Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Jake Erickson of Fort Dodge was named a first team all-state player by the IPSWA on Monday.

History underscores the rarity of having four Fort Dodge football players garner all-state recognition in the same season.

Yet for the second time in the last four years, the Dodgers have been honored in such fashion.

Seniors Jake Erickson and Jace Ulrich joined juniors Javion Jondle and Connor Carver in the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association all-state lineups, which were officially announced on Monday. Erickson was placed on Class 4A’s first team, with Jondle landing on the second squad. Ulrich and Carver were third teamers.

This marks just the seventh time in the last 76 years that a quintet of FDSH grid athletes were recognized together, and ties the program record for the most in a season. The 1945, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1991, 2010 and 2018 Dodgers also had four all-state football players.

Head coach Nik Moser’s squad went 7-3 this year and reached the playoffs for the fourth consecutive campaign.

“I’m honored,” said Erickson, a safety who finished in the Top-5 for tackles in 4A. “It means a lot coming off this season. It’s nice knowing we left the program in a better place with higher standards. I’m proud of what we accomplished.

“I won’t forget playing with my teammates and these coaches. It was a great four years (as a Dodger), and wouldn’t have wanted to do it with anyone else.”

Erickson remained effective despite taking the field for the last five games with a fracture in his kneecap. He was a co-captain with Ulrich, Jondle and senior linebacker Ben Egli.

The 6-foot-3 Jondle had 54 catches for 880 yards, which ranks as the fourth-best single season output in program history and second-highest total in 4A. Jondle is now sixth on the Dodgers’ career receiving charts with 1,287 receiving yards.

“To me, this is a starting point,” Jondle said of his second-team status. “I’m glad I was recognized of course, but personally, it’s not where I want to be. Going into the offseason after I handle my business in the classroom and the other two sports I play (basketball and track), this definitely will be a motivating factor (heading into) my senior year. Knowing I could’ve possibly been (a first teamer) makes me go back and think, ‘did I push myself to become the best version of myself?’ I didn’t. So I’ll live and learn and (try to reach) my full potential.”

Ulrich was tapped as a linebacker, though he spent most of his time as a fullback and on the defensive line. The three-year starter and four-time letterwinner was recently named a first team all-district honoree as well, like Erickson and Jondle.

“I am very honored,” Ulrich said. “It was especially exciting to be recognized at linebacker. I miss the game so much already, and to cap my senior season in this way is something I’ll never forget.

“I also want to give a shout-out to (starting linebackers) Ben, O’Rion (Larson-Trott), Colin (Glesne) and Tucker (Pederson).”

The 6-foot-3 Carver, a first-year starter at quarterback, had 2,103 passing yards to become just the sixth FDSH quarterback ever to clear the 2,000-yard mark in a single year. Like Jondle, he ranked in the Top-5 of 4A in every statistical category during the regular season.

“It feels great,” Carver said. “It’s an amazing honor to be recognized (by the IPSWA and coaches), and it also gives me something to use as motivation for (2022).

“I know I can play much better. Now it’s time to show the state what the Dodgers are all about.”

Fort Dodge won seven regular-season games for the fifth time since 2009, after doing so on only four different occasions from 1951-2008.

Nick Miller of Council Bluffs Lewis Central was the 4A captain.