Everybody loves great offenses and high-scoring teams, but those that really made an impact on the Messenger area over the past decade did so on the other side of the football. Since the start of the 2010 season and finishing up with this past fall, we have been witness to many incredible ...
The past decade around The Messenger area has featured some memorable moments on the football field. Dating back to the 2010 season and running through this past fall, we saw St. Edmond reach the UNI-Dome twice behind the running power of Tate O’Tool; the Dodger trio of Sam Cook, Drake ...
When Nik Moser was a 12-year-old ballboy on his dad’s 1994 Fort Dodge football team, one of the Dodgers’ student managers asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. “I still remember the conversation to this day,” Moser said. “And this is the honest truth: I told her I wanted ...
Matt Miller recently retired with the most victories in Fort Dodge Senior High football history. Winning was always a secondary message for the Dodger head coach, though. Success mattered, of course, but Miller always emphasized the importance of taking valuable life lessons away from the ...
AMES - Asle Thorson spent countless days putting in the extra work required to become a Div. I football player. And just as many nights dreaming about fulfilling that journey. Now, thanks to Iowa State University, the Fort Dodge senior will be able to do that, committing to Matt Campbell and ...
IOWA CITY — In the end, the opportunity to play high-level football led Wyatt Wegener to the University of Iowa. Wegener, a two-time all-state selection from Algona, will join the Hawkeyes in the fall. He selected Iowa and head coach Kirk Ferentz over Iowa Central, Iowa Western and ...
A number of senior area athletes were recently named academic all-state honorees by the Iowa Football Coaches Association. A trio of Fort Dodge Dodgers — Shane Halligan, Nick Bice and Geoff Astor — were recognized in Class 4A. This marks the second consecutive season that FDSH rostered ...
AMES — In the end, Nick Lawler went back to his roots. Lawler, a St. Edmond senior, officially announced his plans to attend Iowa State University in the fall and continue his football career. The 6-foot-5, 310-pound Lawler decided on the Cyclones over the University of Northern Iowa and ...
HUMBOLDT — Jamison Heinz fits the mold for what the University of Iowa football team looks for when recruiting in-state players. Heinz, a senior multi-sport athlete for Humboldt, will continue his playing career with the Hawkeyes in the fall. “I’ve been a Hawkeye fan my entire ...
LAKE CITY — The South Central Calhoun football team swept the Class 1A, District 2 postseason awards much like they ran through the league. The Titans finished the regular season unbeaten, which included five wins inside the district by almost 41 points a game. Senior Landon Schleisman ...
The Fort Dodge football program’s record books date back over 100 years. Senior wide receiver Tysen Kershaw made a little history of his own on Monday. Kershaw became just the second Dodger ever to be named a two-time first team Iowa Print Sports Writers Association all-state selection in ...
When the Algona football team needed a big play, they looked to senior Wyatt Wegener. And Wegener delivered time and time again. The Iowa Print Sports Writers Association honored Wegener as the Class 2A captain of the all-state team. Wegener was one of 10 selections from the area spread ...
HUMBOLDT — Jamison Heinz will never forget the moments he made this past fall playing football for Humboldt. Heinz earned first team Class 3A, District 2 honors and was tabbed the offensive most valuable player. Joining Heinz for the Wildcats were Colton Goodell, Sam Fischer, Carter ...
CEDAR FALLS - Cooper DeJean put on a one-man show here Saturday evening in the Class 2A state semifinals, leading OABCIG to the first championship game in school history. DeJean, a junior, threw for 357 yards and ran for another 79, accounting for five touchdowns in a 41-32 victory for the ...
Matt Miller established an unparalleled level of modern-era consistency as Fort Dodge Senior High’s head football coach. Yet his 16-year tenure, by both his own admission and even design, was never about the success he experienced on the field. Miller formally announced his retirement on ...
One of Class 4A’s most competitive football districts announced its honor roll this week, as eight Fort Dodge players — seven of them seniors — landed on the first or second team. Tysen Kershaw, Asle Thorson and Austin Lee were on District 2’s elite list for the second consecutive ...
Nick Lawler has pushed himself through extra workouts and additional conditioning to become a lineman college coaches are pursuing. The St. Edmond senior, who holds a handful of offers to play football at the next level, was recently named the Class A, District 2 Lineman of the Year by the ...
MANSON — Jeff Anliker admits there is going to be a void that needs to be filled come next fall. Anliker announced his retirement as head football coach at Manson Northwest Webster during a recent team banquet, ending his 16-year run in that role. He plans to continue coaching the Cougar ...
ALGONA — The Algona football team made sure there would be no tears of disappointment to end this season. Only ones of joy and excitement. The third-ranked Bulldogs punched their spot into the Class 2A semifinals with a physically dominating 48-15 victory over Greene County here Friday ...
CEDAR RAPIDS — Fort Dodge head coach Matt Miller expects very few frills and even less surprise from the fifth-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy football team in the Dodgers’ Class 4A playoff opener on Friday at historic Kingston Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. For the sixth time in the ...