Scouting Reports: Pella 2025

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MARION </strong>- No. 2 Pella traveled to the Cedar Rapids metro to take on Marion for a battle in 4A on Friday night. The Dutch ultimately took the victory, 48-0. Here, we break down several standouts for Pella from Friday evening.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/09/photo-gallery-pella-at-marion/">Photo Gallery: Pella at Marion</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1240470"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1921797,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68da997946eec"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A compact vehicle with a V8 engine, [player_tooltip player_id='1240470' first='Emmanuel' last='Diers'] is a small running back, but he packs a punch with the violence, speed and burst he brings to the table out of the backfield for Pella. Shifty, explosive and a threat to score any time he touches the ball, the Dutch use him in a variety of ways. Whether it's at his native position of tailback, Wildcat quarterback or receiver, Diers makes plays wherever they put him on the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taking 15 carries for 134 yards and two scores, Diers and the Pella offense ultimately took their foot off the gas, but he could've racked up a <em>ton </em>of stats on Friday evening. Diers is D1 caliber as a defensive back or a third down back -- either way, he deserves a spot on an FCS roster. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":1921820,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Blake DeHeus","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"155","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Pella","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68da997946fdd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A rangy DB that sticks to his assignment and is a sure-handed receiver, Blake DeHeus was the beneficiary of passes from both quarterbacks on Friday night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Defense, DeHeus first caught the eye of onlookers as he quickly read and reacted on an over throw by the Marion quarterback, snagging his second interception of the year and running it back 18 yards. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just a few minutes later and before halftime, DeHeus ran a slant near the endzone and caught a touchdown pass from starting QB for the Dutch, Michael Manning. DeHeus is a solid slot option for Pella, and a defensive back that does his job and acts like he's been there before. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":1921804,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Benjamin Griffith","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"285","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Pella","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68da99794709b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">While the celebration may have been muted for DeHeus, it absolutely was not for big OL/DL for Pella, Benjamin Griffith.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Running a routine screen pass over the middle, Marion threw a dart right into Griffith's chest, and the 6-foot-4 and 285-pound DT grabbed not only his first career interception, but ran it back16 yards all the way to the endzone for a pick-six. As one can see in the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/09/photo-gallery-pella-at-marion/">Photo Gallery</a> from Friday night, his Pella teammates swarmed him in celebration.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Griffith had great night on both sides of the ball, serving as Pella's stalwart left tackle on offense and adding a sack to his pick-six on defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":1921802,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Logan VanDenBroek","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'5u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"185","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Pella","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68da997947161"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Pella's true X-receiver this season, Logan VanDenBroek is seeing his first meaningful snaps on offense for the Dutch this fall. A big-bodied receiver that stands at 6-foot-5 and 185 pounds, VanDenBroek more than looks the part physically. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He didn't have a massive night through the air, but Manning clearly trusts him as a "go up and get it" guy, and VanDenBroek may have a future at the collegiate level in that type of role, either as a receiver or a tight end. He needs to work on his ball skills, but he showed flashes of high-level talent with his two catches for nine yards and a score. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1644914"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68da9979471c5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Yet another monstrous physical specimen for the Dutch, [player_tooltip player_id='1644914' first='Kyler' last='VanMaanen'] stands as an intimidating presence in the middle of the Pella defense ready to swarm and tackle any ball-carrier that squeezes though to the second level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just a junior and already up above six feet and 200 pounds, VanMaanen is a mauler of a tackler that, once he gets ahold of you, he's not letting go. With a long frame and a strong base, most runners don't have the chance to run out of his reach. Like Diers, VanMaanen is almost surely D1 bound, it only depends on where and when his recruitment begins to pick up. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->