The #5 in 4A Pella football team is one step closer to the postseason, and tonight, could claim the outright district championship in Bondurant. If Newton defeats Gilbert, the Dutch need one more victory to claim a top seed in the upcoming 4A playoffs, but a win tonight won’t come easy even if the Bluejays’ 2-5 record doesn’t look fantastic at the surface.

That’s because Bondurant-Farrar has navigated the 7th toughest schedule in the class, according to power rankings site BCMoore, which included narrow losses to currently undefeated North Polk and Lewis Central and a five-game losing streak to start the year. But the Jays have won two in a row, including a victory over previously-unbeaten Gilbert last week.

Pella Head Coach Jay McKinstrey describes the roles as reversed from the 2023 game in which the Dutch knocked off an undefeated Bondurant team to spoil a district title run and earn themselves an eventual playoff spot. The home team will likely need to win out in tonight’s matchup to spoil Pella’s 7-0 record and get themselves into the round of 16.

Senior Quarterback Jordan Rial has been the key player and main carryover from the 2023 UNI Dome team for Bondurant, with his 1209 passing yards ranking 6th in Class 4A.

The Dutch are in the hunt for their 15th district championship since McKinstrey assumed the helm of the program in 1997. Pella leads the series with the Jays 4-3 since the 2016 season, but B-F has won three of the last four — and the closest margin of victory between the teams has been 11 points (2021).

Coverage begins at 6:30 this evening at Bondurant-Farrar High School on 92.1 KRLS.