The perfect start to the 2024 football season continued last night for Pella, knocking off Carlisle 34-21 in a game heard live on KRLS2.

The Dutch jumped out a 20-8 halftime lead, scoring touchdowns on all three first half possessions — a Colin Kerndt nine-yard pass to Tyson Barnes, an Emmanuel Diers’ 13-yard run and a Kerndt seven-yard toss to Harry Mullens. Pella was three-for-three on third downs in the half and racked up 215 yards of offense, but it was finding the end zone on every trip that head coach Jay McKinstrey says was most important.

“The good thing is that we were able to convert and score points. We didn’t just move it and stall out, we were able to score points and that was really important. I think we’ve got some guys who are starting to play really well. Colin is really starting to play well at quarterback. He’s learning that spot and he’s getting better and better every week and the decisions he’s making are really good.”

Kerndt was 18-of-22 passing last night for 233 yards and three touchdowns.

After Carlisle scored midway through the third quarter to cut Pella’s lead to just five, Kerndt engineered back-to-back scoring drives, with Diers finding paydirt on a one-yard run and Kerndt hitting Bailey Shetterly on a 20-yard score on fourth-and-two. Shetterly was Pella’s leading receiver with eight catches for 112 yards and the touchdown.

Pella improves to 5-0 on the season and starts district play at 1-0. They’ll host Newton next Friday night at Ron & Joyce Schipper Stadium at Central College.