Sitting down 27-0 to Indianola after being manhandled by their conference foes through 30 minutes of action, the Pella football team finally found themselves on the gridiron. A passing attack with urgency emerged, and nearly guided the green and white to an improbable comeback against Indianola, and maybe, and even more unlikely run into the Class 4A playoffs. Head Coach Jay McKinstrey says putting the game in the hands of senior Luke Hardman turned beneficial with their senior-heavy offensive line and explosive playmakers. He says that combination was the fuel behind wins over No. 1 Xavier and No. 1 Bondurant-Farrar, and ultimately, got the Dutch back into the dance for the first time since 2020. By the same token, McKinstrey believes the colder, windier weather was certainly a factor in the team’s ultimate demise against the Bluejays in their rematch a few weeks ago. Hardman finished with 30 total touchdowns this year, 3rd in Class 4A heading into the dome and 2nd in the class during the 2023 regular season.