but the catch was muffed and Central's Josh Dennison was the first to pounce on the loose ball. The Dutch regained possession at the Wheaton 41 yard line and had the break they needed to hit back. But two more costly penalties and another sack from McRae stymied the Central offense, and the hosts were forced to settle for a 27 yard field goal. This proved to be the only score of the third quarter, as Wheaton fumbled the ball away on their next possession and another Central drive into positive territory ran out of steam and the Thunder forced another punt. Wheaton began moving the ball down the field slowly but surely on their next drive and picked up a pair of first downs through their tight end, Spencer Peterson. As the clock wound down at the end of the penultimate period, the Thunder held a 14-10 advantage and had the ball at the Central 36 yard line. 

If the first three quarters were a defensive struggle, the last one was anything but. Wheaton opened the fourth by capping their successful drive with a touchdown pass, a six yard link-up between Anthony and Adam Terrini. The Thunder now held a 21-10 lead, and the pressure on the hosts to respond only increased. But if Blaine Hawkins and the Central offense were feeling anxious, they certainly did not show it. The Dutch rattled off an eight-play, 75 yard drive that culminated in a 30 yard touchdown pass from Hawkins to Schminke. The offense stayed on the field and went for two to try to cut Wheaton's lead to three points, but the conversion failed, and the score remained 21-16. Central's defense took their cue from the offensive unit and swarmed over Wheaton on their next possession, forcing a momentum-turning three-and-out. After another Thunder punt, the Dutch got the ball back at the Wheaton 29 yard line with 10:25 remaining in regulation. Wheaton's defense did their best to hold off the Dutch attack, but the hosts were successful in their quest to find the end zone, and their conversion on fourth and two propelled Central to a 24-21 advantage following a completed two point try. The Thunder played an inch-perfect final possession on offense, meticulously moving the ball down the field while also taking valuable minutes off the clock in case Central got the ball back with time to spare. A ten-play, 75 yard drive that took over six minutes to complete ended with one of the plays of the season, as Luke Anthony 

floated the ball up for Terrelle Brown from 13 yards out, The senior receiver made a sensational catch despite falling down and being closely covered by a Central defensive back. (pictured left)
Tommy Gallagher's extra point reestablished Wheaton's lead at 28-24 with just under three minutes to go, and it looked as though the Thunder might escape Pella with a hard-fought win. But the hosting Dutch had other ideas. The Wheaton defense twice managed to hold Central to fourth down on the final possession, but Hawkins and co. found a way to respond in both cases, and the passing game that has proven so deadly for the Dutch all season long was proving to be their biggest weapon yet again. Central were faced with a fourth and ten from the Wheaton 19 yard line, but Hawkins found Hopp over the middle for a 16 yard gain to earn a first and goal with only a few ticks of the clock to spare. After an injury stoppage to treat a Central player, the two teams took the field again, and Hawkins connected with Schminke along the left side of the end zone to give Central the go-ahead score. The Dutch went 63 yards and took 13 snaps in just 2:37 on the decisive drive. As a formality, Central lined up to kick the extra point in case Wheaton blocked the attempt and ran it back for a two-point conversion of their own. But the Dutch wisely elected to simply take a knee instead of kicking and walked away 30-28 victors after a blood-pumping affair.

Saturday's game was a postseason clash that will live long in the memory for fans of both programs. Central's supporters exited the stadium still cheering the dramatic escape act that their team had just pulled off, while Wheaton's fans were left crestfallen after another postseason heartbreaker. But both groups were no doubt impressed by the high-quality show that the Thunder and the Dutch had just put on.

Jesse Scott's Postgame Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFXAlDZ20sI