It was a rivalry matchup that lived up to the billing as Pella Christian and PCM clashed to open the 2017 season, and it was the Eagles that found the edge in a 24-22 win heard live on KNIAKRLS.com.

PCM opened the game with a 57 yard touchdown catch that deflected off of Pella Christian’s Nathan De Bruin. The Eagles answered with a score of their own, and it was a see-saw affair the rest of the way, with the teams swapping leads five times in the contest.

The Mustangs took a 14-10 lead into the half after a 94-yard kick return for a score by Noah Anderson. Pella Christian then struck for the next two touchdowns, both coming from Noah Treimer, who finished the game with three scores.

Pella Christian hung on late, stopped PCM from scoring a touchdown and two-point conversion inside the one yard line on separate occasions, with a Mustangs safety and touchdown in between.

Eagles Assistant Coach Verlan Nikkel tells KNIA/KRLS Sports was impressed with the young team’s ability to bounce back from the big PCM plays.

“Hopefully that can be the character of our team this year, that they are not going to get down even though a big play happened,” he says.

PCM Head Coach Greg Bonnett says his team was on the cusp of a breakthrough victory, but gave a lot of credit to their rivals on Eagle Lane.

“All I can say about this game is that we came a couple of inches short, and Pella Christian is a dang good football team,” he says.

Treimer finished with 141 rushing yards and the Eagles’ Nathan De Bruin had two interceptions. PCM racked up 260 yards in the air from the arm of Reed Worth.

Pella Christian moves to 1-0 and PCM drops to 0-1. The Eagles travel to Albia next Friday, and the Mustangs host Montezuma in Monroe.