Dodgers stack CIML Iowa team

Fort Dodge's most prosperous regular season on the gridiron in a quarter century netted the Dodgers outstanding results when the all-CIML Iowa Conference teams were announced recently.

Juniors Jontel Clayton, Darreus Caston and Will Kenny were unanimously selected by the league's coaches to represent the first team at their respective positions. The trio was joined by seniors Alex Herrington and Adam Winter and junior Ethan Bartlett on the top squad from FDSH.

Five other Dodgers - seniors Cole Clarken and Grant Forsythe and juniors Willie Williams, Mark Wilson and Levi Porter - were on the second unit for a ballclub that went 7-2 overall before bowing out against defending state champion West Des Moines Valley in the substate round.

The regular-season win total was the most at Fort Dodge since 1984.

''All of our kids were extremely deserving. I'm very happy for them,'' Dodger head coach Matt Miller said. ''We had a terrific senior and junior mix. The guys worked very well together. I don't want to say they overachieved, but they definitely played up to their potential and I was incredibly proud of them this year.''

Clayton developed into a record-shattering tailback this fall, accumulating a school-record 1,608 yards to dart up the all-time charts at FDSH. In just 16 career starts, the 190-pound Clayton has already zipped into second place on the Dodgers' cumulative rushing list with 2,503 yards on 386 carries. He now trails only Zach Mason (631 for 3,221 from 2002-04).

''Jontel obviously had a terrific season, whether you go by his individual numbers or the role he played in our team getting to seven wins,'' Miller said. ''He developed into one of the better backs around, and when it came time to vote, there wasn't any doubt on who the top guy was in our conference.

''Jon has the strength, quickness and vision - all the tools to make him an elite player. He's the total package, and a tough kid to boot. We hope he'll continue to work hard and get better, because like all of the juniors, we're really looking forward to seeing him back on our sidelines in 2010.''

The only question with Caston was where to put him on the first team. With 615 rushing yards - Caston also combined with Clayton to establish a new single-season mark for a Dodger tandem (2,223 yards), while anchoring a one-year school record 2,374-yard team rushing total - and 174 more receiving for a 25 yard-per-catch average, Caston could have easily been an offensive choice. He also had kickoff returns for touchdowns of 92 and 87 yards.

Caston's burgeoning reputation as a lock-down cornerback landed him a spot in the secondary, though. The 160-pounder recorded three interceptions and recovered a fumble.

''Darreus is a game-changer,'' Miller said. ''He can beat teams in a lot of different ways. He's just a natural football player with great instincts, just like Jontel.''

Kenny ''became one of our best surprises'' as a standout linebacker, according to Miller. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder was FDSH's leading tackler, while tallying three sacks, two fumble recoveries and an interception.

''We all knew Will was a tremendous all-around athlete coming into the season, but he really took the next step and we started to see great things from him as the year progressed,'' Miller said. ''He's an explosive player who became an intense, emotional leader for us.''

The 235-pound Herrington was a three-way regular for the second consecutive season, anchoring both the offensive and defensive lines while averaging nearly 40 yards per punt.

''Alex is one of the more solid all-around players we've had here in recent memory,'' Miller said. ''He had good size, long arms and deceptive quickness for such a big kid. He was a great hook blocker.

''We'll miss him a lot next year.''

The 220-pound Winter ''showed tremendous consistency'' as a center, Miller said.

''Like Alex, Adam's a two-year starter who will leave a big hole for us to fill. Considering we're out of the shotgun probably 85 percent of the time, he did a tremendous job with the snaps and other little things that people may not notice.''

The 195-pound Bartlett was a repeat first teamer as a defensive end and middle linebacker. He had a team-high nine sacks and recovered three fumbles.

''Ethan was very close to being a unanimous pick,'' Miller said. ''He's a versatile defender who made a lot of things happen. We're looking forward to his development as a senior, because he had a great sophomore season and followed that up with a tremendous junior year.''

Williams had 325 yards receiving on 31 catches - the most by any Dodger since Spencer Cady's 31 in 2004. Porter racked up eight sacks and four fumble recoveries as a defensive lineman. Clarken, a linebacker/safety hybrid, paced FDSH in interceptions (four) and fumble recoveries (four).

''Willie, Levi and Cole were all big playmakers who got better by the week,'' Miller said. ''Willie became a go-to guy both at receiver and as a defensive back. Levi is a space-eater who just has a nose for the ball. I think Cole had a lot of fun (after not playing as a junior). He was a welcome addition to the lineup who flew around the field.''

Wilson, a linebacker, recovered three fumbles. Forsythe, a defensive lineman, had a fumble recovery and a sack.

''Mark reminds me of Will (Kenny) - good instincts and a solid athlete, even though he's a little undersized,'' Miller said. ''He had a strong year, as did Grant, who was hurt quite a bit but played his way through it. He was one of the hardest working kids I've been around, and a real asset to this program.''

Dodger seniors Jay Johnson (quarterback) and Alex Mumm (offensive line) joined juniors Connor Morain (linebacker) and Colin Hendricks (defensive back) as honorable mention selections.

Fort Dodge defeated Ames and Newton for the first time since 1994, and snapped a 14-year drought against Valley as well. It marked the first Dodger football squad ever to beat the Little Cyclones, Cardinals and Tigers in the same campaign.

FDSH also set a school record for points per game (28.4) and fumble recoveries (22), and its 3,194 yards of total offense was the most in 15 seasons.

The Dodgers tied Waukee for second place - their highest finish since joining the CIML's Iowa division in 2000. Fort Dodge suffered a 16-10 setback at Marshalltown to close the regular season with the league championship on the line. The No. 4 Bobcats are still unbeaten and playing in a Class 4A state semifinal later this week.

''It was a memorable year,'' Miller said. ''Very enjoyable, both from a results standpoint and considering the group of kids I worked with. I can't thank the seniors enough.

''The ball's in the court of our juniors now. There's a lot of potential (four of the nine non-senior first teamers in the conference were Dodgers), but nothing is guaranteed. They have to commit and buy into next year's junior class the way these seniors did.''

Fort Dodge, which is slated to return nine defensive starters and five more on offense, picks up West Des Moines Dowling, Urbandale, Des Moines East and Sioux City North as non-conference opponents next year. Eight of the nine games on the Dodgers' schedule are against teams who appeared in the postseason for 2009.

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

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