Pella’s 29th consecutive football victory wasn’t as easy as many of the previous 28, but the Little Dutch got it done – opening the 2016 season with a 37-13 win over Oskaloosa last night in Pella in a game heard live on 92.1 KRLS.
Despite three first-quarter trips into Indian territory in the first quarter, the Little Dutch came away empty handed. They eventually broke through with a six-yard pass from Nick Finney to Donovan Holterhaus to take a 7-0 lead early in the second frame.
After several more empty trips, it was a special teams play that gave Pella some breathing room. Avery Van Zee raced 78-yards on a punt return with only 31 seconds left in the first half to lift Jay McKinstrey’s club to a two score lead at the half.
“The reality is, the last five minutes of the first half and first five minutes of the second half determine so much of the game. That was in the last five minutes and that’s just a momentum killer (for them) going into halftime, and a momentum gainer for us. It changes the complexion of what you’re doing at halftime, and your attitude and your momentum. It’s just such a big play on special teams and can be heartbreaking for the other team.”
Finney and Van Zee added touchdown runs less than two minutes apart late in the third quarter to extend Pella’s lead to 28-0, and the Little Dutch cruised to the 37-13 victory.
Finney totaled 17 rushes for 118 yards, and was 8-of-16 passing for 107 yards. Van Zee also ran 17 times for 77 yards, and Holterhaus caught 7 passes for an even 100 yards.
The Little Dutch are 1-0 on the season, and will have another non-district home contest next week – this time against Dallas Center Grimes.