COUNCIL BLUFFS — The road does not get any easier for the Iowa Central football team this week.

Following back-to-back losses to ranked squads, the Tritons head to rival and No. 2 Iowa Western this Saturday.

Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m., with the ICCAC title on the line.

Iowa Central (5-3 overall, 1-0 in league) fell at 10th-ranked Dodge City this past weekend, 34-30, seven days after losing at home to No. 13 Butler.

“We’ve just got to keep working hard and working to become a better football team,” ICCC head coach Jesse Montalto said. “We’ve shown what we are capable of, so it’s just about believing we can do it.”

The Tritons rallied back to take a first half lead on Dodge City, but 14 unanswered points over the third and fourth kept them from leaving with a win. Justin Silverstein threw for 337 yards and four TDs with Mario Sanders catching nine passes for 150 and three of those touchdowns.

Ja’Vontae Williams also caught a score and Tavis Maloy had 67 yards receiving. Spencer Zinn rushed for 43 yards and caught a pass.

Silverstein has 1,651 yards and 15 TDs on the year with Sanders ranking among the national leaders with 63 receptions for 874 yards and 12 touchdowns. Jaylon Washington is the leading rusher for the Tritons with Silverstein right behind.

Entering the week, Silverstein ranks third in passing yards and is tied for sixth in passing TDs. Sanders is first in receptions, yards and touchdowns.

The Reivers (8-0, 1-0) are defending national champions and have posted wins over Dodge City, fifth-ranked Snow and Butler this year. They still have a home game with Coffeyville before ending the year with a rematch at No. 1 Hutchinson.

Hunter Watson, a redshirt sophomore, has thrown for 1,055 yards and 11 touchdowns against just two interceptions while adding 422 yards and five scores with his legs. Bryant Williams leads the team with 538 rushing yards and Jonathan Humpal has 222.

Lucci Fidone is the top receiver with 17 receptions while Jordan Johnson is one of six players with over 100 yards in the air.

Iowa Western’s defense has recorded 42 sacks with Army transfer Clev Lubin leading the way at 6.5 followed by Joe Hjelle, who has six. They have also forced 21 turnovers including 13 interceptions.

Joshua Pierre-Louis, a transfer from N.C. State, has three picks.

The Reivers lead the all-time series vs. the Tritons, 13-1, and have won five in a row.

“It is never easy going on the road, and especially against a team like Iowa Western,” Montalto said. “We’ll have our work cut out for us.”