The Fort Dodge football team’s wayward ways continued Friday as the Dodgers were no match for No. 9 (Class 4A) Le Mars.
The Bulldogs topped the 40-point mark for the fifth time this season and held their opponents to two or fewer points for the fifth time in an impressive 42-7 victory. Le Mars is 3-0 in league play and 6-1 overall and appears to be sitting comfortably in the driver’s seat in District 1.
Meanwhile, head coach Nick Moser’s team once again struggled to maintain success. A week after it appeared to have turned a corner with the rout of Storm Lake, Fort Dodge (3-4, 1-2) had just 152 yards of total offense and only five first downs.
“We’ve got to do a better job of dealing with adversity and digging ourselves out of the hole when things don’t go our way.” Moser said. “We got off to a very bad start in both the first half and the second half, and that ultimately decided how things would go. We had several chances to change the momentum and flow, but we couldn’t fight through them. Ta.
“Le Mars was a more physical team. Period. Me and the coaches weren’t very good (last night). We have to keep working and keep fighting to get rid of the stigma of this every other game. (The Dodgers have been winning and losing since Week 1). Again, it’s up to us how we respond.”
Veteran quarterback Teigen Kurzel continued to play well, throwing for 108 yards and running for over 90 yards. Kurzel had a nearly even split between passing and rushing yards in the game, totaling nearly 900 yards of offense.
Kurzel only had two incomplete passes all night and scored on three short TD passes.
Fort Dodge, on the other hand, only had six total receptions for 80 yards through the air. The Bulldogs’ defense was relentless, allowing only a 35-yard touchdown run by Jamarius Gibbs-Green in the second quarter.
“They beat us in all three phases of the game.” Moser said. “Offense, defense and special teams were wins for (Le Mars). They’re a solid ball club at 6-1, but we feel like they’re better than what they showed (Friday). We have to start proving that on a more consistent basis.”
The Bulldogs, who started 16 seniors to the Dodgers’ eight, quickly set the tone with an interception return to the FDSH 1-yard line less than two minutes into the first quarter. Leading 21-7 at intermission, the third period began similarly, with Le Mars returning the kickoff to Dodgers territory and scoring almost immediately.
Four of the Bulldogs’ touchdown drives began on the Fort Dodge side of the field, two of them in the red zone.
“They don’t do anything fancy.” Mr. Moser said of Le Mars: “They’ve been tough up front and fundamentally sound.”
Gibbs-Green rushed for 74 yards. Senior Grant Williams had a 38-yard catch, a 17-yard completion on a fake punt and four punts of 40 yards or more.
Fort Dodge senior Cal Hartman recovered a fumble on a punt, setting up Gibbs-Green’s score. Senior Zeke Pineda also had a fumble recovery.
The Dodgers were without two-way starter Dre’Sean Ross, who sprained his ankle at Storm Lake and missed most of that game. Ross is scheduled to return to Sioux City West this week.
Fort Dodge will play the Wolverines (0-7, 0-3) inside Olsen Stadium on Friday at 7 p.m.
FDL
First Downs 5 16
Rush Yards 21-72 39-161
Passing yards ˜˜«80 108
Comp-at-Into 6-25-1 15-17-0
Total Yards 152 269
Punt average 7-32.0 2-20.0
Lost fumble 1-0 3-2
Penalty Yards ˜ 3-45 3-20
Le Mars 14 7 14 7 — 42
Fort Dodge 0 7 0 0 — 7
Score overview
LE MARS — Jude Dougherty (1-yard run), 10:33 left in the first quarter. Giovani Kabongo kick.
Le Mars — Teigen Kurzel (7-yard run), 1:03 left. Kabongo kick.
Fort Dodge — Jamarius Gibbs-Green (35-yard run), 8:12 2nd left. Kick by Parker Schillerstrom.
LE MARS — Kurzel (1-yard run), 6:23. Kabongo kick.
Le Mars — Doherty (18-yard run), 9:35 left third. Kabongo kick.
Le Mars — Kabongo (4-yard run), 5:17 left third. Kabongo kick.
Le Mars – Kurzel (1-yard run), 4th left 9:24. Kabongo kick.
personal statistics
Rushing — Fort Dodge: Jamarius Gibbs-Green 17-74, Royce Pederson 3-3, team 1-(minus-5). Le Mars: Teigen Casel 15-90, Jude Doherty 12-61, Giovani Kabongo 6-8, Evan Platt 1-3, Jamie Sitzman 2-2, Andrew Grant 3 ( minus 3 losses).
Passes — Fort Dodge: Jace Necubinda 1-6-0-38, Royce Pederson 4-18-1-25, Grant Williams 1-1-0-17. Le Mars: Tiegen Kurzel 15-17-0-108.
Receiving — Fort Dodge: Grant Williams 1-38, Cal Hartman 2-23, Jesse Egli 1-17, Tytrell Mosley 2-2. Le Mars: Evan Platt 6-48, Nolan Kass 3-23, Jami Sitzman 1-17, Andrew Fifita 1-15, Bowen Rieken 1-5, Giovani Kabongo 1-4, Levi Schnetzer. 2-(minus 2).