Nik Moser isn’t fooled by the early-season record of the Dallas Center-Grimes football team.

The Mustangs are 0-2 for the second consecutive year heading into the “Beisser Bowl” game against Fort Dodge, which rewards a Beisser Lumber traveling trophy to the winning school in honor of the successful local business stationed in both communities.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. inside Dodger Stadium.

What Moser sees on film and what DC-G has been on paper doesn’t quite match. The Mustangs have dropped decisions so far to Gilbert and Newton – two squads expected to be in or near the Top-10 of the Class 4A rankings in 2024.

“They’re still a really good football team,” said Moser, the fifth-year FDSH head coach. “They’ve played two tough, physical opponents so far. We’ll have to be ready and execute.

“Even after last week’s win (35-17 at Mason City), we know we have a lot of improving to do and plenty of things we need to clean up.”

The Dodgers were far from perfect, but they were much better in wiping out the Riverhawks for the 19th time in 20 seasons to retain the Decker Sporting Goods Trophy. Sophomore quarterback Tru McBride threw for 166 yards and three touchdowns, while senior Jamarius Gibbs-Green and sophomore Will McElroy combined to rush for 178 yards on 23 carries. Gibbs-Green scored twice.

Junior Noah Daniel, junior Tytrell Mosley and McElroy all had TD receptions. Junior Caiden Fraher had 4.5 tackles for loss, with senior Jonathan Brown adding four.

Junior Taevon Feeley, Fraher and Brown led the way in tackles. Junior John Hughes recovered two fumbles.

“We did some positive things,” Moser said. “But beating Mason City can’t be our yearly high. We enjoyed it, celebrated it, then moved on.

“DC-G has had our undivided attention. They’re well-coached (by Algona native Scott Heitland, who is in his 21st season at the helm) and they’ll be hungry to avoid (an 0-3 start).”

The week of practice has been inconsistent for Fort Dodge, as a rash of illness swept through the program.

“We’ve been doing what we can despite being short-handed,” Moser said. “It’s been kind of a rough week as far as getting the reps we need. But we’ve pushed through.”

Senior Tate Perin has completed 68 percent of his passes for 234 yards and three TDs to pace the Mustangs so far. Junior Hudson Heidgerken (170 receiving yards) and sophomore Wyatt Valenta (133) have been his main targets.

Junior Connor Stolpe is DC-G’s most active defensive leader.

“They throw the ball well and play solid defense,” Moser said. “I think they’ll be effective running the ball, too; they’ve just faced two very physical teams so far.

“That’s what we need to continue to strive for: to be the most physical (squad) on the field, week after week.”

The Beisser Bowl began last season. Company president and CEO David Ling, Moser and Heitland got together and decided to add some incentive to this new rivalry, with the travel trophy designed and created by PJ Phillips of Beisser Lumber Company.

Phillips has been with Beisser Lumber for nearly 20 years and works at all three locations. He built the trophy from scratch last year. It took him 35-40 hours to finish.

Phillips also designed a commemorative brass coin for teams to use during the meeting with officials to decide the opening possession. Each side of the coin is imprinted with “Beisser Bowl,” with the state of Iowa in the middle – flanked by an “FD” on one side and a “DC-G” on the other.

Beisser Lumber was recognized as one of the 100 largest lumber companies in the United States. The first expansion from its original Fort Dodge location came in 1979, to Des Moines. The company, which employs nearly 200 people, opened its Grimes office in 1999, and Coralville in 2001.

Beisser Lumber celebrated its 70th anniversary last year in Fort Dodge. The late Fred and Marian Beisser opened the business in Fort Dodge in 1953. Their son, Kim, became president in 1973, and served until Ling – who is married to Kim and Sally Beisser’s daughter, Dr. Sarah (Beisser) Ling – took over last year.

Fred and Marian Beisser and their two sons, Kim and the late William “Nick” Beisser, are all Fort Dodge Senior High graduates.

On Friday, Beisser Lumber will again be donating $1,000 to the Fort Dodge Senior High and DC-G Athletic Booster Clubs to recognize a “player of the game” from both teams.