Going into Friday’s game at Carlisle, Pella Head Football Coach Jay McKinstrey is again preaching to his team what is becoming the mantra of District 6: physical football. Even during the two non-district games for the Dutch, McKinstrey has tried to prepare his team for battles on the line with teams that are big, quick, and hard-hitting; and he expects that again on Friday against the Wildcats.

“They run a lot of option football, very difficult to defend, and they are a well-coached, well-disciplined football team,” McKinstrey says. “They [Carlisle] are a program that’s headed in the right direction, and they’re going to be a challenge for us.”

Pella, who claimed a 25-7 victory in last year’s match-up at home, goes into week five with a record of 3-1; while Carlisle is 2-2 after last week’s loss to Centerville.