Already IIAC Champs, Spartan Football Welcomes Central in IIAC Season Finale
Nov 12, 2015
Spartans became IIAC Champions for the first time since 2011 after 37-21 victory over Coe last week.
Game Info
vs. Central College
Chalmers Field – 1:00 PM
Dubuque, Iowa
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Twitter-sphere
Spartans - @UDubuqueSports
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DUBUQUE, Iowa – The 2015 Iowa Conference Champions, the University of Dubuque Spartans, take to the field for their IIAC regular season finale against a Central team riding a three-game winning streak and a chance at their seventh-straight Top-3 IIAC finish.
The Spartans have already clinched their first IIAC title since 2011 in 37-21 victory over Coe a week ago, but look for the outright title and an improved seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Despite missing passing leader QB Rio Johnson (1963 yards, 11 touchdowns) due to injury last week, senior QB Conor Feckley stepped up big after completing 17 of 31 passes for 232 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions.
Expect a dogfight between two of the most balanced teams in a series that has flip-flopped winners in the last four meetings. Central utilizes discipline with only 12 penalties for 102 yards in six IIAC games and a reliable defense/special teams that has seen a combined nine IIAC Players of the Week honors.
The Dutch defense features three players, Corbin Blythe (sacks/TFL), Zach Matter (passes defended), and Mitch Schroeder (interceptions), that lead the IIAC in their respective disciplines and a wide receiver in Sam Markham that is among the league leaders in receptions per game (7.7) and receiving yards per game (101.2 ypg) despite a 6th ranked passing offense.
Linebacker Trevor Stauner remains the Spartans tackling leader with 92 tackles and anchors a stout defense that leads the IIAC in points allowed (15.3 ppg) and total defense (295.2 ypg).
If it’s close, two of the top kickers in the league will be featured in Central’s Aaron Marcellus (5-8 FG, long of 42 yards) and the Spartans’ Curtis Prull (5-7 FG, long of 29 yards).
UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE
2015 IOWA CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS
Record: 7-2, 6-0 IIAC
Preseason IIAC Rank: 4th
Head Coach: Stan Zweifel | 7th year - [39-31, 31-20 IIAC] | Career – [71-57-2]
Rankings: 20/RV (D3football.com/AFCA Rankings)
CENTRAL COLLEGE
Record: 6-3, 4-2 IIAC
Preseason IIAC Rank: 2nd
Head Coach: Jeff McMartin | [87-29, 70-21 IIAC ]
Rankings: NR (D3Football.com/AFCA rankings)
Summary
|
2015 IIAC STATS |
CENTRAL |
UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE |
|
Overall Record |
6-3 |
7-2 |
|
Conf. Record |
4-2 |
6-0 |
|
Avg. Points (IIAC Rank) |
33.7 (3) |
35.8 (2) |
|
Avg. Points Allowed |
24.3 (3) |
15.3 (1) |
|
Pass O ypg |
229.3 (6) |
272.5 (4) |
|
Pass D |
254.2 (5) |
174.5 (1) |
|
Rush O |
199.2 (3) |
183.3 (5) |
|
Rush D |
152.7 (3) |
120.7 (1) |
Common Opponents
|
CENTRAL |
Common Opponent |
UD |
|
31-24 |
W Simpson W |
31-24 |
|
13-21 |
L Wartburg W |
45-9 |
|
45-10 |
W Luther W |
16-14 |
|
48-55 |
L Loras W |
42-7 |
|
27-13 |
W Coe W |
37-21 |
|
38-23 |
W Buena Vista W |
44-13 |
|
Season Stat Leaders |
CENTRAL |
UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE |
|
Passing |
#16 QB Gray |
#16 QB Johnson |
|
Rushing |
#24 RB Gray |
#20 RB Herrion |
|
Receiving |
#5 WR Markham |
#15 WR Bagley |
|
Defense |
#31 LB Peterson |
#27 LB Stauner |
|
Kicking |
#32 K Marcellus |
#31 K Prull |
Last Meeting
2014 at Central
Central won 38-7
UD WR Tyler Rutenbeck – 3 rec, 60 yds, 1 TD
CEN RB Josh Osborn – 45 car, 254 yds, 3 TD
-Spartans allowed Dutch to rush for 401 yds, 5 TDs
-Dutch led 24-7 at half thanks to 3 short TD runs and FG
-UD scored on 41 yd TD rec by Rutenbeck before half for only score
-Time of Possession: UD 19:28, CEN 40:32
-Total yards: UD 264, CEN 479
History Books
Series record: UD trails 18-55-2
|
Last 5 |
Score |
|
2014 |
CEN 38-7 |
|
2013 |
UD 23-21 |
|
2012 |
CEN 31-24 |
|
2011 |
UD 56-28 |
|
2010 |
CEN 34-8 |
-Avg. margin of victory last 5 yrs: 18.8
-76th meeting dating back to 1930
-Meeting every year since 1971
-Central owns longest winning streak of 23 games from ’62-‘10
-Largest margin of defeat: Central by 57 points (64-7) in ‘95
-Coach Z is 2-4 against the Dutch, best record by UD coach since Don Birmingham (3-4 from ’77-’83)
MO-town
-UD’s freshman RB Maurece “Mo” Herrion has come in like a wrecking ball in his 1st year with 151 car, 738 yds, 13 TDs
-At least 86+ yards and 1 TD in each of 1st 6 games, including 5 games of 109+ yds
-Grind-it-out back with 4.9 ypc, long of 29 yards
-2nd in IIAC scoring during IIAC play: 11 rush TDs in 5 games = 66 pts
Friends Close, Enemies Closer
-Both teams excel near paydirt and utilize turnover game to keep opposition in check
|
Team |
Red Zone O (IIAC rank) |
RZD |
TO Margin |
|
UD |
21-25 (84% - 2nd) |
12-18 (67% - 1st) |
+11 (1st) |
|
CENTRAL |
24-26 (92% - 1st) |
14-20 (70% - 3rd) |
+7 (2nd) |
MARK-ed Man
-Central’s leading receiver Sam Markham is one of TOP pass-catchers in league despite Dutch’s 6th ranked Passing O
-Markham has 38.8% of rec, 44.1% of rec yds, and 41.7% of rec TDs!
|
IIAC Stats |
Rec/game (Rank) |
Rec Yds/game |
Dutch Pass ypg and TDs |
|
42 rec, 607 yds, 5 TD, Long - 69 |
7.0 (1st) |
101.2 (3rd) |
229.3 – 12 TDs |
Balancing Act
-Two of the league’s most balanced teams get after it!
-Over the course of the entire season both teams lean towards the run, but can do it all
|
Team |
Pass-Rush plays |
Ratio |
Pass-Rush TD |
Ratio |
|
Loras |
452/303 |
1.49 |
34-6 |
5.67 |
|
Coe |
357/306 |
1.17 |
18-12 |
1.50 |
|
Buena Vista |
308/294 |
1.05 |
12-9 |
1.33 |
|
Wartburg |
282/346 |
0.82 |
16-29 |
0.55 |
|
Central |
262/330 |
0.79 |
18-22 |
0.82 |
|
UD |
270/347 |
0.78 |
14-19 |
0.74 |
|
Simpson |
247/384 |
0.66 |
14-13 |
1.08 |
|
Luther |
71/550 |
0.13 |
0-32 |
0.00 |
Frontrunners
-Spartans are the IIAC champs! Have the numbers to back it up and lead the IIAC in 10 different statistical categories during IIAC play (decimals are per game avgs.)
|
Scoring D |
Total D |
Pass D |
Rush D |
Pass D Eff. |
Opp. 3rd Downs |
Opp. 1st Downs |
PATs |
Turnover |
Red Zone Defense |
|
15.3 |
295.2 |
174.5 |
120.7 |
104.5 |
35.3% |
17.2 |
28-29 |
+11 |
12-18 (66.7%) |
Honor Roles
-Both teams have made a habit out of IIAC and national weekly honors
-Dutch dominate IIAC defense and special teams
-Earned 5 of 10 awards on defense, including 4 of last 5
-Earned 4 of 10 on special teams, including last 2 … Marcellus with 3 on season
CENTRAL DEFENSE
|
Date |
Opponent/Results |
Discipline |
Player |
Performance |
|
Nov. 8 |
Vs. Buena Vista/W 38-23 |
Defense |
LB Mitch Schroeder |
2 Int |
|
Oct. 31 |
At Simpson/W 31-24 |
6 TKLs, Int |
||
|
Oct. 24 |
Vs. Coe/W 27-13 |
Defense |
LB Drew Carlson |
8 TKLs, 0.5 TFL, FF, 2 Int |
|
Sept. 19 |
Vs. Luther/W 45-10 |
Defense |
S Zach Matter |
3 TKLs, 2 Int |
|
Sept. 12 |
At Monmouth/W 23-17 |
10 TKLs, 2 Int |
CENTRAL SPECIAL TEAMS
|
Date |
Opponent/Results |
Discipline |
Player |
Performance |
|
Nov. 7 |
Vs Buena Vista/W 38-23 |
Special Teams |
K Aaron Marcellus |
1-1 FG, 5-5 XP, 55.3 yds per KO |
|
Oct. 31 |
At Simpson College/W 31-24 |
1-1 FG, 4-4 XP |
||
|
Sept. 19 |
At Maranatha Baptist/W 65-0 |
Special Teams |
RS Pat Gray |
99 yd KO return, 7 car, 35 yds, 1 TD |
|
Sept. 12 |
At Monmouth/W 23-17 |
Special Teams |
K Aaron Marcellus |
1-2 FG, 42 yds, 2-2 XP |
UD
|
Date |
Opponent/Results |
Discipline |
Player |
Performance |
|
Oct. 20 |
Vs. #5 Wartburg/W 45-13 |
Offense |
RB Maurece Herrion |
31 car, 140 yds, 4 TDs, all career-highs |
|
Defense |
DL Malachi Ward |
Fum. Rec. TD, 3.0 sacks, held Wartburg to 21 yds rushing |
||
|
Oct. 6 |
Vs. Luther/W 16-14 |
Defense |
LB Blaine Snitker |
Career-high 21 tkls in season debut, missed 1st 3 games due to injury |
