An old-time football rivalry that’s gone dormant for a handful of years gets revitalized tonight as the Pella High football team travels to Grinnell to take on the Tigers.

The Dutch have won 20 of the 35 all-time meetings, but the two schools haven’t met since a 6-0 Grinnell victory in the 2020 playoffs. Pella comes in ranked 5th in the class 4A RPI ranking with a 7-1 record, while the Tigers are 4-4.

The Dutch are already assured a berth in the 16-team playoffs that start next Friday, but a win from Ben Bollard’s club tonight would lock up a first-round home game.

“We’re really excited about having everything in front of us, having the opportunity to go control our own destiny – certainly being in the playoffs but yet guaranteeing at least one home game and then kind of a wait and see on the second one. To get a home game in the first round is a great start and we have the opportunity to go make that happen.”

Both teams are 3-1 in district play, having lost to champion Newton, and the winner of tonight’s game will secure the runner-up spot and an automatic playoff berth. Even if the Dutch come up short, they’ll make the playoffs on the strength of their RPI, but would be forced to hit the road next Friday night.

Kickoff is tonight at 7:30 at T.T. Cranny Field in Grinnell. Trevor Castle and Randy Sikkema will call the action live on KRLS2, beginning with pregame coverage at 6:30.