WEBSTER CITY — The wait is over.

After weeks of simulating, teaching and planning, opening day is here for the Fort Dodge and Webster City football programs.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Lynx Field.

Head coach Nik Moser’s squad is full of greenhorns. The Dodgers will have 16 rookie varsity starters in action — including a projected six sophomores — following a 4-5 campaign last year. The entire offense, with the exception of seniors Grant Williams and Ty Adams, is new.

“The kids are ready to go,” Moser said. “We’ve had some very physical and aggressive practices this week — even to the point where it got kind of chippy. That’s a tell-tale sign that we’ve been (preparing) long enough and it’s time to line up against a real opponent.

“We’ve had to modify some things (because of the heat), but everyone is in the same boat. Our guys have been working hard and working together. We’re looking forward to the season.”

The Dodgers are in for a stern challenge right out of the gate. Webster City, which moves back to Class 3A this fall, is ranked in the Top-5 of every preseason poll across Iowa.

Head coach Bob Howard’s team is fueled by the return of two-way all-state star Jaxon Cherry and four offensive linemen.

“This is going to be a big test for us,” Moser said. “Webster City is the real deal. Jaxon was the best player we went up against (in 2022), and I’m sure he’s only gotten better. They’re always incredibly tough up front, and I know they have a lot of guys back there.

“(Keegan) Hisler is really good. The (Jayden) Weinzetl kid can play. (Cael) Nixon and (Luke) Estlund can, too. They’re considered a consensus Top-5 team for a reason. Coach Howard just has a lot of impressive pieces already in place.”

Cherry, a 215-pounder, has a Div. I offer from Marshall University. Several other FBS and FCS programs are on his radar as well.

Williams, Adams, Cal Hartman (linebacker) are flanked by fellow senior veterans Isaiah Caldwell (defensive end), Drew Moritz (defensive back) and Parker Schillerstrom (kicker) as Fort Dodge’s top returnees. Sophomore Dreshaun Ross, who played outside linebacker and occasional rush end for the Dodgers a year ago, is also back and may see the field plenty on both sides of the ball. Ross and classmate Noah Daniel are the squad’s top two backfield candidates.

Ross won a state wrestling title as a freshman last February, but his football stock immediately took off as well. The athletic 210-pounder already has Div. I grid offers to Iowa, Iowa State, Nebraska, Purdue, Missouri and Minnesota.

Junior Jase Nekvinda is slated to start at quarterback, though classmate Royce Pederson is also expected to see snaps for the Dodgers. They are replacing prolific passer Connor Carver, who is now at Bemidji State.

The offensive line will feature newcomers Drayton Miller (senior, 220 pounds), Gavin Pederson (junior, 230), Jackson McQuillen (junior, 200), Luke Fierke (sophomore, 295) and Carter Short (sophomore, 290). Miller, Pederson, Fierke and Short were all injured last season and weren’t able to play.

“They’re a fun group to watch,” Moser said. “It’s a real wild card for us. There’s a ton of talent and potential but they’re largely untested. The offensive line could be a definite strength for us before all is said and done…we need to be patient as they learn and grow, but we also need them to get rolling.”

Hartman will be a fullback and linebacker. Ross (linebacker) and Daniel (safety) will also start defensively. Williams and Adams are expected to see snaps at cornerback as well.

Sophomore Tytrell Mosley — the younger brother of former Dodger all-stater Trey Mosley — joins Williams and Adams at receiver.

Caldwell will be partnered with fellow senior Zeke Pineda on the defensive front, along with one of the offensive linemen. Royce Pederson is a linebacker.

Moritz is the linchpin of the secondary. Senior Malaki Pettigrew (cornerback), sophomore Jesse Egli (safety) and sophomore Jordan Lessmeier (cornerback) are all seeing their first significant varsity action.

“Like the linemen, there’s some real potential on defense,” Moser said. “We have guys like Dreshaun, Cal, Isaiah and Drew, who will be the returning anchors and guys we’re going to rely on quite a bit. And then we have Zeke and Malaki, who are seniors who have waited and put in the work. They’ve put in the time and been patient with the process.

“We want Grant and Ty on the field as much as possible. They’re football guys. Noah, Jesse and Jordan will be effective, but there will be some ups and downs given they are only sophomores. I think the key is finding patience in our sense of urgency.

“We have to look at the big picture. These guys have come a long way in less than a month, and they’re going to continue to get better. They show glimpses…over these next nine weeks, those glimpses are like pieces of a puzzle we have to put together.”

Three-year veteran Parker Schillerstrom is back to kick. Williams will punt.

Seventy-six percent of the FDSH roster is made up of sophomores and juniors.

In addition to Cherry, Hisler, Nixon, Weinzetl and Estlund, linemen Landon Griffin, Josh Stansfield and Brandon Lahr are back for Webster City, along with senior veterans Trevyn Lyons and Jesse Cruchter.

The Lynx are 64-20 overall since 2015. Fort Dodge and Webster City are meeting for a third consecutive season after not squaring off in football from 1966 through 2020.

Howard ranks in the Top-5 all-time for coaching victories in Iowa with 364. This is his 17th season with the Lynx and 47th overall.

Temperatures are expected to be around 80 degrees at kickoff, with a light north wind.