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Dodgers named to all-district football teams

6 FDSH players land on first squad; 8 others recognized

Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Senior Jace Ulrich of Fort Dodge was one of six first team all-district honorees for 2021.

A dozen Fort Dodge football players were recently named to the top two teams in Class 4A, District 1 after the Dodgers completed a 7-3 playoff campaign.

Seniors Jake Erickson, Jace Ulrich, Bradley Vodraska and Pry’Shayn Mosley were joined by juniors Javion Jondle and Connor Carver on the first squad. The district’s second team included FDSH seniors Jon Presswood, Ben Egli, Carson Peterson, Jon Astor, Jake Wagner and Kaden Lynch.

Senior Cael Mason and junior Tucker Pederson were honorable mention selections.

“I’m really proud of all of our guys,” second-year Dodger head coach Nik Moser said. “They worked hard together as a team and had a successful season. We had some mixed results (with the all-district lists) based on the rules and the way the teams are set up, but there’s nothing we can do about that now. The process is what it is for the time being.

“It’s always great to see players recognized for their efforts, especially when it’s by opposing coaches and programs.”

Erickson, a safety, was Fort Dodge’s leading tackler despite playing the final five games with a fracture in his kneecap. He’s a repeat first team all-district honoree.

“We didn’t want to say too much about it at the time because we weren’t sure if (the injury, suffered in Week 4 at Marshalltown) was going to be too much for him to play through (Erickson only missed the Webster City contest),” Moser said. “But Jake is just a fighter. He wanted to be out there for his senior season, even if he wasn’t going to be at 100 percent. And he wound up in the Top-5 (in 4A) for total tackles.

“He loved contact and was always around the ball. Jake gave his all, and really, didn’t miss a beat despite being hurt. It limited what he could do for us some offensively, but he kept battling.”

Ulrich was a three-year regular at fullback and on the defensive line. He was a second teamer a year ago.

“Jace was really an extension of the coaching staff on the field,” Moser said. “He played two or three different positions both offensively and defensively. Jace is the kind of guy you always want on your side. Just a really physical kid. A throwback player who studied the game.”

Vodraska had a breakout campaign as a senior receiver. His 704 yards on 48 catches ranked as the 12th-best for a single season in school history, and Vodraska will graduate 10th on the school’s all-time receiving charts.

“Bradley had a lot of big catches and plays for us,” Moser said. “He was a reliable target and had a very productive senior year. He made things happen and was a focal point of our passing attack.”

Mosley, another three-year regular, continued his ascension and gave the Dodgers a game changer on the defensive line. His 12.5 tackles for loss ranked second on the squad.

“Pry’Shayn has grown a ton both on and off the field since his sophomore season,” Moser said. “He was a real challenge to prepare for because of his athleticism. He did a nice job for us and was able to disrupt things in the (opposition’s) backfield.”

Like Vodraska, Jondle was a unanimous selection. The co-captain had 54 catches for 880 yards — the fourth-best single season in program history and second-highest total in 4A. Jondle is now sixth on the Dodgers’ career charts with 1,287 receiving yards.

Ulrich and Jondle were second teamers in 2020.

“Javion was the best (wideout) in the district, but that’s not his goal,” Moser said. “He had a really good year — he catches the short stuff but can also stretch the field and go deep — but Javion knows he’s just getting started and scratching the surface on what we hope leads to a big senior season.”

Like Jondle, Carver was a Top-5 leader statistically at his position in 4A. He threw for 2,103 yards to become just the sixth FDSH quarterback to ever clear the 2,000-yard mark.

“Connor got better every week,” Moser said. “I know he’s going to work hard, go to camps and be ready to go (in 2022), just like Javion. They’ll both continue to get better physically. Their maturity and growth as leaders of this program will be important between now and (this coming summer).”

Moser was disappointed for Presswood and Egli, who “absolutely had first team all-district seasons.”

“Jon Jon and Ben were deserving, but it’s an inexact science with some steps that, to me, need to be corrected,” Moser said. “Jon Jon was in the Top-5 for rushing (in 4A with 1,196 yards). He was behind (all-stater) Dayson (Clayton) for two years, stepped in and made the transition (to full-time tailback) look seamless through his hard work. He’s an all-state level kid in my mind.

“Ben was our leader in tackles for loss (at 16, which was 10th in 4A). He wasn’t even a guaranteed starter at the beginning of his junior year (at linebacker), but he worked his way up and made the most of his opportunities. We’ll miss his leadership and activeness.”

Peterson made the move from quarterback to receiver and defensive back for his senior season. He was a second teamer last fall as well.

Peterson led Fort Dodge in interceptions from his safety slot.

“Petey was a team-first, selfless player,” Moser said. “He just wanted to do whatever it took to help us succeed and win. He was versatile and valuable, and the other coaches respected that.”

Astor and Wagner were two-year full-time staters on the offensive line.

“Jon was really physical at center,” Moser said. “We took advantage of his athleticism and had him pulling a lot. He had a solid season.

“Jake was just a tough, hard-nosed Fort Dodge kid. Undersized, but never backed down and did whatever he was asked.”

Lynch was a two-year regular who battled injuries at defensive end.

“Kaden was playing his best football at the end of the year when he was finally getting healthy,” Moser said. “He has a lot of tools physically at almost 6-feet, 5-inches tall. Really good as a bookend on our defensive line.”

Mason was a two-year regular on the offensive line. Pederson became an active playmaker at linebacker.

“Cael was consistent for us and a hard worker,” Moser said. “He’ll be missed. Tucker really came on and we’ll expect a lot of him heading into his senior year as another returning (all-district) player with Javion and Connor.”

The Dodgers won seven regular-season games for the fifth time since 2009, joining the ’09, ’10, ’15 and ’18 squads. Fort Dodge had reached that mark only four times from 1951-2008.

FDSH went 3-2 in the district, losing to champion Webster City and runner-up Spencer. The Dodgers were ousted in the playoffs by sixth-ranked Bondurant-Farrar.

Webster City junior wingback CJ Hisler was named the District 1 most valuable player on offense. Lynx sophomore linebacker Jaxon Cherry was the defensive MVP.

Senior Jamin Stuhr was defensive lineman of the year, and senior Truman Klein was the co-offensive lineman of the year. Senior JJ Moore was the district’s top punter.

Hisler, Klein and Beau Klaver were first teamers on offense for Webster City, with Stuhr, Cherry, Connor Hanson, Devon Stoakes and Evan Estlund making the top defensive unit in District 1.

Ty McKinney and Ben Auderer were second teamers for the Lynx. Cody Kolbeck, Charlie Stansfield and Keegan Hisler landed on the honorable mention charts.

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