-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Dayson Clayton of Fort Dodge gains a first down against Carroll on Friday inside Dodgers Stadium

Fort Dodge went back to basics in its last non-district test of the season here Friday, leaning on sophomore Dayson Clayton and what had been a sputtering ground game to tip the scales back in the Dodgers’ favor.

Clayton rushed for a career-high 214 yards, and FDSH used three touchdowns in the final quarter to put away Carroll, 35-7, on a muggy evening inside Dodger Stadium.

Both of Clayton’s scores came in the fourth period, when Fort Dodge (3-1 overall) started to wear its Class 3A opponent down in the first meeting ever between the two programs. The Dodgers, who had been the most prolific passing team in the state by a wide margin through the first three weeks, threw the ball only nine times total in the second half in a concerted effort to bring balance back to their attack.

“We’re at our best when our line plays well and we can run and pass the ball (with equal efficiency), depending on what the defense gives us,” said Clayton, a 207-pound bruiser who has been dealing with lingering shoulder issues from an injury suffered during the summer months. “If we can get everyone involved, we’re a lot tougher to stop.

“I just wanted to give everything I have, and I know my teammates were doing the same. It all starts with the line and goes from there. We were able to kind of take over late keeping the ball (on the ground).”

Fort Dodge’s defense, meanwhile, turned in another smothering performance against the run. Carroll (1-3) managed just 50 yards on 31 carries as a squad in a theme that has been consistent so far to date against the Dodgers.

After FDSH was shredded for nearly 2,200 yards at 6.6 yards per attempt a year ago, opponents have accumulated only 318 total rushing yards on 121 totes in four games this season.

“We grinded it out in the second half, which was good to see. And Dayson ran as hard as he has all season; he was really hitting the holes and making things happen,” Miller said. “Defensively, we did a terrific job against the run again. That’s been a real positive for us.

“We weren’t great. We’re still very inconsistent, missing some opportunities offensively and giving up too many 3rd-and-long completions. I’m not sure if it was the weather or what, but we were a little flat and emotionless. I’ll give Carroll a lot of credit for that; they have some legitimate players and they went after us hard.”

It took the Dodgers four possessions and virtually a quarter and a half to get on the board, as junior Brycen Bell caught a 34-yard TD pass from Drake Miller on 3rd-and-11. Miller then hit paydirt on a short scamper to make it 14-0 on the team’s ensuing possession.

Even though Fort Dodge had seemingly found a rhythm, the Tigers buckled down and stopped the Dodgers on three consecutive drives to open the third quarter — including a goal-to-go stand after the home team had marched 85 yards from their own 10 to the Carroll 5-yard line.

The floodgates finally opened in the fourth, though, behind Clayton’s muscle and Tyler Schreier’s speed. The sophomore darted 92 yards to the end zone seconds after the Tigers avoided the shutout with a late touchdown against the FDSH reserves.

Bell intercepted a pass, while junior Bryson Opande, junior Levi Egli and sophomore James Daniel recorded sacks. Schreier also had a 46-yard punt return to set up Clayton’s second TD of the fourth quarter with 8:52 to go.

Miller completed only 15 of 29 passes for 166 yards, and he was intercepted for the first time in 140 attempts on a tipped ball in the end zone to snuff out a 14-play first-quarter drive to the Tigers’ 16-yard line.

Senior Jace Peterson caught five passes for 63 yards — both career highs.

Six-foot-3 Carroll junior quarterback Colby Vincent did throw for 241 yards, with five balls going for 20 or more yards. It took Vincent 36 attempts to get to that total, however.

The Tigers were forced to punt nine times. Senior Bryer Nelson had an interception nullified by a roughing the passer penalty, and a Sam Daniel fumble recovery and touchdown return on a fumbled kickoff was nixed when officials ruled Carroll’s returner down before the ball popped free.

“Our defense is gaining confidence,” Miller said. “They’re playing with an attitude and an identity, which is good. It’s important that we start limiting the number of (completed deep balls). Now that we’re getting into the district schedule, we’ve got to get some things cleaned up in a hurry.

“Brycen and Tyler made some big things happen; it’s great to see what they can do with their speed in the open field. Bryson continues to be strong for us on both sides (of the line). Levi and the linebackers keep getting after it. And it was a big positive to get Petey involved in the offense like we did.”

Fort Dodge heads to Southeast Polk this Friday for a District 2 opener. The Rams are 1-3 after facing arguably the toughest schedule in the state, with losses to No. 1 West Des Moines Valley, eighth-ranked Waukee and sixth-rated Iowa City West.

Southeast Polk defeated Des Moines East last night, 40-25.

FD C

First downs 20 12

Rushes-yards 35-202 31-50

Passing 166 241

Comp-Att-Int 15-29-1 16-36-1

Total Offense 368 291

Punts-Avg. 3-36.0 9-32.6

Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-0

Penalty-Yards 5-35 5-31

Carroll 0 0 0 7 –7

Fort Dodge 0 14 0 21 –35

Scoring Summary

Fort Dodge — Brycen Bell (34-yard pass from Drake Miller), 6:34 left second quarter. Bell pass to Bryer Nelson.

Fort Dodge — Miller (5-yard run), 3:05 left second. Kick blocked.

Fort Dodge — Dayson Clayton (9-yard run), 11:11 left fourth. Ben Nebel kick.

Fort Dodge — Clayton (11-yard run), 8:52 left fourth. Nebel kick.

Carroll — Ryan Johnston (2-yard run), 4:11 left fourth. Max Neu kick.

Fort Dodge — Tyler Schreier (92-yard kickoff return), 3:58 left fourth. Nebel kick.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Fort Dodge: Dayson Clayton 31-214, Drake Miller 3-2, Team 1-(minus-14). Carroll: Ryan Johnston 23-59, Jacob Roiland 1-4, Isaac Smith 1-2, Isaiah Badding 1-(minus-4), Colby Vincent 5-(minus-11).

PASSING — Fort Dodge: Drake Miller 15-29-1-166. Carroll: Colby Vincent 16-36-1-241.

RECEIVING — Fort Dodge: Jace Peterson 5-63, Brycen Bell 1-34, Tysen Kershaw 3-26, Dayson Clayton 2-23, Nick Bice 1-12, Russell Potratz 1-9, Tyler Schreier 1-5, Anthony Wagner 1-(minus-6). Carroll: Isaiah Badding 7-109, Jang Jioklow 4-65, Korbin Lehmann 1-41, Jace Pettit 3-23, Isaac Smith 1-3.