Trojans comfortable in unfamiliar role as underdog

The Fairfield football team is the final major roadblock on Pella?s path to claiming a second consecutive district championship, and the Trojans wouldn?t want it any other way.

Pella (6-1, 5-0 District 7) is coming off a dominant performance against Keokuk and looks to carry its six-game win streak into Trojan Stadium. Fairfield (5-2, 4-1), meanwhile, has its own plan, which includes winning its final home game of the season and bringing the district title back to Fairfield.

?Our kids know the situation and they know they?ll have to play well because there?s a lot riding on this football game,? said Fairfield head coach Mike Schenck. ?They have a lot of respect for Pella and will be ready to go.?

Pella?s offense is carried primarily by its running game, which has racked up 1,868 yards in 2011, and features a stable of backs from end zone threat Sam Davis to the speedy Austin Fuller. However, with a minimum of six running backs sharing carries each game, Pella has proven it really doesn?t matter who runs behinds its hog mollies.

?They have a very strong running game, and we struggled with Oskaloosa?s running game, so that could be a concern,? Schenck said. ?The main difference here, though, is we?ve seen what Pella runs, whereas [Oskaloosa?s offense] was new to us.?

Like Fairfield, Pella runs mostly I-formation but occasionally runs the shotgun formation.

The Trojans are third in the district in rushing with 1,645 yards, second in passing with 1,192 yards and second in total yardage.

Quarterback Dillon Fry has thrown 10 touchdowns to five interceptions while leading the Trojans in rushing with 734 yards and 9.7 yards per carry. The trio of Davis Lowenberg, Corbin Harwood and Spencer Peterman have combined to catch eight of Fry?s 10 touchdown strikes, while running backs Tanner Metcalf and Zach Vivier have scored 16 rushing touchdowns combined.

But the strengths of Pella and Fairfield might not be their offenses at all.

Last year?s matchup between the two teams turned into a 20-0 defensive slugfest, and the odds of another low-scoring game on Friday are just as high.

The Little Dutch defense is led by Grant Gustafson and Nathan Clayberg, who have a combined 48 tackles, 10 tackles for losses and six sacks in 2011. Altogether, Pella has forced 16 turnovers, including 11 fumble recoveries and five interceptions, and has allowed just 13.1 points per game.

?Pella is very stingy on defense and won?t give up the big play,? Schenck said. ?So we?ll look for the offense to string a few drives together to put up points.?

Pella did give up 170 rushing yards to Keokuk last week but has allowed just 540 rushing yards in five district contests. The Laittle Dutch have been just as strong against the pass, holding Keokuk, the district?s leading team in passing, to 82 yards in Week 7.

Fairfield has allowed 17.6 points per game and 15 points or fewer in four games. Linebacker Tanner Metcalf leads the defense with 36 tackles, and both Cody Kool and Patrick Ives have scooped up two fumble recoveries.

As always, Schenck hopes for a quick start and a characteristically hard fought battle from his players.

?I hope that we play hard, and I think we will because we have all season long. I hope we cut down on turnovers like we had last week, and I hope we take the fight to Pella before they take it to us,? Schenck said.

The role as underdog is one Fairfield has been unfamiliar with for much of the season, if not for its entirety. Nonetheless, Fairfield will have to embrace its newfound status to turn the upset against Class 3A, District 7?s lone undefeated team.

Kickoff for ?Blackout Friday? is scheduled for approximately 7:30 p.m. at Trojan Stadium.