GETTING PHYSICAL
Dodgers strong at the point of attack in lopsided win
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Head coach Nik Moser and the Fort Dodge football coaching staff had a much bigger picture in mind beyond the outcome here on Friday night.
Regardless of the final score, Moser wanted his Dodgers to feel like they exerted their will against a Webster City program that had often done just that to his squad in the past.
"We talked before the game and reminded them, 'fellas, more than anything, we want to out-physical our opponent.' If we do that, everything usually takes care of itself," Moser said. "That was our number one goal. And we told them the same thing at halftime. No let up in the energy and effort.
"Be intense. Be relentless."
Fort Dodge players responded to their coach's message in a big way, breaking through and free for a 57-0 victory over the Lynx inside a steamy Dodger Stadium.
Webster City had been a thorn in FDSH's side since the rivalry was renewed in 2021, winning four times before being edged by the Dodgers last year, 7-6. There were no such dramatics on Friday, as Moser's team racked up over 500 yards of offense and posted a shutout as its starters gave up less than 100 total yards from scrimmage.
Senior tailback Will McElroy sprinted to a career-high 236 yards on just 11 carries, ripping off runs of 47, 47, 61 and 41 yards. Meanwhile, senior quarterback Tru McBride accounted for five more touchdowns, scoring four times on the ground and hitting sophomore Mason Hughes on an 80-yard scoring strike.
Fort Dodge won for the 17th time in its last 19 regular-season games, dating back to when Webster City defeated the Dodgers here in the 2024 opener. Both McElroy and McBride were in the starting lineup as sophomores that night, making their varsity debuts with a handful of other classmates on their home turf.
"These seniors do remember what that felt like," Moser said. "They're not a group that gets too high or too low about much, but they'll take the motivation where (the opportunity arises). And I know they didn't feel like they were at their best (against the Lynx in '24 or last year)."
Fort Dodge was impressive up front on both sides of the ball. The Dodgers are still relatively young and developing on the offensive line - Korben Davis is the only senior starter - but juniors Brody Maehl, Coy Nichols and Bryce Tessandori have joined sophomore Max McQuillen in creating a cohesive unit to protect and block for players like McElroy and McBride.
The defensive line has been anchored by senior veterans Alex Beekman and Jayon Preston-Grady, along with junior Luke Beckley. They have created enough pressure to help a relatively untested linebacker group - led by all-district senior veteran Jayce Skow and newcomers Amari McCaleb and Mykel Benedict - settle into a rhythm.
"We've done a good job up front so far (the first two weeks)," Moser said. "It's all about getting better every day, and they're far from satisfied. There's still a lot of work to be done and they know that. But (controlling the trenches) is where it all starts."
Benedict, a sophomore, intercepted a pair of passes.
"Myke took a big step from Week 1 to Week 2," Moser said. "He takes coaching well and is like a sponge (with information). Always willing to learn. He'll keep getting better, and that was fun to see. It's a heck of a (varsity) Dodger Stadium debut that he'll always remember."
Senior Javion Soppeland also intercepted a pass, and senior Jayden Stanley recovered a fumble.
McBride now has nine total touchdowns the first two weeks of the year - six on the ground and three through the air. McElroy's rushing total was the 18th best single-game effort in program history, and the top total for any with under 14 carries.
The Dodgers rushed for 317 yards at nearly 14 yards per attempt, and McBride finished with 185 passing yards. Hughes caught four passes for 113 yards, and senior Zak Jorgensen added a pair of receptions for 58 yards.
Jerry Crockett, the freshman team's quarterback, created a late buzz in the stands with a 47-yard keeper to the end zone on his first varsity snap. Wearing jersey No. 11, Crockett wasn't even listed in the program.
"If they were going to take away the pass, we wanted to run the ball. And if they loaded the box, we were going to open things up," Moser said. "That's been the strategy these first two weeks: keep it balanced and try to utilize our strengths based on what the defense gives us."
Senior Kaleb Hansen had 60 yards on 20 carries to lead Webster City, with Luke Blake adding 34 yards on a pair of late runs. Coyce Bertran added 49 yards on the ground.
Game-time temperature was right at 90 degrees, with high humidity and a heat index approaching 100. That didn't stop fans from filling the home side of the stadium for the Dodgers' 2026 home debut.
Fort Dodge now faces long-time rival Waterloo East on the road this Friday. The Trojans wiped out Marshalltown on Friday, 68-22, to even their record at 1-1.