CEDAR FALLS — In a game that was much tighter than the final score indicated, the Pella High Dutch dropped a 37-20 decision to the Decorah Vikings Monday evening at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls in the Class 3A semifinals.
The Dutch led 14-10 following a 24-yard touchdown strike from Blaine Forsythe to Richie Bales with 3:05 left in the second quarter.
The semifinal round game proved to be a contest filled with big plays. The Vikings were already living the good life as a 47-yard field goal by Andrew Casper scraped the crossbar and barely went through early in the portion of the second quarter.
Big play number two for the Vikings came with just six seconds left in the opening half when quarterback Jackson Stalberger hit Jake Wanless on a 39-yard touchdown pass for a 17-14 Viking lead at the halftime break.
Pella received the second half kick and methodically marched from the 20 to the Viking 1 before disaster struck. A Pella fumble at the Decorah 1, bounced into the endzone and was recovered by Josh Woodhouse.
Instead of Pella taking the lead back in the third quarter the Vikings were back with the football. Decorah marched 80 yards for a touchdown with 4:54 left in the third quarter for a 24-14 lead.
The next drive by Coach Jay McKinstrey’s squad took over 5-minutes off the clock. The Dutch started at their own 20 and the drive stalled at the Decorah 7 when a pass on fourth down was incomplete in the endzone.
Soon after the drive stalled, Decorah hit on an 83-yard touchdown pass from Stalberger to Garret Strand. That score with 9:22 left put the Vikings up 30-14.
Each team scored one more time. The Vikings on a 7-yard pass from Stalberger to Adam Bohr and Pella on a 20-yard pass from Forsythe to Clarke Hammes.
Bohr rushed for 116 yards on 17 carries for the Vikings while Andy Sacquitne also carried the ball 17 times for 75 yards. Stalberger had 53 yards on the ground and was 5 of 8 passing for 154 yards anf three touchdowns. Bohr caught three of those passes for 32 yards and a touchdown while Strand and Wanless hauled in one pass each for 83 and 39 yards respectively. Both receptions went for scores.
The Vikings had 396 yards in offense nd recorded 15 first downs.
Zach Kerndt led the Decorah defense with 13 tackles as Josh Woodhouse had 11 tackles and recovered a fumble. Brett Van Sloten had nine tackles as did Zach Dawley while Strand was in on eight tackles and Sacquitne had seven tackles.
Pella ends the year at 12-1 overall while Decorah advances to the state 3A title game with a 13-0 mark.
It was Pella’s 20th trip to the football playoffs.
Sports
Dutch fall to Vikings in 3A semifinal
- Sports
-
-
Fast start allows Oskaloosa to crush Tigers
Oskaloosa took control of its game with Grinnell in the first quarter and never looked back, winning 64-33 Tuesday night.
-
William Penn Sports Report
Latest sports news from William Penn University.
-
YMCA Dolphins in action
The Mahaska County YMCA Dolphins were in action Jan. 28.
-
Giants top Pats for 2nd Super Bowl in 4 years
Oskaloosa native Tyler Sash had a role in the New York Giants' 21-17 win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI Sunday,
-
William Penn Sports Report
The latest sports news from William Penn.
-
Giants’ Sash enjoying the ride
Oskaloosa native and New York Giants rookie safety Tyler Sash is set for action for this Sunday's Super Bowl XLVI.
-
IMCA Mach-1 Sport Compacts new at Southern Iowa Speedway
There will be a different class of of racing vehicle this season at the Southern Iowa Speedway.
-
William Penn Sports Report
The latest in William Penn sports.
-
Oskaloosa YMCA Aerials competed at Chow’s gymnastics meet at Vet’s Auditorium
The Oskaloosa YMCA Aerials JO (Junior Olympic) Compulsory and Optional Teams competed at the 9th annual Chow’s Winter Classic Invitational in Des Moines at Vet’s Auditorium.
-
NM girls win thriller, 48-44
It was a battle of two top five teams as the No. 1 ranked North Mahaska Warhawks hosted the No. 5 ranked Lynnville-Sully Hawks Tuesday night in South Iowa Cedar League play.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Fast start allows Oskaloosa to crush Tigers
