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MASON CITY - Forgive the Fort Dodge football team for being a little on edge in recent days.
After nearly 10 months of offseason work and a long camp this month filled with practice and preparation, the Dodgers are ready to line up across from someone else.
"We're tired of having to hit each other, to be honest," FDSH head coach Nik Moser said. "Things have gotten kind of chippy this week. The kids are anxious and eager. They've put in a lot of time for this, and are ready to get out there and test the waters. The coaches feel the same way.
"It's time to play."
The Dodgers and Riverhawks square off on the field for the 111th time here on Friday night, as one of the state's oldest gridiron rivalries offers its latest installment with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. This will be the 2026 opener for both programs.
The winner receives the annual Decker Sporting Goods traveling trophy.
Moser's squad returns 14 starters - 12 with all-district honors already on their resume - from a team that won eight regular-season games for just the fourth time since 1946 last fall. First teamers Sam Moser (defensive back) and Jayon Preston-Grady (defensive line) are back after attaining all-state status as well a year ago.
Seniors Will McElroy (running back), Jayce Skow (linebacker), Cal Pederson (wide receiver), Tru McBride (quarterback), Zak Jorgensen (tight end), Alex Beekman (nose guard), Kyree Rochon (wide receiver) and Coy Nichols (offensive line) also return after being recognized at the end of the banner 2025 campaign, alongside juniors Brody Maehl (offensive line) and Cael Adams (fullback). Senior Korben Davis (offensive line) and junior Reggie Pederson (defensive back) started last season as well, and junior Luke Beckley saw plenty of time at defensive end.
Jorgensen, McElroy, McBride and Sam Moser will serve as captains. McBride and Moser are both Wayne State (Neb.) College recruits.
"It's a pretty experienced group overall with a lot of senior leadership," said Moser, who is 33-23 in six seasons at the helm. "We have 16 or 17 seniors who will play. That's good for a Week 1 rivalry road game. You want to treat this like a business trip from an execution standpoint, so it's a positive to have a lot of guys who have been through the routine multiple times."
The Dodgers, who have taken 20 of the last 21 meetings in the series, defeated Mason City in the opener last year by a final of 20-14. The Riverhawks were hit hard by graduation losses, but they do return all-everything quarterback Jameer Falls.
"He's dangerous with his arm and his feet," Moser said of Falls. "Just an outstanding overall athlete. We saw him two years ago (in Mason City) and last season at our place, and he's always a threat to do something special.
"The key is containment. That's the focus. To not let him get loose and make things happen out in the open, because he's a playmaker."
Moser added the Riverhawks are "big" with plenty of experience up front. Mason City was 4-5 a year ago and has improved in the win column during each season under fourth-year head coach Josh Reuter.
"They have a good system in place and are well-coached," Moser said. "They always play to their strengths and I'm sure they'll be fired up for their home opener in front of a big home crowd.
"It's a great challenge for us right off the bat."
Fort Dodge is in search of a third consecutive winning campaign in football for the first time since 1950-52. For now, though, the Dodgers are only in the initial step of that process.
"Our focus is solely on week one," Moser said. "We have a long way to go and a lot of work to do between now and (late-October). We're just looking forward to being back on the football field on a Friday night."
Temperatures are expected to be in the upper-70s at kickoff with light winds.