In practice this week, the Pella High football team has tried to quickly forget the Week Three nightmare in Grinnell and move forward toward the impending start of the District 8 schedule. Little Dutch head football coach Jay McKinstrey says it’s not a fancy approach in practice, but simply about getting better.

“Certainly we’re going to have to try and eliminate bad plays on offense. Our defense will play solid – I know they will – they’ll keep getting better and they’ll improve,” said McKinstrey. “We’ve just got to try to be able to hang on to the football and move the ball downfield [and] get some rhythm with that. We’re just going to have to improve.”

Following last week’s 42-0 shutout at the hands of the Tigers, Pella is now 1-2 on the season, but gets the chance to start fresh Friday night with the beginning of the district schedule. On the other sideline, a very familiar foe – Knoxville. The Panthers are 2-1 overall and feeling a bit sore themselves after losing a late-game lead over Winterset.

Friday night’s all-Marion County matchup will be broadcast live on KRLS.