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Pella Christian's Isaac Kacmarynski (3) follows behind Owen Menninga (56) during a running play
Pella Christian's Camden Parker (27) makes a tackle
Pella Christian's Jack Fancher (2) makes an extra point against Des Moines Christian
The Pella Christian student section cheers on their team against Des Moines Christian
Pella Christian's Isaac Kacmarynski (3) follows behind Owen Menninga (56) during a running play
Pella Christian's Camden Parker (27) makes a tackle
Pella Christian's Jack Fancher (2) makes an extra point against Des Moines Christian
The Pella Christian student section cheers on their team against Des Moines Christian
PELLA — Excitement was in the air around Eagle Stadium on Eagle Lane Friday night. It was the opening night of the 2022 football season and the Pella Christian fan base was pumped. The Eagles welcomed a friendly rival from the city, the Des Moines Christian Lions on a night designed for high school football.
The Eagles have been well known for their prolific passing game, but the bulk of their receivers had moved on to the college ranks. This year the attention has been focused on the running game and Coach Rich Kacmarynski let the ponies out of the stable. Those ponies had strict instructions to follow the Clydesdales and that is exactly what happened as the offensive line and blocking back, Trevor Veenstra paved the way.
The Eagles controlled the football from endzone to endzone and their bruising running game piled up 516 yards on the ground with two rushers over 200 yards. Benny Schirz danced and darted through the Lion defense for 215 yards in 23 carries before departing with leg cramps midway through the third period. Isaac Kacmaryinski was the second piston in the well-oiled Eagle machine with 209 yards in 20 attempts. Kacmarynski connected on 9-of-12 pass attempts for another 66 yards. Cooper Spronk, filling in for Schirz, added another 10 carries for 67 yards.
With so much well-deserved attention given to the offense, the defense demands an equal share. The powerful front wall of the PC defense shut down the DMC running game, allowing a meager 25 yards for the game. Jack Fancher, Josiah Diehl, Peyton Ritzert and Kacmarynski were the leading tacklers for the Eagles.
The Lions did mange 272 yard through the air and much of that yardage came from a pair of long scoring strikes in the second half. Lion quarterback, Tate Platte, completed 17-of-28 passes for those yards and he had to scramble for most of those yards.
Ball control was the name of the game and the Eagles chose to take the ball first. After a short return of the opening kickoff by Ritzert, Pella Christian marched 84 yards in 11 plays to score. Schriz dived in from two yard out for the TD and Jack Fancher nailed the PAT kick.
After the defense registered a three and punt series, the offense was in high gear again. This time it was a 77-yard drive in 10 plays with Schirz zipping seven yards for the score. Fancher drilled the second of his seven consecutive PAT kicks.
Once again the Eagle defense allowed the Lions only three plays before the punt and Ritzert brought the punt back 23 yards to the PC 45-yard line. Eight plays later the Eagles were celebrating in the endzone once more. A 15-yard pass play from Kacmarynski to Ritzert gave PC a first and goal at the one and Schirz pounded in for the touchdown. The kick by Fancher set the score at 21-0 with 8:10 left in the first half.
Deciding that they were not going to be able to run the ball, the Lions turned to the passing game. Platte completed five of eight short passes to move the ball to the Eagle 47 before the drive stalled and the ball was turned over to PC.
On the ensuing drive the Eagles experienced a few hiccups and the ball was turned back to the Lions. A 16-yard pass play, a 15-yard penalty on the Eagles and a 14-yard run by Platte gave the Lions a score and a PAT by Gianna Bennett cut the PC lead to 21-7 at halftime.
The Lions received the second half kickoff and on the second play, Platte was picked off by Collin Vander Wal to give the Eagles the ball on their own 34. Three carries by Schirz produced another touchdown. It was a 53-yard sprint through the Lion defense that set up an 8-yard plunge for the score. Mr. Automatic, Fancher was good again for a 28-7 PC lead.
Schirz contributed another third quarter score from eight yards out for a 35-7 lead before he departed. The Lions answered quickly as Platte rifled a strike to Owen Fadden for a 77-yard scoring play to set the score at 35-14 heading into the final 12 minutes.
Pella Christian finished an 11-play, 77-yard drive to open the final stanza. Kacmarynski finished the drive with a 21-yard ramble. Moments later a 33-yard dash by Vander Wal set up Kacmarynski for a two-yard blast and the final PC score came by way of a three-yard rumble by Morgan Jackson. This time it was Camden Parker with the PAT kick to set the final score at 56-28.
“I thought that both our offensive and defensive lines controlled the tempo of the game,” Coach Kacmarynski said. “We had great blocking both in the line and down field and the defensive line completely shut down their running game. Benny Schirz had a great game with five touchdowns and Trevor Veenstra was a great lead blocker.”
This Friday the Eagles hit the road to take on a dangerous Panorama team.
PC – 1st Q 8:26: Benny Schirz, 1 yd run. PAT kick Jack Fancher
PC – 1st Q 2:09: Schirz 7 yd run. PAT kick by Fancher
PC – 2nd Q 8:10: Schirz 1 yd run. PAT kick by Fancher
DMC – 2nd Q 1:02: Tate Platte 14 yd run. PAT kick by Gianna Bennett
PC – 3rd Q 10:06: Schirz 8 yard run, PAT kick by Fancher
PC – 3rd Q 5:36: Schirz 8 yard run. PAT kick by Fancher
DMC – 3rd Q 4:51: Owen Fadden 77 yd pass play from Platte. PAT kick by Bennett
PC – 4th Q 11:52: Isaac Kacmarynski 21 yd run. PAY kick by Fancher.
DMC – 4th Q 10:00: Sam Smith 2 yd run. PAT kick by Bennett
PC – 4th Q 7:17: Kacmarynski 2 yd run. PAT kick by Fancher
DMC – 4th Q 5:59: Gavin Phillips 27 yd pass play from Platte. PAT kick by Bennett
PC – 4th Q 1:50: Morgan Johnson 3 yd run: PAT kick by Camden Parker
Rushing (Att/Yards): Benny Schirz 23/215, Isaac Kacmarynski 20/209, Cooper Spronk 10/67, Collin VanderWal 1/33, Morgan Johnson 3/7
Passing (Comp/Att/Int/Yards): Kacmarynski 9/12/1/66
Receiving (No./Yards) Peyton Ritzert 3/25, Trevor Veenstra 2/19, Spronk 1/9, Jack Fancher 1/9, Vander Wal 2/4
Tackles (Solo/Ast): Fancher 6/0, Josiah Diehl 6/0, Ritzert 4/0, Kacmarynski 3/3, Johnson 2/0, Colton Vos 1/1, Drew Van Kooten 1/1, Schirz 1/1, Veenstra 1/0, Mitchell Van Zee 1/0, Andrew Van Gorp 1/0, Camden Parker 1/0, Landon Nunnikhoven 1/0, Keegan Fopma 1/0
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