Pella opens defense of its back-to-back-to-back class 3-A football state championships tonight on the road at Oskaloosa.

The Little Dutch own the state’s fourth longest winning streak of all-time at 41 games, with their last loss coming in the fall of 2013.

But only five starters return from last year’s championship team – one on offense and four on defense.

Head Coach Jay McKinstrey says that this year’s team is going to have to grow up fast, and learn what it’s like to play varsity football.

“I want them to learn to try and find inside of them how to go farther and harder and a little longer than their mind tells them they can. We want their best, and we want them to go find out what that is. You may have to dig a little deeper to find out that your best is probably better than what you think it is, so don’t let your mind limit you.”

Tonight’s matchup between the Little Dutch and the Indians kicks off at 7:30 at the Lacey Sports Complex in Oskaloosa.

Trevor Castle and Randy Sikkema will have all of the action for you on 92.1 KRLS, beginning with pregame coverage at 7:00.