In what was supposed to be a showdown between two top 10 rated teams, Pella Christian wasted no time showing who was the tougher team on their way to a 42-8 win over the previously undefeated Roadrunners of I-35.

The Eagles scored on each of their first five possessions as Kyle Nikkel connected with Trey Hugen for touchdowns of 18 and 14 yards respectively as well as Alex Fynaardt for eight yards, Fynaardt also scored on an eight yard run and Bret Nieuwsma added a one yard score and the Eagles were up 35-0 at halftime.

With a running clock the second half went quick but after the reserve defense gave up a touchdown late in the game, Pella Christian’s second team offense marched down the field and scored one final time on a 13 yard connection from quarterback Adam Howerzyl to Nate Tvedt.

The Roadrunners came in as the top overall offensive team in the district and one of the top offenses in all of Iowa averaging 426 yards rushing per game, led by Ethan Calvert who averaged nearly 220 yards per game but the Eagle defense stuffed the run time and time again. Assistant coach Darrell DeRuiter said this is the type of defensive unit they knew they could be. The Eagles limited I-35 to 250 total yards, 206 on the ground, over 200 below their average and Calvert carried 31 times for 104 yards.

A big advantage Pella Christian has offensively is depth and that is emerging as a major weapon for the Eagles.

Quarterback Kyle Nikkel was nearly perfect completing 12 of 14 passes to seven different receivers for 185 yards and three touchdowns, Fynaardt caught four passes for 88 yards, Hugen also caught four for 56 yards, Nieuwsma led the rushing with 13 carries for 68 yards while Sam Tvedt added 43 yards on seven carries.

Pella Christian improved to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in district play which moves them into a tie for second with the Roadrunners behind undefeated Bondurant Farrar and PCM the Eagles next opponent at PCM on Friday.