It’s a grueling non-district season that’s in the books — and now, the Pella football team (0-4 overall) will seek an elusive first victory as they begin district action tonight while homecoming is celebrated against Newton (4-0 overall).

The Dutch have played the 6th toughest schedule of any Class 4A team, according to power rankings site BcMoore, and against four top ten teams in their respective classes (North Polk – 6th in 3A, and Norwalk-9th, Indianola-8th, and Bondurant-Farrar-10th in 4A), but Head Coach Jay McKinstrey believes they can’t take the Cardinals for granted, who have largely dominated their non-district path to the Tulip City.

Pella will have work in containing Running Back Cody Klein, who is 3rd in Class 4A in all purpose yards (710), and Senior QB Brody Bauer, and his 164.9 quarterback rating that ranks best among throwers in 4A with at least 60 attempts.

Meanwhile, the Dutch will try to work on protecting the football — their six interceptions thrown is 3rd worst among 4A teams heading into district play. Newton has not been able to solve their Little Hawkeye Conference rivals since 2011, and Pella is 7-1 against the Cardinals since 2010.

Coverage from homecoming at Pella High School begins at 6:30 on the KRLS2 stream and on Pella Dutch Live.