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DIGGING DEEP

Dodgers rally for dramatic win over Bobcats

Photo by Ross Thede, Marshalltown Times-Republican Tyler Schreier of Fort Dodge catches a touchdown pass at Cole Field against Marshalltown on Friday night.

MARSHALLTOWN — Earlier this season, the Fort Dodge football team rolled up its sleeves and got dirty with tough yards in the trenches.

On Friday at Marshalltown, the Dodgers let their playmakers loose.

Different approach, same result: a victory for the third time in four weeks.

It took a while, but Fort Dodge finally found its rhythm with the passing game at Leonard Cole Field against its long-time rival. Javion Jondle’s acrobatic fourth-down touchdown catch on a throw from Carson Peterson with less than three minutes remaining wound up being the difference, as the Dodgers completed a comeback from an early two-score deficit to take down the Bobcats on their Homecoming night, 35-28.

A listless first-half performance gave way to a dramatic finish for Fort Dodge (3-1 overall), which dug deep time and time again when Marshalltown (1-3) appeared to be in control. Senior safety Sam Daniel’s interception in the end zone with 12 seconds to go finally secured the win for the Dodgers – their fourth straight in the series and seventh in the last eight meetings.

the Dodgers — their fourth straight in the series and seventh in the last eight meetings.

“The kids found a way and gutted it out,” said FDSH head coach Nik Moser. “It was pretty obvious that we weren’t ready to play, and that’s on me. We were going through the motions for most of the first half. But I tell you what: after the initial series (giving up an opening touchdown), our defense really buckled down and kept us in it so that we could make something happen.”

Trailing 14-0 right before the intermission, the Dodgers were granted one untimed down from the Marshalltown 45-yard line with no time left after a personal foul penalty. Sophomore quarterback Connor Carver checked in for his first snap and heaved a long pass to Daniel, who caught the ball at the 4-yard line and fought across the goal line to complete the Hail Mary and finally break the ice to awaken FDSH.

“It was such an emotional game, and it took each and every one of us to come together and (finish the rally) in the second half,” said Daniel, who tallied two interceptions to push his season total to six. “The score at the end of the first half was very important. We had to built some momentum (going into the break).”

Moser added it was “just the wake-up call we needed.”

“Connor checks in cold and makes a great throw,” Moser said. “And Sam is just always around the ball. He’s obviously had a big year for us so far defensively, but he came up with two huge catches (covering 99 yards) offensively despite never really working with the receivers.

“He’s just a pure football player.”

The Dodgers exploded ahead in the third quarter, with three touchdowns in the first nine-plus minutes to go up 27-21. Senior Tyler Schreier had a pair of TD receptions from 13 and 31 yards out, and Jondle snagged a 23-yarder of his own in the back of the end zone from Peterson.

The Bobcats didn’t go quietly, though. They went back up 28-27 with a little over seven minutes remaining in regulation, and when Fort Dodge looked ready to respond by getting into a 1st-and-goal situation from the MHS 6-yard line, the home team stuffed the Dodgers for a pair of losses and backed them into a 4th-and-goal at the 18.

Peterson rolled out and fired a strike on the far left corner of the end zone under heavy duress. Jondle managed to get his feet in-bounds despite tight Bobcat defensive coverage. The 6-foot-2 sophomore then made another impressive grab on the two-point try to put Fort Dodge up by the full seven points.

“I just wanted to help make something happen when my number was called,” said Jondle, who had four receptions for 66 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the second half alone. “I got hurt in the first quarter at Sioux City East (two weeks ago), but I’ve been working my way back and it was good to finally be at full-strength (last night) and help the team out.

“When (star tailback) Dayson (Clayton) went down (with an ankle injury in the second period), we knew we’d have to get the passing game going. It was just our time to shine, and we took advantage.”

Clayton fought through his leg issues and returned to the field in the second half, accumulating 89 tough yards on 27 carries as Marshalltown stacked the box to stop the run.

“Dayson kept battling, even though he was playing hurt,” Moser said. “Javion came into his own (Friday). He made some high-level varsity catches and showed flashes of what he could be, which is special.

“With Dayson and (fellow senior co-captain) Sawyer (Springer) injured (Springer left with what is likely a dislocated shoulder in the third period), we needed some other players to step up. That’s what football is all about. Javion did that. And (back-up center) Brett Thompson filled in admirably for Sawyer.”

Schreier caught a career-high 14 passes for 116 yards in what Moser called “his best game as a Dodger by far. Tyler made some big-time plays for us.”

Peterson was 14 of 18 for 171 yards and four scores in the second half alone. He finished 22-for-28 with 239 yards.

“Carson made some terrific reads and never panicked,” Moser said. “He’s very nonchalant. Another kid who really rallied when the pressure was on. And when we pulled him for Carver (at the end of the half) and Connor threw that touchdown, who was the first person to congratulate him on the sidelines? Carson Peterson.”

After allowing 75 yards on the first series, the Fort Dodge defense buckled down and surrendered just 211 the rest of the way – including only 123 in the second half, with three forced turnovers. Kaden Lynch stripped the ball away and recovered a fumble for the Dodgers.

Fort Dodge is now scheduled to visit No. 2 Urbandale (4-0) this Friday night.

FD M

First Downs 18 16

Rushes-Yards 35-91 26-158

Passing 24-30-0 17-32-2

Passing Yards 286 128

Total Offense 377 286

Punts-Avg. 2-23.5 3-33.0

Fumbles-Lost 4-2 1-1

Penalties-Yards 11-85 6-65

Fort Dodge 0 7 20 8 — 35

Marshalltown 7 7 7 7 — 28

Scoring Summary

Marshalltown — Patrick Landeros (5-yard run), 7:55 left first quarter. Jake Vaughn kick.

Marshalltown — Malik Haynes (5-yard run), 5:15 left second. Vaughn kick.

Fort Dodge — Sam Daniel (45-yard pass from Connor Carver), 5:15 left second. Gavin Schillerstrom kick.

Fort Dodge — Tyler Schreier (13-yard pass from Carson Peterson), 10:14 left third. Run failed.

Fort Dodge — Javion Jondle (23-yard pass from Peterson), 5:17 left third. Run failed.

Marshalltown — Deonte Dean (95-yard kickoff return), 4:58 left third. Vaughn kick.

Fort Dodge — Schreier (31-yard pass from Peterson), 2:21 left third. Jondle pass from Schreier.

Marshalltown — Haynes (9-yard run), 7:09 left fourth. Vaughn kick.

Fort Dodge — Jondle (18-yard pass from Peterson), 2:49 left fourth. Jondle pass from Peterson.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing — Fort Dodge: Dayson Clayton 27-89, Carson Peterson 4-17, Sam Daniel 1-1, Jace Ulrich 1-(minus-4), Team 2-(minus-12). Marshalltown: Patrick Landeros 10-77 Malik Haynes 15-55, Gannon Williams 1-26.

Passing — Fort Dodge: Carson Peterson 22-28-0-239, Connor Carver 1-1-0-45, Dayson Clayton 1-1-0-2. Marshalltown: Brendan Bates 17-32-2-128.

Receiving — Fort Dodge: Tyler Schreier 14-116, Sam Daniel 3-101, Javion Jondle 4-66, Bradley Vodraska 2-7, Dayson Clayton 1-(minus-4). Marshalltown: John Loney 8-59, Carson Williams 6-55, Gannon Williams 3-14.

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