Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Iowa Central celebrates its bowl victory in Cedar Falls last December.

CEDAR FALLS — The Iowa Central football team has the opportunity to once again end the season on a high note here Sunday afternoon.

The Tritons will take on No. 3 (NJCAA Div. III) North Dakota State College of Science in the Game One Bowl held inside the UNI-Dome.

Kickoff is set for noon.

Iowa Central (5-6 overall) has won 13 straight postseason games, including a 44-9 victory over Snow here last year. Triton head coach Jesse Montalto has yet to lose a bowl tilt between stints leading both Ellsworth and Iowa Central.

The past three months have been filled with plenty of ups and downs for the Tritons, who were hit hard by the injury bug. They also suffered narrow defeats to the likes of No. 1 Iowa Western and third-ranked Hutchinson, both of which are headed for the NJCAA playoffs to compete for a national title.

After a 1-4 stretch early, Iowa Central rebounded with four victories, securing a spot in a bowl game by beating both Garden City and two-time defending Div. III national champion College of DuPage.

Tyler Smith and Ty Purdy have split time at quarterback, with Smith throwing for 971 yards and Purdy 659. They have combined for 18 touchdowns.

Cyncir Bowers, a freshman, ranks among the nation’s leaders in rushing yards and all-purpose yards, averaging 83 rushing yards per game and almost 155 all-purpose a night.

Iowa Central and North Dakota Science were once league rivals as part of the Midwest Football Conference. They last met in 2013, with the Tritons winning by a final of 19-13. The league was disbanded shortly after.

The Wildcats (9-1) are led by quarterback Jacob Mattick, who has thrown for almost 900 yards with 12 touchdowns, and Michael Douglas Jr., who has rushed for 544 and six scores.

This year marks the 46th edition of the Game One Bowl, which was previously called the Graphic Edge and the RC Cola Bowl. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students.

A win for the Tritons would give Montalto his 50th at the school.

Iowa Central hasn’t lost a postseason contest of any kind since 2003.