DENISON — The Fort Dodge football team works in the present with its sights set on the future.

Head coach Nik Moser gives a nod to the past, however, as his staff prepares the Dodgers for their trip to Denison-Schleswig on Friday night.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Fort Dodge (3-1 overall) enters Class 4A, District 1 play on a three-game win streak. They must find a way to continue that momentum against the Monarchs (1-3), who now begin defense of their district title.

“They’re the champs until someone knocks them off,” Moser said. “They earned that (distinction) last year with a lot of close wins in a very competitive district.

“This is a big game and a big week. It’s their Homecoming, so they’ll obviously be ready.”

The Dodgers took care of Waterloo East last Friday, winning 40-7 on the road. Fort Dodge was far from perfect — turning the ball over four times and struggling to establish a consistent offensive rhythm — but the defense held a third consecutive opponent under 300 yards in nearly pitching a shutout.

“We’re getting there, but consistency continues to be a theme for us,” Moser said. “We have to take another step in terms of our execution this week.

“We have the makings of a good football team. Our confidence is growing. But a big part of the learning process is figuring out what it takes to compete — and win — at this level every time out.”

Quarterback Tru McBride shook off an incomplete week of practice — fighting an illness — and the turnover bug for the first time to establish career highs in passing yards (211) and touchdowns (four) against the Trojans. Despite being just a sophomore, McBride ranks in 4A’s Top-10 in both categories, as well as quarterback rating.

Senior Jamarius Gibbs-Green has rushed for 359 yards and three scores, while junior Noah Daniel (207 yards, four TDs), junior Tytrell Mosley (171), junior Dalton Eckley (132) and Gibbs-Green (122) pace a balanced receiving corps.

Junior Jesse Egli, sophomore Jayce Skow, junior Taevon Feeley and junior Caiden Fraher anchor what has become a very active FDSH defense. Senior Jonathan Brown leads in tackles for loss, while junior John Hughes has recovered two fumbles.

Daniel is second to only Anthony Arambula of Denison-Schleswig in kickoff return yardage.

The Monarchs — led by first-year head coach Willie Baughman — routed Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson in their opener, but have since dropped consecutive decisions to Harlan, Carroll and Glenwood.

“They’re a solid running team,” Moser said of D-S. “(Cole) Kastner is just a junior, but he’s been one of the best backs in 4A (457 yards and four TDs at over five yards per carry).

“We have to get off the field when we can by getting stops and not letting them move the chains or sustaining drives, and we have to finish our own (possessions) and not waste opportunities.”

Fort Dodge defeated the Monarchs in 2021 (43-8) and 2022 (28-7), but were edged by them last season on its Homecoming, 15-12. Denison-Schleswig clipped the Dodgers, Spencer and Le Mars by three points or less on their way to a 7-2 campaign a year ago.