Avery Van Zee’s three rushing touchdowns and a pivotal pick-six by Lucas Warner led the Pella High football team to a 35-7 season opening victory last night at Oskaloosa in a game heard live on 92.1 KRLS.

Van Zee started the scoring with a 48-yard run midway through the first quarter, then gave Pella the lead again on a 2-yard run in the second after the Indians had tied the game.

Leading by seven, Pella found itself in peril after Van Zee coughed a fumble that Oskaloosa recovered, but Warner came up with the play of the game. He intercepted a Seth Howard pass at the 40-yard line, then rumbled 60 yards for a score.

While the Little Dutch defense continued to thwart the Indians, Pella added second half touchdowns on a 6-yard run by Van Zee and an 18-yard scampter by Gabe Thomas.

Van Zee finished with 101 yards on 17 carries, while Sam Warner added 96 yards on just eight rushing attempts.

The Little Dutch are 1-0 on the season, and have stretched their winning streak to 42 games. They’ll put the streak on the line again next Friday night with another non-district road game at Dallas Center-Grimes.