FORWARD MARCH
Dodgers ride explosive first half
Trending
WATERLOO - They took the field in steel-faced tandems, quietly walking toward the sidelines moments after a somber September 11th tribute inside Memorial Stadium.
The Fort Dodge football team isn't one to show much emotion before their games. Don't mistake the lack of energy for urgency, though: once the action starts, the Dodgers are all business and ready to be relentless.
Waterloo East found that out the hard way here on Friday night, as head coach Nik Moser's squad built a 43-0 lead by halftime en route to a 43-14 win over the Trojans to secure a 3-0 start to the season.
"We talked as coaches during the pregame and have just come to the realization (collectively) that this isn't a rah-rah group," Moser said. "They're calm in their demeanor, but they do what they need to without us having to get them hyped up for it.
"Sometimes you feel like maybe we need to light a fire under them, but then you see how they carry themselves and their effort once the game starts. They don't need us to get them going. They let their actions speak for themselves."
Senior quarterback Tru McBride passed for 176 of his 209 yards in the first half as the Dodgers overwhelmed East in all aspects to extend their series win streak to eight. Fort Dodge had six possessions in the opening two quarters, and all seven resulted in touchdowns.
The Trojans (1-2 overall) had scored 68 points the week before in a rout at Marshalltown.
Junior Reggie Pederson returned the opening kickoff 71 yards to immediately put Fort Dodge in business. From there, it was an onslaught of Dodger points.
"We were clicking on offense, defense and special teams in the first half," Moser said. "We won all three phases convincingly. We moved the ball well both on the ground and through the air, got some big stops and tackles for loss, and had two huge plays on special teams with Reggie's return and their botched punt."
McBride found senior Kyree Rochon twice for passing touchdowns, and hit junior Spencer Smith for another score on the last play of the second period. The signal caller completed 14 of his 17 attempts before intermission.
"I think one of the biggest things with Tru so far is his decision making. He's really taking care of the ball (McBride has thrown 58 passes and completed 69 percent of his throws without being intercepted)," Moser said of the Wayne State (Neb.) College recruit. "We needed him to be both efficient and smart with his reads, and he's been so good at not forcing anything and taking what the defense gives him."
Senior Will McElroy had two more rushing scores and added 92 yards in a little over a half of work. McBride hit paydirt for the seventh time on the ground this season to complement his six passing TDs.
Junior Amari McCaleb recovered a fumble for a Dodger defense that silenced East's playmakers. The Trojans finished the first half with only 10 net yards from scrimmage.
Senior Alex Beekman had three sacks. Classmate Javion Soppeland forced the fumble that McCaleb recovered.
Fort Dodge, which has now outscored its first three opponents by a combined 136-20, has a plus-seven turnover margin to date.
"Obviously that will win you games," Moser said. "We got a little ragged in the second half...giving up the kickoff return for a touchdown (Gianni Gary from 83 yards out) to start the third quarter was disappointing. We want the opponent to have to earn their touchdowns. But I can't be too nitpicky, knowing how the first half went. We were locked in. Really good for about 44 of the 48 minutes."
The Dodgers face Waterloo West at home this Friday. Like the matchup with East - a series that started in 1932 - this could be the final game between the two long-time conference rivals. East and West are consolidating in 2027-28, and non-district football schedules will change next fall.
Fort Dodge and the Wahawks (2-1) first met in 1912. The all-time series count is 36-35-1 in favor of West, with the Dodgers taking the last three contests.
The Wahawks drubbed Dubuque Hempstead last Friday, 31-7.