Well, the big week for District 6 is finally here. I think we all knew that it would come down to this. Pella is currently sitting on a 34 game win streak. Norwalk's only two losses last year were to the boys in green. I can't imagine how pumped they must be to get Pella at home and to look to score a breakthrough win. Both teams have cruised through the district, and cruised through the year, for that matter. Nobody has given Norwalk a great game this year, although Grinnell stayed close for 2 1/2 quarters. Also, Pella was challenged the first two games of the year before pulling away in the third quarter. Who will win?
Norwalk O vs. Pella D.
Epic match-up. Norwalk has top scoring offense in 3A (49.5) and Pella has the top scoring defense in 3A (4.83). Something's got to give here! Pella's starters haven't given up a TD all year. Osky scored a TD late in game and they have given up 2 KO returns for TD's this year. Brandsfield, as expected, has been destroying it this year; 109 of 170 passes for 1686 yards (281 yards a game) with 19 TD and 2 Int. Has also run for 488 yards with 7 TD's. He is a one man wrecking crew. Norwalk's line has size, strength, and speed when watching them on film. Garner has also run the ball well and Rosonke is top WR with 36 catches, 8 of which are for TD's. Very explosive O. Pella hasn't seen an O like this all year. But, Norwalk hasn't seen a D like this all year either. Pella will jam the WR's at the line and put all kinds of pressure on the backfield. Pella does have some guys going both ways, but the Pella LB's all just play D and they fly to the ball. This is just a great matchup.
Pella O vs. Norwalk D
Pella's O started off a bit rough this year (although is very unfair to compare to the O's lead by Clayberg last 3 years). But, has come on the last few weeks and is cruising. Big plays were missing the first 2 to 3 weeks. But, those have been found and can really hit you on the ground or in the air. If QB Nick Finney had been on most other teams, he would have been a 3 year starter. The kid is really good. He has a strong arm and is a very good runner. Is fast, but is shifty as well. He is 61 of 99 for 953 yards. Has 13 TD with 4 Int. He also averages about 9.5 yards per run and has 627 yards running for the year. The Norwalk D is obviously very good, but has given up some yards and points this year at times. Grinnell had some real success moving the ball last week and threw for 4 TD passes. Pella likes to throw the ball to 6'5" WR's Holterhaus and VanWyk. They can be tough to cover and stop. Another great matchup.
Special Teams:
Both teams can kick the PAT well. Norwalk's kicker is also 6 of 7 for the year on FGs while Pella's has missed only attempt. Biggest note is that Pella has given up 2 TD's on kickoffs this year, one each in the first two weeks. They seem to have shored that up, but are obviously vulnerable. Both teams haven't punted much, so if it does come to having many punts, who knows what will happen there. That could be an adventure.
Prediction:
Tough game to predict. Beginning of the year I picked Norwalk to win the district. Norwalk hasn't done anything to change that as they have played great, but Pella is much better then I thought they would be. Both D's will be severely tested. Pella shutout Norwalk at Norwalk last season so the D knows how to play them. I think the game probably hinges more on Norwalk's D and will they stop Pella consistently. Of course, turnovers will always be a key as well as field position. While Norwalk will not even be close to being shutout, I think Pella will win the game, albeit a tough one. I'm guessing Pella 34 Norwalk 24.
Norwalk O vs. Pella D.
Epic match-up. Norwalk has top scoring offense in 3A (49.5) and Pella has the top scoring defense in 3A (4.83). Something's got to give here! Pella's starters haven't given up a TD all year. Osky scored a TD late in game and they have given up 2 KO returns for TD's this year. Brandsfield, as expected, has been destroying it this year; 109 of 170 passes for 1686 yards (281 yards a game) with 19 TD and 2 Int. Has also run for 488 yards with 7 TD's. He is a one man wrecking crew. Norwalk's line has size, strength, and speed when watching them on film. Garner has also run the ball well and Rosonke is top WR with 36 catches, 8 of which are for TD's. Very explosive O. Pella hasn't seen an O like this all year. But, Norwalk hasn't seen a D like this all year either. Pella will jam the WR's at the line and put all kinds of pressure on the backfield. Pella does have some guys going both ways, but the Pella LB's all just play D and they fly to the ball. This is just a great matchup.
Pella O vs. Norwalk D
Pella's O started off a bit rough this year (although is very unfair to compare to the O's lead by Clayberg last 3 years). But, has come on the last few weeks and is cruising. Big plays were missing the first 2 to 3 weeks. But, those have been found and can really hit you on the ground or in the air. If QB Nick Finney had been on most other teams, he would have been a 3 year starter. The kid is really good. He has a strong arm and is a very good runner. Is fast, but is shifty as well. He is 61 of 99 for 953 yards. Has 13 TD with 4 Int. He also averages about 9.5 yards per run and has 627 yards running for the year. The Norwalk D is obviously very good, but has given up some yards and points this year at times. Grinnell had some real success moving the ball last week and threw for 4 TD passes. Pella likes to throw the ball to 6'5" WR's Holterhaus and VanWyk. They can be tough to cover and stop. Another great matchup.
Special Teams:
Both teams can kick the PAT well. Norwalk's kicker is also 6 of 7 for the year on FGs while Pella's has missed only attempt. Biggest note is that Pella has given up 2 TD's on kickoffs this year, one each in the first two weeks. They seem to have shored that up, but are obviously vulnerable. Both teams haven't punted much, so if it does come to having many punts, who knows what will happen there. That could be an adventure.
Prediction:
Tough game to predict. Beginning of the year I picked Norwalk to win the district. Norwalk hasn't done anything to change that as they have played great, but Pella is much better then I thought they would be. Both D's will be severely tested. Pella shutout Norwalk at Norwalk last season so the D knows how to play them. I think the game probably hinges more on Norwalk's D and will they stop Pella consistently. Of course, turnovers will always be a key as well as field position. While Norwalk will not even be close to being shutout, I think Pella will win the game, albeit a tough one. I'm guessing Pella 34 Norwalk 24.
