Pella Christian picked up where they left off after week one with a commanding 44-6 win over PCM Friday night in the Eagles home opener. After rushing for 206 yards in last week’s win, Caleb Morgan set the tone from the start, returning the opening kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown. Just thirty seconds later he added another score, this time on the defensive side of the ball, with an interception return for a touchdown.

That gave the Eagles 14-0 advantage just :40 into the game. PCM answered with an impressive 14-play, 73-yard drive; capped off on a two-yard run by quarterback Nate VandeWall to pull within 14-6 – but would not reach the end zone again. A stingy Pella Christian defense continued to pressure VandeWall and PCM was never able to establish much offensively. As a result, the Eagles had short fields to work with much of the second quarter and took full advantage, adding three more scores from Mason Howerzyl, Derek Van Kooten and a third TD from Morgan to take a commanding 42-6 halftime lead.

There was a scary moment in the second quarter when PCM Junior Blake McWilliams went down with an injury, resulting in a nearly half-hour delay while medical personnel tended to him on the field before carting him off on a stretcher. His condition is unknown at this time.

Pella Christian tallied 231 yards – of which 213 came on the ground – led by Mason Howerzyl with 14 carries for 71 yards while Morgan rushed eight times for 64 yards. PCM was held to minus 21 yards rushing and 90 yards total offense, thanks in part to four sacks for negative yardage. Vandewall was 11-for-31 passing for 111 yards with an interception, Ethan Kain caught six passes for 46 yards, and Ronnie Marshall carried 12 times for 30 yards for PCM.

Pella Christian improved to 2-0 and travels to Central Decatur next week, while PCM fell to 1-2 and will travel to State Center next Friday to face West Marshall.