The Pella High School football team had a strong performance in the opening round of the class 4A playoffs, defeating Clear Creek-Amana with a score of 34-7. The team’s running game and defense were key factors in their victory.
The Dutch team took an early lead with a 26-0 advantage at halftime. They dominated the game by driving 74 yards on 12 consecutive running plays in their first scoring drive. Emmanuel Diers scored a one-yard touchdown to start off the game. Nate Warner made a crucial tackle for a loss on a fourth down play, setting up another touchdown for the Dutch by Colin Kerndt. Kerndt later connected with Harrison Mullens for a 51-yard touchdown pass. Warner also contributed on defense with a pick-six interception.
Head coach Jay McKinstrey praised Warner’s performance, highlighting his crucial stops and impact on the game. Warner had a standout game with multiple key plays on defense, including tackles for loss, a sack, and pass deflections.
On the offensive side, Diers rushed for 131 yards on 18 carries, while Kerndt added 78 yards on 12 carries and threw for 148 yards on 8 completions out of 14 attempts. The Dutch team’s strong performance improved their season record to 9-1.
The team is now set to face Gilbert in the quarterfinals, marking the 15th time in Coach McKinstrey’s 28-year career that they have reached this stage of the playoffs. The upcoming game against Gilbert will be a rematch from their regular-season finale, where the Tigers secured a 14-7 victory over the Dutch. Gilbert advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating Waverly-Shell Rock with a score of 21-14 in their previous game. The rematch between Pella High School and Gilbert promises to be an exciting and competitive matchup.