March 28, 2024

Eagles come up short against No. 6 Van Meter

VAN METER — Pella Christian’s Eagles had the Class 1A, sixth-ranked Van Meter Bulldogs right where they wanted them. The Eagles had just scored a touchdown, pulling to within one point, 14-13.

A two-point conversion run to senior Mason Howerzyl, who had 22 carries for 93 yards in the game, came up short for the Eagles.

Van Meter stopped Howerzyl shy of the goal line with 1:41 remaining in the game. It was a 60-yard pass play from Colten Collins to Jake De Ruiter that put the Eagles in the end zone in the fourth quarter.

Pella Christian has struck first in the Class 1A, District 7 contest. Howerzyl finished off a 14-play, 84-yard drive for the Eagles by bulling over from one-yard out. Jacob Brouwer kicked the extra point.

Van Meter tied the game up on a Brandon Brittain pass to Logan Crawford covering 14 yards to the end zone. Bryce Godwin kicked the tying extra point.

The Eagles and Bulldogs were locked in a 7-7 halftime tie. Van Meter broke the tie at the 2:20 mark of the third quarter on a one-yard run by Brittain. That finished a 99-yard, 13-play march by the Bulldogs.

Van Meter’s workhorse for the night was Cody Blackwell, who rushed for 152 yards on 27 carries and caught two passes for 23 yards.

Pella Christian got 22 yards on five carries from Levi Jungling. Collins was 4-of-8 for 81 yards, one touchdown and one interception. De Ruiter had three catches for 71 yards and Jungling had one reception for 10 yards.

Andrew Vander Hart paced the Eagle defense with seven solo tackles and six assited tackesl. Zach Van Zee had seven unassisted and five assists and Jungling made seven solo stops and one assisted tackle. David Kacmarynski was credited with six solo tackles and one assisted. Zach Rozendaal had three solos and eight assisted tackles

Pella Christian (3-4, 1-3 in district) hosts Colfax-Mingo this Friday.