An interception by Jace Ver Steeg on the opening play of the game set the tone for the Pella defense, as the Little Dutch smothered Mount Pleasant en route to a 46-7 win last night in Pella. The Panthers’ previously potent offense was extinguished in the first half, as Pella limited them to a net total of six yards. Meanwhile the Little Dutch offense was clicking, scoring on Austin Fuller’s 10-yard run to open the night, and a pair of touchdown runs by Grant Gustafson in the first half.

However, it was the effort of Pella’s special teams that really put them over the top, as they blocked a punt in the end zone to force a safety and Taylor Cox zig-zagged his way across the field for an 89-yard touchdown run to give Pella a 30-0 halftime advantage.

Cox would add a 50-yard catch-and-run touchdown in the third quarter, just minutes after Kenny Dupre’ bounced-in a 38-yard field goal off the crossbar. A one-yard quarterback keeper by Josh Hileman late in the fourth quarter rounded out the scoring for the Little Dutch, while Mount Pleasant added a 26-yard touchdown pass late in the game as well.

Pella finished the game with 318 yards of offense, 188 of which came on the ground as the Little Dutch utilized ten different ball-carriers. The win keeps Pella at a pristine 4-0 mark in Class 3A District 7, and moves them to 5-1 overall. The Little Dutch are home again next week to take on Keokuk.