A dream season for the fall sports teams and the Pella football team came to a conclusion at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls, as the #3 Dutch fell to # 1 North Polk 24-14, in the Class 4A State Championship game heard live on 92.1 KRLS.

While the Pella defense started the game with a three-and-out, the green and white were unable to capture momentum before the Comets’ unrelenting rushing attack started to get rolling. After pinning North Polk deep at their own two yard line in the 1st quarter, they turned around and marched 98 yards on 17 plays to capture the first points of the game and set the tone.

Pella’s offense was able to stab into opposing territory a few times in the first half but couldn’t punch through. The duo of Nathan Feldmann and B.J. Tate for the No. 1 team in 4A kept chewing clock and churning out first downs to eventually make it a 14-0 game before the halftime break.

A signature big play emerged to start the 3rd quarter as Colin Kerndt found Harrison Mullens for an 89 yard big-play strike, only for the Comets to hit a big kick return and move the margin quickly back to two scores. Following a failed fourth down try, the Dutch defense found momentum with a Bailey Shetterly pick-six.

But as was the story of the game, the Comets rushing attack took over and added a fourth quarter field goal to make it 24-14. Another fourth down miss for Pella spelled the end as North Polk salted out the contest late in the 4th.

The game was the final in the remarkable career of Pella Head Coach Jay McKinstrey, who was grateful for the chance to play for a state title as the final seconds ticked away from the sidelines.

Pella finishes the season at 11-2 with the school’s sixth ever state finals appearance.