For the first time in nearly six years, the Pella High football team dropped a game on its home turf, losing 27-9 to Norwalk Friday night in a game heard live on 92.1 KRLS.

The Warriors returned the game’s opening kick into Pella territory and scored a touchdown less than two minutes later.

That score, 7-0, held up until halftime, despite Jay McKinstrey’s Little Dutch having chances to draw even.

“We didn’t take advantage of two opportunities being on their six yard line, getting no points out of either one of them.  You really have to try to get the game turned, trying to make it 7-7, getting even and getting some momentum, but we couldn’t get it done.”

After the teams traded third quarter field goals, Norwalk scored two touchdowns late in the frame to pull away.  Ryan Mace hit Aaron Downs on a 58-yard catch-and-run early in the fourth, but a 41-yard Warrior field goal with four minutes left iced the game.

Mace was 13-of-34 passing for 176 yards, Downs had 104 yards on 12 carries, and Logan Shetterly caught six passes for 92 yards.=

The Little Dutch are 2-1 on the season and will travel to Carlisle next Friday night.