PELLA—A stingy defense for the Central College football team recorded 32 sacks on the field in 2024, which yielded 32 sacks of donated food to the Pella Community Food Shelf courtesy of Pella Hy-Vee.
             
The donation came following a season-long campaign promoted by KNIA-KRLS radio during their coverage of Dutch football games. Several Dutch defensive players picked up the donations at the store from Hy-Vee District Director Dalton Buck and Pella Hy-Vee Store Manager CJ Porterfield last week.
           
The Pella Community Food Shelf serves Pella and surrounding communities. It is a member of the Central Iowa Food Network.
           
Defensive end Nick Bandy (senior, Dubuque, Wahlert HS) led the Dutch with 7.5 sacks while linebacker Reid Pakkebier (senior, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) added 5.5. Twelve different Dutch players were involved in a sack this season.
           
Central was 8-2 and finished third in the American Rivers Conference with a 6-2 record.