Dodgers welcome champs back to town

It's the kind of 5 vs. 12 matchup that would make an NCAA Tournament bracketologist smile.

Fifth-seeded Fort Dodge (7-2 overall) begins what it hopes will be a prosperous postseason journey on the gridiron here tonight. Standing first in the Dodgers' way? No. 12 seed West Des Moines Valley (5-4) - the defending state champion and Iowa's gridiron giant over the course of the last decade.

Kickoff for this Class 4A West substate contest is set for 7 p.m. inside Dodger Stadium. The winner faces either fourth-seeded Urbandale (7-2) or No. 13 seed Sioux City East (5-4) on Monday in the round of 16 at a site to be determined.

Head coach Matt Miller's squad recently completed the program's best regular season since 1984, and FDSH was an eyelash away from staking claim to the CIML Iowa Conference title. Now the Dodgers get to prove themselves all over again in the playoffs against a team they defeated less than two weeks ago for the first time in 14 years.

''The theme of 'opportunities' keeps coming up this season, and I'd say this is definitely another one,'' Miller said. ''These kids have earned the right to be at home in front of what we're hoping will be a big and enthusiastic crowd in red and black.

''We're playing the defending state champs (Valley has four state crowns since 2002 alone), which some would say is a daunting task and unlucky given they're a No. 12 seed. At the same time, it's a familiar opponent that we've already beaten (24-10 at home on Oct. 16). We'll take the approach that it's a tremendous challenge and one we'll be ready for.''

Fort Dodge is still licking its wounds after a narrow setback at No. 4 Marshalltown last Friday. The quick turnaround puts the pressure on the recovery efforts for juniors Jontel Clayton and Darreus Caston, who suffered ankle injuries on consecutive plays against the Bobcats.

Miller is somewhat optimistic about both players seeing the field, but didn't make any guarantees.

''We'll give it a try, but at the same time, make their long-term health our biggest concern,'' Miller said. ''We'd rather be cautious than pushy about it; like we would with any kid, we want what's best for them. Until they get going on game night, you just don't know how it's going to work out.

''I'll say this much: (athletic trainer) B.J. (Jaquette) and (Fort Dodge chiropractor) Jason (Laird) have done everything they can to get them ready in very a short period of time, and we appreciate it.''

Clayton and Caston have combined to rush for a school-record 2,097 yards this year while averaging 7.1 yards per carry. Clayton (1,482 yards) has also established a new individual single-season benchmark, and now ranks second on FDSH's career list with only 15 varsity starts in the books.

Miller indicated senior Cole Clarken (20 carries for 121 yards) and junior Mark Wilson (7-29) will see action in the backfield.

The Dodger defense, meanwhile, continues to be the squad's hallmark. Fort Dodge surrendered 21 points or less for the fifth straight week - and eighth time in 2009 - last week at Marshalltown, limiting standout quarterback Chanse Creekmur to 115 yards of passing (170 below his average) on just eight completions.

The Dodgers carry a plus-19 turnover margin - among the best in the entire state - into the playoffs. They've recovered 20 fumbles and picked off 12 passes, led by Clarken (four fumble recoveries, four interceptions, two sacks), junior Ethan Bartlett (eight sacks, three fumble recoveries), junior Levi Porter (six sacks, three fumble recoveries) and Caston (three interceptions, one fumble recovery).

Against Valley in the regular season, Fort Dodge pounced on four fumbles without putting the ball on the turf. Clayton (81-yard touchdown run) and Caston (99-yard TD reception from senior quarterback Jay Johnson and 60-yard scoring run) hit the longballs offensively.

''Our defense is going to have to set the tone again,'' Miller said. ''If we can play aggressive yet disciplined football and minimize our mistakes, we'll have a good shot.

''There aren't many secrets when it comes to playing Valley: you have to execute at a high level and be as fundamentally sound as possible.''

The fourth quarter has also been the Dodgers' time to shine this fall. Marshalltown's field goal against FDSH last Friday marked the first points scored on the first-string defense all season long in the final period. Des Moines Roosevelt's two meaningless touchdowns scored on the reserves in Week 2 were the only fourth-quarter points allowed by the Dodgers until the Bobcats' FG.

''It may sound odd given it was just 12 days ago, but I think we're a different - and better - football team now than when we saw Valley the first time around,'' Miller said. ''Even though we lost at Marshalltown, I think we proved something to ourselves, taking an unbeaten and Top-5 opponent down to the wire.

''Valley knows how to win at this time of year - Coach (Gary) Swenson is the best in the state when it comes to playoff football. We'll have to hit on all cylinders to get the job done.''

Senior quarterback Taylor Nelson, who captained the Tigers to last year's state championship, has thrown for 1,247 yards and 12 touchdowns this season. He's completed 107 of his 158 passes at a pinpoint 68 percent accuracy.

Against the Dodgers, Nelson was 16 of 34 for 202 yards. He was intercepted twice.

Junior Martin Looney (621 yards, 10 touchdowns), sophomore Trey Lewis (432 yards, 5 TDs) and Nelson (282 yards, five TDs) are Valley's rushing leaders. Defensively, senior Nick Kron has 19 tackles for loss. Nelson and Kron - the only two starters back for the Tigers this season - were both first team all-conference picks a year ago.

Contact Eric Pratt at (515) 573-2141, or by e-mail at sports@messengernews.net

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