The Loras College football team fell to 3-4 overall and 2-3 in the IIAC with their road loss to the #15 Central College Dutch on Saturday.

A solid defensive effort and 11 sacks of Vaughn Gesing highlighted the fourth loss of the season for the Duhawks, who were coming off of their bye week.

Loras punted once and the Dutch punted twice on the game's first three possessions before Central converted the first two scores of the afternoon late in the first quarter. A pair of third-and-long passes by Vaughn Gesing intended for John Ingersoll were tipped into Central safety Jake Petersen's hands. The first was returned to the five yard line - where the Dutch punched it in three plays later. The second was returned for a touchdown by Petersen.

The Duhawks forced Central's second ranked offense into two more first half punts and a late Jake Viggers field goal for a 17-0 halftime score.

The Dutch added another field goal on a 45-yard drive to make it 20-0 with 4:45 left in the third quarter.

The Duhawks were, however, also able to convert a turnover into points on Saturday.

Nick Lloyd intercepted a Zack Bandow pass and quickly tossed it to a nearby Kile Beaver for a 31 yard return down to the Central 33-yard line. Six plays later Gesing threw short pass to the right sideline where Gavin Kaiser broke a tackle and reached the end zone to make the score 20-6. The extra point was blocked.

Central then held the ball for 6:42 and missed a field goal, but Loras' next play was intercepted, setting up another short field and short scoring drive. Bandow converted a 17 yard pass to close out the scoring.

Matt Hillard and Ryan Baez netted 52 rushing yards on 18 carries. Gesing finished the day 13-for-26 for 121 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. He was sacked five times in the first half and six in the second half.

John Ingersoll, Matt Hillard, and Walt Labuz each caught multiple passes from Gesing for 85 yards. Kaiser's touchdown came from 10 yards out.

Brandon Ronan registered double digit tackles for the resilient Loras defense. Ronan was involved in 11 tackles, including 1.5 for loss. Aaron Strong and Frank Pereiro each sacked the Central quarterback once. The defense held the Dutch a full 155 yards below their season average.

Each scoring drive by the Dutch started in Loras territory.

The Duhawks take to the road again on Saturday, when they take on the 19^th ranked Coe College Kohawks in Cedar Rapids. Kickoff is 1:00 PM and can be heard live on AM-1490 WDBQ here in the tri-states.

Loras will then return home over the final two weeks of the season to host Cornell and Luther.

Kickoff of the Cornell game has been moved to 12:00 PM on November 6.