Photo by Troy Hugen

A Pella Christian football program with plenty of preseason buzz is ready to showcase a return to an older style of Eagles offense on the gridiron tonight as they open the season at home against Des Moines Christian.

P.C. has been featured in several preseason rankings in Class 1A as high as 5th, and while certainly a strong rushing team in 2021 — led by Isaac Kacmarynski, who scored the most times of any player among those 64 teams (38 total touchdowns), the departure of several big play receivers has the maroon and gold leaning more on their ground attack.

Eagles Head Coach Rich Kacmarynski believes that their returning offensive front and a large group of upperclassmen hope to showcase their improvement against a Lions team with some key returners, but also with a coaching change.

While the Pella Christian/Des Moines Christian rivalry is at its peak on the basketball court between their two perennial state tournament boys programs, the football rivalry has had its share of close games, with the Eagles leading the all-time series 6-3, including last year’s 56-22 win. The Lions will be keyed by returning quarterback Tyler Martin and his 12 touchdowns from 2021, and receivers Gavin Phillips and Owen Fadden and their combined 50 catches and seven scores.

Coverage of Eagles football begins at 6:30 p.m. on the KRLS2 stream and Pella Christian High School YouTube channel. The offensive line will also be featured on the Player Profile segment of the Jeromy Dingeman Concrete Football Friday Night Radio Preview Show at 4:30.