Another heart racing final push is what the #5 in 4A Dutch football team used to stay undefeated in the 2024 season as they held off Bondurant-Farrar in a 28-21 victory, as heard live on 92.1 KRLS Friday.

A scoreless first quarter highlighted perhaps some of the rust the Dutch had after limited snaps in a lopsided win last week against Des Moines Hoover. Pella generated a few 4th down stops in their own territory defensively before the hometeam Bluejays found the endzone. The first turning point of the contest came after the Dutch fumbled the ensuing kickoff in the 2nd quarter, which allowed Bondurant to double their lead in short order.

A pair of steady drives led by Colin Kerndt resulted in Emmanuel Diers rushing touchdowns to end the first half and to begin the second, resulting in a third quarter tie. The ‘Jays responded, and eventually found themselves in a go-ahead field goal position early in the 4th quarter, leading to the other major turning point of the contest. Diers found his hands on the kick, and Nathan Vande Lune raced 93 yards after scooping up the kick attempt to give the road team their first lead.

Bondurant-Farrar would take nearly six minutes off the clock to tie the game, before Kerndt and company marched down the field for the eventual game-winning touchdown with around 1:40 to go. Lake Cowman sealed the deal with his fifth interception of the fall on a 4th down try for the Bluejays with 20 seconds remaining.

Pella is now 8-0 overall and has officially clinched at least 2nd place in the district standings and a playoff game. The Dutch welcome Gilbert for the regular season championship this coming Friday at Central College.