Blaine Hawkins has been steadily climbing the charts in the Central College football record book over the last three seasons.
Now, after Hawkins passed for two touchdowns during Saturday’s game against Nebraska Wesleyan, there is nobody else left for the junior quarterback to surpass on the school’s list for career touchdown passes.
The former Ankeny standout has now thrown for 59 scores in his career, eclipsing the school record of 58 set by Tim Connell in 2004-07.
“I knew coming into the game that I was close to breaking the record,” Hawkins said. “However, during the heat of the game it wasn’t something I was thinking about. A teammate mentioned it to me in the locker room after the game, and that was when I remembered.”
Hawkins also rushed for 94 yards and two touchdowns as Central posted a 49-35 victory over the Prairie Wolves. The Dutch raised their records to 4-1 in the American Rivers Conference and 6-1 overall.
Hawkins completed 18-of-26 passes for 187 yards. He threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Tanner Schminke on Central’s opening possession, then later broke the record early in the fourth quarter when he connected on a 21-yard toss to Erik Knaack.
“It means a lot to me to have this record because I think it is a tribute to all of the outstanding teammates I have played with in my career,” Hawkins said. “It is special to be listed in the record book next to many exceptional players.”
Led by Hawkins, the Dutch racked up 560 yards of total offense.
“Blaine’s been a playmaker for three years now,” said Central coach Jeff McMartin. “He does a great job and makes good decisions. He’s also had time to throw–give the line credit–and he’s had great wide receivers. He’s had (career receptions leader) Sam Markham (in 2017) and the current crop that we have. Those guys go up and get the football and they make plays. It’s been a great combination of things but give him a lot of credit, he’s found a way and made great plays at critical times for us.”
Hawkins scored on runs of 31 and 12 yards in the second quarter. His first touchdown dash was particularly memorable–because he was nearly tackled at the 12-yard line but managed to keep his knee from touching the turf and then sprinted into the end zone.
“We ran a power read to the right side, and I kept the ball and ran up the middle,” Hawkins said. “As I was getting tackled in the secondary, I felt the defender pull me down on top of him. Instead of landing on the turf, I rolled over the defender and popped back up on to my feet. I didn’t hear the whistle so I just kept running to the end zone. Thankfully, the refs never blew the whistle.”
McMartin called it a fantastic effort by Hawkins.
“His alertness to not go to a knee and to know that was still there,” McMartin said. “It was a highlight-reel type of play.”