-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Bradley Vodraska

AMES — There were fireworks everywhere last season as Fort Dodge defeated Ames by a still-unfathomable football final of 81-54.

If fans are expecting another basketball-on-the-gridiron experience here Friday night — where scoring comes in relentless waves — they’re in for a much more traditional-looking surprise, Dodger head coach Nik Moser promised.

“There are some pieces both teams have back (from 2020), but they’re a much different team and so are we,” Moser said. “When I look at how they play and the approach they take (under new head coach Brian Sauser), the first word that comes to mind is ‘solid.’ They are fundamentally sound and much improved.”

Fort Dodge has scored almost at will in recent history against its old Big 8 rival. Last season was the crescendo, but it was far from a fluke: in their last four games against Ames — all victories — the Dodgers have racked up 234 points.

Moser is expecting a much stiffer challenge from this Little Cyclone defensive unit. Ames allowed only nine passing yards and 151 yards of total offense in a 14-7 win at Marshalltown last week.

“I was impressed with what I saw from them on film,” Moser said. “They made some things happen. (Linebacker Ethan) Prakashan was all over the place. I’m sure (Sauser, a former coach at Muscatine, Iowa City West and Grinnell) will have them ready.”

Fort Dodge earned its 17th consecutive victory over rival Mason City last Friday, pulling away with 21 unanswered second-half points to prevail, 28-13. The Dodger defense surrendered only 47 yards after intermission, forced three turnovers in all, and recorded five sacks.

So will the Ames game be more of a defensive slugfest?

“I thought our defensive effort was really good overall,” Moser said. “We had some missed assignments and breakdowns we need to clean up. Of course we have to get better, but the guys played and worked hard.”

Dodger senior tailback Jon Presswood rushed for 110 of his 171 yards in the second half against the Mohawks. Junior Connor Carver was 15 of 26 for 144 yards passing, with junior Javion Jondle (8 catches, 87 yards) and senior Bradley Vodraska (6 for 57) serving as his main targets.

The Little Cyclone offense, led by junior quarterback Dallas Sauser, finished with 227 passing yards at Marshalltown. Sauser was 17 of 30 for 174 yards.

Four different receivers had at least 40 yards. Ames standout Corey Phillips, a three-year starter, will be a main target on offense. He also lines up on the defensive side of the ball.

“He’s a big kid who’s been around for a while and has much better speed than some may give him credit for,” Moser said of the 6-foot-5, 271-pound Phillips. “He’s a difference maker and someone we have to recognize at all times. And Sauser is a solid quarterback who throws a good ball.”

Phillips has offers from Central Florida, Kansas and Northern Iowa. A year ago, he caught eight passes for 144 yards at Dodger Stadium.

The Little Cyclones lead the all-time series, 33-30-3, though the Dodgers have reeled off five consecutive wins and are 8-2 against Ames since 2009. The programs first squared off in 1913, and have met in all but two of the last 53 seasons.

“Playing Ames is a lot of fun,” Moser said. “We’re very similar communities and programs with a long history together.

“It was great to get a win last week, and we’ve had recent success (in the rivalry with the Little Cyclones), but by no means are we overconfident in where we’re at right now compared to where we need to be. It’s going to take a great gameplan and execution for us to win this season, so that’s what we’ll need (on Friday night).”