Photo Courtesy of Lisa K. Morgan Photography

The fall sports season at Pella Christian High School got off to a great start Friday night, as the Eagles used an early wave of momentum to down rival Des Moines Christian 49-35 in a game heard live on 92.1 KRLS.

Pella Christian wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as Benny Schirz returned the opening kick-off 95 yards for the first score of the 2023 season. From there, the Eagles rushing attack took over. Johnson Morgan found the endzone for two rushing touchdowns from seven and 51 yards out to give the Eagles a 20-0 lead midway through the first quarter. Morgan again hit pay dirt at the 10 minute mark of the second quarter with a 79-yard rushing score to extend Pella Christian’s lead to 28-7, and that score held until halftime.

The Eagles and Lions then traded touchdowns on their first two possessions of the first half, with Schirz running in three and 25 yard touchdowns. Morgan put the exclamation point on Pella Christian’s win midway through the fourth quarter, pushing the score to 49-21 with rushing touchdown number four from 25 yards out. Des Moines Christian added two touchdowns late, but it was too little, too late as the Eagles improved to 1-0 on the season. Pella Christian head coach Rich Kacmarynski said he was thrilled with how his squad opened the season.

“We really had a great preseason camp and I felt like we had a nice team coming into this game tonight, and we played really well. Great way to start the game with that big, electric kickoff return for touchdown, that’s a great way to start the season.” 

The Eagles return home next Friday for their first game at the recently renovated P.C. Stadium, where they will welcome Highway 163 rival PCM for a 7:30 p.m. kick-off.