The late, great North Carolina State basketball coach Jim Valvano coined the phrase “Survive and Advance”, and that’s exactly what the #7 ranked Pella Christian football team did at South Hamilton Friday night in a thrilling 38-30 victory heard live on 92.1 KRLS.

The Eagles and Hawks traded blows throughout the first half, with both teams holding at least two leads in the half. Pella Christian held leads of 7-0, 14-8, and 22-16 in the first half, while South Hamilton never led by more than two with 8-7 and 16-14 leads. The Eagles three first half scores came on a 20-yard quarterback keeper by Isaac Kacmarynski, and a pair of rushing touchdowns by Benny Schirz from 24 and 2 yards out.

South Hamilton dominated the third quarter, opening the second half with a 15-play, 89-yard touchdown drive that burned up seven minutes of game clock and tied the game at 22-22. The Eagles fumbled the ball on their lone possession of the third quarter, and the Hawks took advantage. After holding the ball for the final 3:28 of the third quarter, South Hamilton scored on the first play of the fourth quarter to take a 30-22 lead.

Facing their biggest deficit of the night, Pella Christian bounced back with a 10-play, 66-yard drive that was capped off with a Schirz 7-yard touchdown run and Peyton Ritzert two-point conversion to tie the game up at 30-30. After forcing a big turnover on downs, the Eagles quickly marched the ball down the field for Schirz’s fourth touchdown of the night from one yard out with 3:30 minutes left in the game. A pair of big plays set South Hamilton up at the Pella Christian 11 yard-line, but after a big second down stop, Cooper Spronk picked off the Hawks pass attempt to give the Eagles the 38-30 win.

The Eagles advance to play at #1 ranked Underwood in the Quarterfinals next Friday, and that matchup can be heard live on 92.1 KRLS with coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m.