With a slim margin for error and three short weeks left in the regular season, the Fort Dodge football team faces arguably their toughest test to date as No. 9 (Class 4A) Le Mars visits Dodger Stadium on Friday night.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Head coach Nik Moser’s squad knows that a second District 1 loss would significantly hinder any playoff hopes the program holds moving forward. Fort Dodge (3-3 overall, 1-1 in the district) also understands this is a unique opportunity to climb right back into the postseason picture in a crossroads moment of sorts against the Bulldogs (5-1, 2-0).

“We’re basically down to a three-game season now,” Moser said. “This is a big week. It doesn’t make or break us as far as deciding (the position) we’re in the rest of the way, but it’s important.

“Le Mars is a really solid team. They’ll give you a lot of different looks (in the rushing attack), so we’ll have to be ready and fundamentally sound in trying to keep it contained.”

The Dodgers continued an every-other-week trend last Friday, bouncing back from a Homecoming loss to rout Storm Lake on the road by a final of 49-14. Junior Jamarius Gibbs-Green rushed for a career-high 204 yards and three touchdowns, and the defense was stout, stuffing the Tornadoes on the ground to the tune of negative-21 net yards from scrimmage.

Le Mars, which ranks in the Top-10 for both scoring offense and defense in 4A, has put up 38 or more points on four different occasions. Veteran quarterback Teagen Kasel, a returning starter and a senior, has 845 total yards of offense — balanced almost equally between throwing and running — with 14 touchdowns.

“Kasel is just a good all-around athlete,” Moser said. “Between Kasel, (Jude) Dougherty and (Jovany) Kabongo, they’ve been really effective (on the ground).”

The Bulldogs have scored 18 rushing touchdowns, and average nearly six yards per carry as a squad. Kasel (432 yards), Dougherty (320) and Kabongo (304) are all threats with the ball in their hands.

Defensively, senior Andrew Fifita has three interceptions. Seniors Alex Allen and Evan Jalas and junior Jayden Nelson are the leading tacklers for Le Mars, which has surrendered more than 18 points only once so far.

The Bulldogs have an 11-5 overall record since the start of 2022.

Sophomore Dreshaun Ross (610 rushing yards) and Gibbs-Green (345) have developed a formidable one-two punch in the backfield, with junior Royce Pederson throwing for 396 yards and five scores while completing 61 percent of his passes. Pederson has taken the reins at quarterback full-time, with classmate Jase Nekvinda moving to receiver.

Ross, senior Drew Moritz, senior Cal Hartman and sophomore Jesse Egli have paced the Dodgers in tackles defensively, with Ross and senior Isaiah Caldwell leading the way in tackles for loss.

Senior Parker Schillerstrom has converted all 18 of his extra-point tries.

FDSH senior Grant Williams is expected to return from an elbow injury after being cleared this week.

“We had a productive week of practice,” Moser said. “I think we’re cutting down on some of the mental mistakes. We’ve established the run, and the defense has been more consistent.

“We’ve been getting better. Now we want to turn the corner.”

After six weeks of warm weather, temperatures are expected to drop significantly on Friday. A steady northwest wind will sweep temperatures in the 50s — at best — into town for kickoff.