The Webster City Lynx football team returns to action on Friday night, as they welcome in the Fort Dodge Dodgers in non-district action at Lynx Field in Webster City. Webster City enters at 1-0, while Fort Dodge enters at 1-0 and ranked #3 in Class 4A. Friday’s meeting is the 31st all-time meeting between the Highway 20 rivals, as Webster City has won all 4 meetings since the series revival in 2021. Fort Dodge leads the all-time series 22-7.
Fort Dodge enters Friday with sky-high expectations, seen by many outlets as a contender for a state championship in Iowa’s second-largest class. Friday’s game against Mason City was a sluggish one as the Dodgers did not close things out until late in a 20-14 victory. Tru McBride provides a veteran option at quarterback, and scored two rushing touchdowns in their win over Mason City. The Dodgers have a couple of highly-touted skill players in Iowa football-commit Noah Daniel and Oklahoma State wrestling-commit Dreshaun Ross. Daniel had 76 yards rushing on 3 carries, after nearly 1,000 all-purpose yards and 9 touchdowns, as Ross returns after missing his entire junior football season due to a shoulder injury and didn’t miss a beat rushing for 59 yards and a touchdown on 9 carries. A big question will be who will step up and make plays in the passing game, as Daniel was held without a reception in the game with Mason City.
Defensively, the Dodgers hang their hat on providing pressure in the backfield and that starts with the aforementioned Dreshaun Ross. Ross especially didn’t miss a beat on defense, recording 5 tackles, 4 TFL and 3 sacks in the win over Mason City. Head coach Nik Moser, a former defensive back at Iowa State himself, got his DB’s involved in the backfield a week ago, as Noah Daniel and Taevon Feely both recorded TFL’s, as senior safety Jesse Egli recorded and interception. Where Fort Dodge will need some improved play will be from their defensive line, which will have their hands full with the sheer power of Webster City’s offensive line.
Webster City’s offense will need to take care of the football better than it did against Iowa Falls-Alden, putting the ball on the ground 3 times in the game. The Lynx offense will put a heavy emphasis on controlling the clock and limiting offensive possessions for an explosive Fort Dodge offense. Webster City’s defense will likely try and provide lots of heat for Dodger quarterback Tru McBride, and how McBride handles it will go a long ways in defining the game for the Dodgers.
Kickoff is slated for 7 PM on Friday Night from Lynx Field, and can be heard on AM 1570/FM 99.1 KZWC or streaming online at kqradio.com.