Dodger trio earns top honors

Carver, Jondle, Lynch on 1st team; slew of other Dodgers also recognized

A trio of Fort Dodge football players recently landed on Class 4A, District 1's top honor roll for 2022.

Seniors Connor Carver, Javion Jondle and Kaleb Lynch were named first team all-district performers. Nine other Dodgers -- seniors Orion Larson-Trott, Tucker Pederson, Nate Opande, Keaton Nichols and Collin Munter, along with juniors Cal Hartman, Grant Williams, Ty Adams and Isaiah Caldwell -- were on the second squad.

"Our kids worked very hard," FDSH head coach Nik Moser said. "I know the season didn't go exactly as they wanted or expected (the Dodgers were 4-5 overall), but it doesn't diminish the positives or their accomplishments. They earned the right to be recognized.

"I'm very happy for our seniors, and for the underclassmen, this gives them a starting point and some momentum heading into the offseason."

Carver and Jondle left their respective marks on the program's record books. Carver -- a 6-foot-3, 195-pound Bemidji State University recruit -- closed his career ranked behind only Drake Miller and Randy Reiners with 4,143 yards passing, and second to only Miller at 42 touchdowns. Jondle -- a 6-3, 200-pound Iowa Central signee -- became Fort Dodge's all-time leader in receptions (151), tied current University of Northern Iowa Panther Tysen Kershaw for the top spot in receiving TDs (24), and joined Kershaw as the only 2,000-yard Dodger receivers ever (2,098).

"I think the biggest compliment I can give Connor is that people who know the game best always commented to me on how hard he plays first and foremost," Moser said. "His effort never stops, regardless of what happened on the last play. His growth from his freshman to his senior year, both physically and mentally, has been pretty remarkable.

"I'll also say that I think Connor's best football is still to come. He's everything you want at the next level. He loves the game and is a student of the sport. It wouldn't surprise me at all if we're reading about him being a Harlon Hill finalist (NCAA Div. II national player of the year award) someday."

Carver threw for 1,798 yards and 22 touchdowns, while leading Fort Dodge in rushing at 575 yards at six yards per carry. He also added six more scores on the ground.

Jondle was a three-year starter who led all of Class 4A in receptions (66). He had 880 yards and seven TDs a year ago, then added 811 yards and 11 scores to his ledger this fall.

"Javion is obviously very gifted athletically," Moser said. "Defenses had to account for him at all times, which opened up so much more for us as an offense in how we were able to call a game. So he either had the opportunity to make something happen himself, or to help create for his teammates. To be a focal point on basically every play one way or another is incredibly rare.

"He has a ton of natural skill. Like Connor, if he puts his body and mind into it (collegiately) and locks in, there's really no limiting what he could do."

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Lynch emerged as a defensive stalwart from a rush end position, ranking in the Top-5 of 4A all year long in overall tackles and tackles for loss.

"Kaleb made a huge jump from an already-productive junior year," Moser said. "He went all-out every snap. As a first team all-district (nominee), it was a no-brainer. He made a big difference for us, and even helped on the offensive line. When he was out (with an injury) at Spencer, we missed his presence tremendously."

The 185-pound Larson-Trott was a mainstay at linebacker and rushed for 531 yards at nearly six yards per carry on offense.

"Orion got better every week," Moser said. "He's a kid who really wanted to win and did whatever we needed. He was always active defensively, and put a lot into become a respectable running back, which wasn't his natural position."

Like Larson-Trott, the 200-pound Pederson was ubiquitous in the middle of the field, shifting between inside and outside linebacker. He also filled in at tailback when necessary.

"Tucker was just consistent for us the last two years," Moser said. "He'll give you everything he has and whatever you ask. He's always been steady with his demeanor and effort, and is unflappable out there. A typical Dodger linebacker."

Opande emerged as a consistent receiving threat, ranking behind only Jondle for yards and scoring three times.

"Nate is a good player with a contagious attitude," Moser said. "He always has a smile on his face and knows how to have fun with the game. But he'll lock in and make plays. He loved to compete, and did a really good job for us on both sides of the ball (Opande also lined up at cornerback).

"I'd take a Nate Opande on my team every year."

Nichols and Munter were both three-year regulars in the trenches for the Dodgers. The 285-pound Nichols and 264-pound Munter were anchors on the offensive line, while also rotating in at nose guard defensively.

"They both made great strides in the weight room and really matured into their roles on the lines," Moser said. "They really took getting better seriously in the offseason and it paid off. You didn't have to worry about effort with either one of them -- they gave their all and will be missed."

Hartman served as a captain despite being just a junior. He was an undersized offensive lineman at 200 pounds, while also starting at linebacker, where he intercepted two passes and recovered a pair of fumbles.

"That's not an easy thing to do, playing both ways at those two positions," Moser said. "My favorite Cal story will always be his approach to playing offensive line when we asked about it in the offseason. We talked about maybe working him into the rotation (off the bench), and after giving him a day to think about it, he told us if he was going to do it, he planned on starting. And he did. That just epitomizes Cal, who had always been a running back before (this season). He's all-in."

The 6-foot-3 Williams, who also saw the field regularly in 2021 as a sophomore, had 20 catches for 305 yards and six scores.

"Grant gave us a legitimate tight end for the first time since Nick Bice (in 2019)," Moser said. "He's a long, athletic kid who runs well. His growth between now and (next August) will be important, both as a player and a leader. He's definitely had stretches and shown glimpses."

Adams added 267 receiving yards and three TDs of his own.

"Like so many of these guys, Ty gives us everything he has," Moser said. "He does so many of the little things well. He's grown and matured a lot, and we'll be leaning on him as another leader into the offseason and moving forward."

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Caldwell also began to scratch the surface on his potential as an active defensive end.

"Isaiah has a big frame and a lot of natural ability," Moser said. "He likes to be physical and was a pleasant surprise for us as a playmaker. Like these other juniors, if he keeps working hard, he could have a big (2023). It's all about putting in the time and preparing between now and then."

Senior offensive lineman Max Morud and freshman linebacker Dreshaun Ross were honorable mention picks. Ross was the first varsity ninth-grader honored at FDSH since Sam Cook in 2012.

"The (18) seniors were committed to us and the program, and for that, we thank them. It's not easy or common to do in this day and age," Moser said. "They've left their mark on the program. Now it's up to the (current) juniors, sophomores and freshmen to put in the work and become the next men up."