Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Tru McBride of Fort Dodge throws a pass last week against Mason City inside Dodger Stadium.

WEBSTER CITY — Fort Dodge and Webster City both started their respective football seasons on the right track.

The Dodgers and Lynx now square off on Friday to decide which program will stay the course and build more pre-district momentum into next week.

Kickoff between the Old Highway 20 rivals is set for 7 p.m. at Lynx Field.

Head coach Nik Moser hasn’t minced words with his squad in preparation for a fifth matchup in as many years with Webster City.

“It’s pretty simple: we have to first match their physicality on both sides of the ball,” Moser said. “That’s definitely been a point of emphasis. (The Lynx) have set the tone against us (in the four previous victories), which is to their credit.

“This is another great challenge for us. Webster City is always good up front, they have talented skill kids, and they play solid defense. We’ll have to execute and show more consistency than we did (in a 20-14 victory a week ago over Mason City).”

It took a while, but Fort Dodge finally got the ball rolling in wearing down the Riverhawks. The Dodgers didn’t score until early in the third quarter, but hit paydirt three times in a 10-minute span from there and hung on to take down their arch rival.

Moser’s squad was effective running the football, churning out 255 yards at over 5.5 yards per carry. Junior Will McElroy (125 yards), senior Noah Daniel (76) and senior Dreshaun Ross (59) did most of the damage.

The Dodger defense, meanwhile, surrendered only 66 passing yards and kept the Riverhawks in check with the exception of a late 59-yard quarterback keeper for a score by Jameer Falls. Ross was a wrecking ball, as the elite Oklahoma State University wrestling recruit — suiting up for the first time since his sophomore year — had three sacks, a forced fumble and four total tackles for loss.

Senior Jesse Egli intercepted a pass, and juniors Jayon Preston-Grady and Bo Marsh recovered fumbles.

“We did a nice job defensively overall,” Moser said. “I thought our ground game was effective and we drove the ball OK, but we were just inconsistent and got in our own way with too many dumb penalties.

“We have a lot of things to clean up, which we’ve been working on all week. That’s a pretty common theme from Week 1 to Week 2.”

The Lynx dominated Iowa Falls-Alden at home last Friday, 42-8. Webster City stuck to the basics and its traditional single-wing offense under second-year head coach Andy Brim.

The results were familiar, as the Lynx rushed 44 times for 346 yards. Junior Kaleb Hansen (18 carries, 142 yards, two touchdowns), senior Aiden Hrnicek (12 for 104 and two scores) and senior Jaxon Griffith (9 for 62) led the way.

“Hansen and Griffith are really good, as is Hrnicek, their spinback,” Moser said. “I remember all of them from last year. They have a lot of different ways they can get you, even if it isn’t flashy. You have to be disciplined and ready.”

Webster City has nine returning starters and 17 letterwinners back, including all-district performers Griffith, Eli Estlund and Cole Nohrenberg. The Lynx are a combined 48 games above .500 as a program since 2015.

Griffith rushed for 824 yards in 2024. Griffith, Hrnicek and Estlund were the statistical leaders on defense last fall, along with returnining players Carter Mickelson, Dawson Bertran, Beau Nohrenberg and Gavin Wynkoop.

“If you’re a Fort Dodge fan, this is a great opportunity to see an area road game. That doesn’t happen very often,” Moser said. “We’re hoping for a great crowd and an exciting environment supporting what I think is two of the better teams in the entire region.”

Conditions are expected to be on the cooler side, with temperatures in the mid- to upper-50s under a mostly clear sky.