An exhilarating ten-game win streak for the Pella High football team came to an end last night in Adel, as ADM walked off their own rain-soaked field with a 25-13 victory in hand.
The Little Dutch were held scoreless in the second half, after battling back-and-forth with the Tigers to claim a 13-12 halftime advantage – courtesy of touchdown runs of 46 and 70 yards by Austin Fuller and Sam Davis, respectively.
Pella’s defense looked as though it would hold out in the second half as well, but a four-yard touchdown plunge by ADM’s Jared Grove late in the third quarter swung the pendulum back in the Tigers’ favor. A handful of impressive defensive stops by ADM and some costly penalties committed by Pella gave the Tigers even more momentum; and a wide-open 17-yard touchdown pass to ADM’s Lane Hovey dealt the final crushing blow to the Little Dutch.
Davis chalked up another impressive night to end his senior season, rushing for 158 yards and a score on 20 carries to lead a Pella offense that tallied 296 yards of total offense. Meanwhile, ADM’s Gavin Glenn was every bit as impressive as billed, completing 15-of-28 passes for 240 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in the face of constant rain throughout the game. His running back, Jared Grove, added the other two scores, as he rushed for 123 yards on 19 carries.
The Tigers remain unbeaten – at 12-0 – and will face Union, of Laporte City, in the Class 3A Semifinals. Pella’s season ends with a District title and a 10-2 overall record.
Little Dutch head coach Jay McKinstrey said his team did everything the coaches asked of them, adding that he was extremely proud and appreciative of the efforts of everyone; particularly his senior leaders.
“They left it out on that field tonight, they really did. We put everything we had [into it], we played hard, and that’s what we asked them to do. We asked them for their best, we tried [as coaches] to give them our best, and if that’s the best we can be tonight, then that’s the best we can be,” said McKinstrey after the game.
“I hope that our kids can group together, hang together, and help each other out here in the next week or two as they start to heal physically, mentally and emotionally; and as they progress into the next sport, next season, and to other things in their lives, as seniors do. We wish them the best and thank them very much.”
This year’s senior class has seen 52 games in their four seasons at Pella High, with the Little Dutch putting up a cumulative 44-8 record in Varsity play over that span.