MASON CITY — Wounded but undeterred, the Fort Dodge football team heads to Mason City on Friday intent on getting its swagger back and retaining the Decker Sporting Goods traveling trophy.

Kickoff in the 109th installment of this 112-year-old rivalry is at 7 p.m.

The Dodgers were worn down and out by Webster City last week in their season opener, surrendering 28 consecutive second-half points in a 41-13 loss. The performance left a bitter taste in the mouth of head coach Nik Moser and his players; the execution has to be much better, obviously, but the effort also wasn’t at the level it needed to be in the eyes of the Dodgers.

“I think more than anything, we have to get tougher and more physical Week 1 to Week 2,” Moser said. “Both sides of the football. We have to be better at blocking. We have to be better at tackling. Just more fundamentally sound in general, but playing with more of a purpose, too.

“We were all disappointed. That goes without saying. Our guys feel like they have something to prove right now — not to other people, but to themselves and each other.”

The Riverhawks tipped Marshalltown in their debut last week, 26-25. Mason City scored all 26 of its points in the first half, spearheaded by Drew Hobart.

Like Fort Dodge speedster Noah Daniel against the Lynx, the Riverhawk junior had a performance to remember on special teams versus the Bobcats. Hobart returned a pair of kickoffs 95 yards for touchdowns, even eclipsing Daniel’s electric effort of 93- and 95-yard scores.

“He’s an outstanding athlete,” Moser said of Hobart. “You have to really keep an eye on him…try to contain him and keep him out of the open field.”

Junior quarterback Dane Hanson ran for 38 yards and threw for 33 in the narrow win. Receiver Drayden Witt, also a junior, caught a 75-yard TD pass on a trick play from Hobart.

Senior Andrew Novak and junior Lincoln Berding led Mason City defensively.

“They’re impressive up front and have solid athletes like always,” Moser said of the Riverhawks. “It’s our main rival; you don’t need added motivation to get up for this game. They want to start 2-0 and we want to avoid being 0-2.”

Fort Dodge doubled up Mason City last season, 42-21. The Dodgers, who hold a 58-42-8 edge in the all-time matchup, had reeled off 17 consecutive wins in the series from 2004-21. The Riverhawks finally snapped the streak in 2022 at home with a 35-30 triumph.

Moser isn’t worried about anyone in his own camp hitting the panic button.

“Our focus and our work ethic has been really good this week,” Moser said. “We got punched in the mouth after being tied at halftime (FDSH fell behind by 14 points in the opening five minutes of the third quarter) and didn’t respond the right way. But we’re fine. We’ll learn from it.

“In sports, people in general are quick to jump on or off the bus. That’s the nature of being a fan sometimes. It doesn’t change who we are and our belief in each other. We know what needs to be done and what’s in front of us, both this week and the rest of the way.”