For the first time since the epic 2016 semifinal victory over Xavier, Pella’s football team will take part in a #1 vs #2 showdown tonight, this time to open the 2020 season.

It’s the top-ranked Little Dutch travelling to the shadows of Des Moines to take on number two Dallas Center-Grimes.  Both teams made it to the class 3A quarterfinals a season ago.

Pella Coach Jay McKinstrey says that he absolutely wants to win tonight’s game, and will want to do the same next week against third-ranked Harlan, but he’s more focused on the way his team plays in its first 96 minutes of the season.

“I really want our kids to play well.  We have to learn how to play.  It happens every year, and I say the same thing every year.  We have to learn how to play at a level so that when we progress into our district and progress into the season, we can take advantage of the learning opportunities that we have in the first two weeks to prepare us for the end.”

Tonight’s game has been moved up to a 7:00 start, with pregame hitting the air at 6:30 on 92.1 KRLS.  Join Trevor Castle and Randy Sikkema for all of the action from Grimes.