Pella Christian used some great plays by its defense Friday night to post a 28-14 win over Nodaway Valley at Pella High.

The Wolverines are a tradition-laden program and always prove to be a tough customer. This years’ team is no exception, battled the Eagles toe-to-toe all the way. But in the end it was turnovers and a monster goal line stand that swung the momentum in favor of Pella Christian, 28-14.

The Eagles got on the board first after Sam Groenenboom recovered a fumble deep in Wolverine territory. On third and long from the Nodaway Valley 15 yard line Kyle Nikkel found Trey Hugen in the end zone for the score and Hugen kicked the extra point for a 7-0 Pella Christian lead with 5:07 left in the first period.

The Wolverines answered with a 78-yard drive in 13 plays to tie the score. Twice the Eagles appeared to hold on fourth down and both times the Nodaway Valley ball carrier got away for a first down. Early in the drive, quarterback Nick Fox fumbled the snap and scrambled for 12 yards and a first down. The second time on fourth and one the Eagles had Fox wrapped up and he squirmed free for a 24 yard gain to the Pella Christian 16. Two plays later Spencer Miller broke free for the TD and Sam Lowry kicked the PAT.

The two teams traded interceptions in the second stanza. Levi Nikkel picked one off for the Eagles, but on the next play, Steven McFarland returned the favor for Nodaway Valley. With great field position, the Wolverines pushed the ball all the way to the one-yard line where it was first and goal.

With their backs to the wall the Pella Chrsitian defense rose up like a brick wall. The first two thrusts at the Eagle line resulted in a pair of one yard losses. On third down, Tyler Klyn broke through and threw Fox for a six-yard loss and on fourth down, the pass fell incomplete. “Old Mo” was firmly planted on the PC side of the field.

That momentum carried over to the third period quite nicely. The Wolverines elected to receive to start the second half and Hugen's kick off pinned them deep at the Nodaway Valley 15-yard line. On second down, Fox went into shotgun formation and the snap sailed over his head. The scramble was on as the ball bounced around like it was in a pin ball machine. Finally, Eli Groenendyk pounced on the ball at the two yard line and the Eagles were in business. Kyle Nikkel promptly sneaked into the endzone for the score and Hugen kicked the PAT for a 14-7 Pella Christian lead.

Once again a Nodaway Valley drive was thwarted by the Pella Christian defense. The Wolverines had driven to the Eagle 12 yard line where Taylor Bandstra dug out a fumble.

Pella Christian drove the ball to mid-field before the drive stalled out. Hugen's punt put the Wolverines in the hole and the next three plays went nowhere. The NV punter chose to fake the punt and a swarm of Eagles found him at the 19 yard line. Pella Christian received its third gift of the evening wrapped in black and purple ribbons.

Three plays later Kyle Nikkel found Groenendyk in the end zone for six and Hugen drilled the point after for a 21-7 PC lead with 11:55 left in the game.

It was not time to relax. After a PC fumble the Wolverines scored on a 12 yard pass from Fox to Chad Varley and Lowry kicked the PAT with 6:52 left.

Pella Christian could not move the football on the next series and the ball went back to the Wolverines. Fox tried to rally his mates and went to the air. On fourth down, he had a receiver streaking over the middle on a post pattern. The ball was delivered on the money, but Chase Carlson went high to bat the ball away just before the receiver could gather it in.

Pella Christian took the ball and salted the game away with a 38-yard march in 11 plays to score the clincher. Bandstra swept end for the score and Hugen converted to set the final score at 28-14.

Pella Christian coach Rich Kacmaryinski knew his team was in for a battle and he was pleased with the way the defense responded.

“We knew they would be tough,” Kacmaryinski said. “They have two down linemen that are just plain tough and their tail back is a good one. It was just a gritty effort by our kids. The defense played well and forced them into some key turnovers. They really keyed on Mitch Fynaardt and took some of his numbers away, but we had other players step up in big ways.”