SIOUX CITY — Fort Dodge huddled together near the end zone at Olsen Field Friday night, kneeling in a position only three other Dodger football teams have experienced since 1946.

A 35-6 victory over Sioux City West had assured head coach Nik Moser’s squad of eight regular-season wins – a total matched by just the 1974, 1981 and 2010 Dodgers over the last 80 campaigns at FDSH. Yet there wasn’t much pomp and circumstance afterward for a group floating in such rarefied air.

Moser kept his Dodgers grounded, reminding them that there are bigger days ahead.

“I couldn’t be more proud of what they’ve done and their overall body of work,” Moser said. “To go 8-1 and do something only three other teams here have accomplished over the last eight decades is special. No doubt about it. And they should be commended for it.

“With that being said, I don’t think anyone in that huddle, to a person, is feeling satisfied. The second season starts now, and we have bigger goals than just this. We’ve come this far, but it’s no time to stop and reflect. We have the opportunity to keep going, and we want to take advantage of that.”

Eighth-ranked (Class 4A) Fort Dodge wasn’t particularly sharp in the lopsided rout of the Wolverines (1-8). The Dodgers were balanced offensively, with 229 yards rushing and 213 passing, and their stellar defense again harassed an opposing quarterback who had put up impressive numbers before Friday.

Ten penalties, three turnovers and seven more empty possessions into the plus side of the field held FDSH back some on the scoreboard in a contest it otherwise dominated statistically.

Moser wasn’t overly concerned.

“We’re going to spend very little time on what happened (last night),” Moser said. “It’s all about moving on and moving forward. We’re banged up and we need to get healthy. But it’s playoff time now, so our focus is there and only there once we know who we’ll be facing and where we’ll be going.”

If Friday was Christmas Eve, Saturday will certainly feel like Christmas morning. Postseason pairings will be announced for the 16 qualifiers in 4A – six district champions, six runner-ups, and four wild-card squads.

At 8-1 overall and 4-1 in District 1, the Dodgers will move on as a silver medalist behind champion and fourth-rated Sergeant Bluff-Luton (8-1, 5-0). Fort Dodge may have the opportunity to host just its fourth playoff game since 1985 – the 1994, 2009 and 2010 teams took the field inside Dodger Stadium – but Moser noted, “that’s beyond our control at this point.”

“We’ll see what the results (from Friday) and the aftermath Saturday brings,” Moser said, adding pairings should be out by late morning.

Junior Tru McBride threw for 213 yards and a pair of touchdowns against the Wolverines, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark for the second consecutive season in the process. McBride had scoring strikes to junior Kyree Rochon and senior Tytrell Mosley.

Junior Ezrah Barkhaus rushed for all but five of his 105 yards in the second half, as Fort Dodge substituted liberally. The Dodgers even tried to get senior student manager Slade Babb a late touchdown run, but Babb was denied in four goal-to-go attempts.

Sophomore Cael Adams had his first varsity touchdown on the ground. Barkhaus, junior Will McElroy (48 yards) and senior Dreshaun Ross (43) all had productive efforts rushing, though McElroy – FDSH’s feature back – sprained his ankle in the first half and was unable to return.

Ross and Barkhaus found paydirt on short jaunts.

Junior Cal Pederson returned a punt 39 yards.

The defense did the rest. The Dodgers allowed only two net rushing yards from scrimmage on 22 West attempts. The Wolverines picked up just six first downs, punted six times, and had 13 plays go for lost yardage.

Ross, junior Jayce Skow and junior Jayon Preston-Grady had sacks. Senior Drew Mason intercepted the first pass of his varsity career, and senior John Hughes recovered a fumble for Fort Dodge.

Shifty sophomore quarterback Tavin Irvine, who had nearly 1,000 yards from scrimmage total between passing and throwing before Friday, carried the ball 15 times for just 11 total yards. He was tackled for a loss on six occasions, and managed only 76 yards passing on 25 throws.

The Dodgers have now allowed six points or less five different times in 2025.

“I want to again point out the seniors,” Moser said. “It’s not a huge group (11 players), but they’ve been a part of 15 wins here now over the last two years. You’re talking about something that’s only been done by one other class (2010) here since World War II.

“We’re 8-1, but we’re not done.”

FD SCW

First Downs 20 6

Rushing-Yards 42-229 22-2

Passing 13-21-1 11-25-1

Passing Yards 213 76

Total Offense 442 78

Punts-Avg. 0-0 6-36.0

Fumbles-Lost 2-2 2-1

Penalties-Yards 10-95 12-106

Fort Dodge 7 14 7 7 – 35

SC West 0 0 0 6 – 6

Scoring Summary

Fort Dodge – Cael Adams (1-yard run), 9:22 left first quarter. Bo Marsh kick.

Fort Dodge – Dreshaun Ross (4-yard run), 5:56 left second. Marsh kick.

Fort Dodge – Kyree Rochon (36-yard pass from Tru McBride), 0:51 left second. Marsh kick.

Fort Dodge – Tytrell Mosley (18-yard pass from McBride), 9:13 left third. Marsh kick.

Sioux City West – Tavin Irvine (5-yard run), 11:49 left fourth. Kick blocked.

Fort Dodge – Ezrah Barkhaus (4-yard run), 7:57 left fourth. Marsh kick.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing – Fort Dodge: Ezrah Barkhaus 18-105, Will McElroy 8-48, Dreshaun Ross 7-43, Tru McBride 4-39, Cael Adams 1-1, Slade Babb 4-(minus-7). SCW: Tavin Irvine 15-11, Jackson DeBondt 1-(minus-2), Jordyn Grajeda 1-(minus-3), Avery Thomas 5-(minus-4).

Passing – Fort Dodge: Tru McBride 13-21-1-213. SCW: Tavin Irvine 11-25-1-76.

Receiving – Fort Dodge: Ezrah Barkhaus 2-52, Kyree Rochon 3-47, Tytrell Mosley 3-38, Cal Pederson 2-35, Cael Adams 1-23, Zak Jorgensen 2-19. SCW: Adrian Hilden 2-43, Day’Juon Staten 4-19, Nolen Hardgraves 3-16, Avery Thomas 1-3, Jackson DeBondt 1-(minus-5).

Best regular seasons

since 1946

2025 8-1

2010 8-1

1981 8-1

1974 8-1

1946 7-1-1

2024 7-2

2021 7-2

2018 7-2

2015 7-2

2009 7-2

1984 7-2

1978 7-2

1950 7-2

1949 7-2