PELLA — It was all a dream — fantasy that became a reality.

The fourth-ranked Centerville football squad’s magical season ended on Friday night in Pella.

The ground-breaking year will go down as one of the school’s best — if not the greatest ever at CHS.

Pella (9-3) crushed the Big Red’s dream of playing in the state semifinals at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls with a opportunistic 24-20 victory in the quarterfinal round. The hyped game between Class 3A, District 6 rivals was a rematch of an overtime thriller from week three. Centerville won that game 44-43 on Tanner Susin’s game-ending two-point run.

Pella, a semfinalist from a year ago, will play New Hampton Monday, Nov. 16.

Centerville head coach Jim Knott talked about his talented team, which set a school record for wins (11). The Big Reds graduated a huge senior class (19 players) and a very talented one at that.

“They set some pretty high goals. When you get really close and you’re not able to reach them — it really hurts,” said Knott. “If you go into our locker room right now, it’s a rough place right now.”

Centerville (11-1) dominated the stats and rolled up 383 yards, 255 of that from Knott’s senior running back Tanner Susin, who ran like a horse all night. Susin scored all three of Centerville’s touchdowns, going almost untouched on every one. His final score, a 38-yard scamper, made it 20-17 Centerville with 6:47 remaining in the game.

Pella managed just 148 total yards and just three first downs in the opening half. The Dutch were held to just 60 yards rushing, but somehow found a way.

The Dutch maximized their opportunities, especially in the closing minutes.

“Our kids have responded in a great way,” said Pella head coach Jay McKinstrey.

Facing a 3rd-and-14 at the Pella 49-yard line, late in the fourth quarter, Dutch quarterback Blaine Forsythe would roll out right and launch a ball in the direction of junior wideout Ryan Lanke. Lanke would come down with an amazing one-handed grab to keep the winning drive going.

“Kids have to make plays to win big games and that was a big play,” said the Pella head coach.

Senior back Matt Meyers would punch it in from two yards out to cap the winning drive with just 2:33 remaining on the clock.

Centerville advanced it to its own 32, but a fourth-down throwback pass deep on the sideline fell to the ground to end all hope of a victory.