A long-standing postseason rivalry between two of the titans of Iowa High School Football is moving to a Class 4A district matchup, starting with Pella’s homecoming festivities tonight as No. 3 Cedar Rapids Xavier comes to the home of the Dutch this evening.

Since 2014, in all four matchups between the two teams, the school that won also later claimed that year’s Class 3A state championship — or in the case of 2017, it was the final game of that season. The two traditional powerhouse schools are now clashing in 4A District 4 and were the favorites to find the two postseason bids from that group of schools. Pella Head Coach Jay McKinstrey says this year’s Xavier team is explosive all over the field, and will present a lot of one-on-one difficulties in the trenches and among their speedy playmakers.

The Dutch come into tonight’s matchup short-handed, as according to McKinstrey, four preseason starters will not suit up tonight, three of whom will miss the rest of the year.

Coverage of homecoming for Pella High School begins at 6:30 p.m. on the KRLS2 stream at KNIAKRLS.com and the Pella Dutch Live YouTube channel. An interview with Iowa Hawkeyes Lineman and Pella Graduate Nick DeJong and a special look at this year’s homecoming court will be part of pregame coverage prior to the 7:30 kickoff from Pella High School.