It has become a thorn in their sides, the hurdle that just catches their ankle to slow them down enough to let another team squeak by. The state football playoff quarterfinals has had a guest list which has included Pella High six of the last seven times. Save for 2009 and 2010, the Little Dutch have come up just a game short of making it to the UNI-Dome, most recently last season, when an injury to quarterback Noah Clayberg allowed Washington to cruise to a 28 – 0 win inside Pella High Stadium. Coach Jay McKinstrey says everything, including Monday’s win over Newton, is in the past, and that his team must continually be a better team than they were the previous contest. Pella hosts the Demons for the fourth time in two seasons this Friday night at 7:00 p.m., and you can hear all of the exciting action live on 92.1 KRLS and KNIAKRLS.com.