Fort Dodge Runs Into “Buzzsaw” In Dowling Catholic

Fort Dodge Football fell Thursday Night 49-14 to powerhouse Dowling Catholic. It was the classic case of running into a buzzsaw at Valley Stadium in West Des Moines. It was Senior Night for the Maroons a group of Seniors who were in elementary school the last time Dowling didn’t win the State Title. They sport the nation’s 2nd longest consecutive State Championship streak at 7. Dowling would put together 5 TD drives in the 1st half using the pass to set up the run. Fort Dodge had more than their normal share of penalties in the 1st half and had a few turnovers and when playing such a quality opponent those miscues are magnified. Dowling put together a textbook “2 minute drill” type drive at the end of the last half, Fort Dodge had just a few 1st downs in the opening half. Dowling had a 35-0 lead going into the half. Credit goes to Fort Dodge for continuing to play with tremendous effort and do all they could to keep fighting. The Dodgers scored on their 1st two drives of the 2nd half as Connor Carver would come in at QB and lead the offense. Carver would find Javion Jondle on a 48 yard TD pass to put the Dodgers on the board. On the next Dodger possession, Tyler Schreier would take a shovel pass 54 yards for a score. While the dodger run game was stifled and held to just 39 yards without RB Dayson Clayton, Carson Peterson and Connor Carver would combine to throw for 240 yards on the night.  Dowling racked up 23 1st downs in the game. They employ a 2 QB system and both of those signal callers were efficient in throwing the football as they went a combined 17 of 28. Dodgers fall to 3-4 on the season with all 4 losses coming to ranked teams. The combined record of the teams Fort Dodge has fallen to is an incredible 21-3.  The Dodgers will be in the playoffs, they will await the announcement who when they will play and who they will play. That announcement is expected to come from the IAHSAA on Saturday Afternoon.