Unfortunately for the Bobcat faithful, the Dodgers proved to be too much to handle as they racked up 515 total yards and caused three MHS turnovers to finish the regular season victorious on the road, 46-6.

Marshalltown head football coach Adam Goodvin took a long time after the game to talk with his players, even pulling his seniors aside for a final message.

“It’s tough to find the words to say after a game to a group of seniors, anyone who has played high school football has been through it,” a clearly emotional Goodvin said after the loss. “I am very proud of them, they’re a bunch of great kids and I wouldn’t trade them for anyone. I think they set a new standard for Bobcat football and it’s up to us to build upon that. Everyone in the program can see that and use that to build on next year, and that all falls on the seniors’ backs for setting that standard.”

The Dodgers (7-2, 4-1) started off hot with two long touchdown passes from quarterback Drake Miller to receiver Tysen Kershaw in the first quarter, one of 49 yards and one of 37 yards. Kershaw would haul in one more touchdown on a 74-yard strike, making a one-handed catch on the run for the back-breaking score in the third quarter.

T-R PHOTO BY THORN COMPTON - Marshalltown senior running back Derrick Garth (22) sprints by Fort Dodge defender Anthony Weaver (36) during the Bobcats’ 46-6 loss to the Dodgers in the season finale at Leonard Cole Field on Friday.

The Bobcats (4-5, 1-4) just couldn’t keep up with the high-powered Fort Dodge offense, as the Dodgers had touchdowns of 74, 49, 37 and 25 yards on offense, and a 59-yard interception return for a touchdown for the final score of the game.

“The score showed what it was but if you were here and watched the game it didn’t really define how that game went,” Goodvin said. “We left a lot of scores out there, we did a lot of great things on both sides of the football but gave up too many big plays, and that was kind of the factor tonight. You’ve got to limit those to win, give yourself a chance.”

To Goodvin’s point, Marshalltown had four drives stall out inside the Fort Dodge 30-yard line without points, three of which reached inside the Dodger 15.

Bobcat quarterback Jacob Smith had his best passing game of the season with a 12-for-24 line and 172 yards, but he also threw two interceptions. The Marshalltown running game struggled to find its footing as well, except on a 25-yard burst by Derrick Garth in the second quarter that produced the lone Bobcat touchdown.

Once they were down big, Marshalltown had to turn to the passing game, which Goodvin said his boys handled well.

T-R PHOTO BY THORN COMPTON - Marshalltown lineman Francisco Ordaz, right, runs by the outstretched arms of Fort Dodge’s Savion Wheat during the first second quarter of the Bobcats’ 46-6 loss to the Dodgers on Friday. Ordaz scored on the play, but it was called back due to a penalty.

“This group of kids have spread it out and thrown it around their whole lives up until this year, and they did an outstanding job with our new offense this year,” Goodvin said. “Going back to the pass towards the end of the game was like riding a bike, they didn’t forget it and did a great job. Yeah we were kind of rusty because we didn’t do it as much, but I am proud of how they executed when we needed to and they fought until the end.”

Garth was the top rusher with 54 yards on 10 carries, while Jonathan Hernandez had 5 catches for 64 yards.

Miller finished with 332 yards on 17-for-26 passing, including an 11-for-13 line in the second half. Kershaw had five catches for 182 yards and three scores, while Dayson Clayton led Fort Dodge in rushing with 17 carries for 112 yards.

Goodvin said no matter what the score his kids never gave up, and senior linebacker Jonathan McKeever exemplified that at the end of the game. After suffering an injury on the final drive, McKeever had a hard time even walking, but he still stood up and limped through the handshake line to congratulate the Dodgers on the victory.

“I think the No. 1 thing I’ve told these kids all season long is I am very proud of their effort,” Goodvin said. “Things aren’t always going to go your way and it’s all about how you respond, and I think their effort tonight was outstanding. We have been very consistent all season from that standpoint.”

T-R PHOTO BY THORN COMPTON

Despite ending the year on a three-game losing streak, this was still the best statistical year for Marshalltown football since finishing 7-4 in 2012. Goodvin said this is far from the end of the road for his new-look Bobcats.

“It’s not the end, our juniors, sophomores and freshmen are ready and this program is looking to do bigger things,” he said. “I always say to never be satisfied, always look for greater things and I think the seniors did a great job of setting this new standard, so now we have to build off of it.”

Fort Dodge 46, Marshalltown 6

At Marshalltown

FD 14 6 19 7 — 46

MHS 0 6 0 0 — 6

First Quarter

FD — Tysen Kershaw 49 pass from Drake Miller (Ben Nebel kick), 10:02.

FD — Kershaw 37 pass from Miller (Nebel kick), 4:57.

Second Quarter

FD — Dayson Clayton 10 run (pass failed), 11:54.

MHS — Derrick Garth 25 run (pass failed), 10:28.

Third Quarter

FD — Miller 3 run (kick failed), 9:07.

FD — Kershaw 74 pass from Miller (pass failed), 6:02.

FD — Clayton 25 pass from Miller (Nebel kick), 4:18.

Fourth Quarter

FD — Anthony Wagner 59 interception return (Nebel kick), 11:30.

TEAM STATISTICS

FD MHS

First Downs 20 15

Rushes-yards 27-183 36-125

Passing yards 332 172

Comp-Att-Int 17-26-1 12-24-2

Total offense 53-515 60-297

Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-1

Penalties-yards 14-129 7-70

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING — FD: Clayton 17-112, Miller 3-35, Hunter Alexander 3-24, Kershaw 2-7; MHS: Garth 10-54, Jonathan Hernandez 5-33, Giorgio DiIorio 13-28, Jacob Smith 7-15, Carson Beals 1-(minus-5).

PASSING — FD: Miller 17-26-332-1; MHS: Smith 12-24-172-2.

RECEIVING — FD: Kershaw 5-182, Clayton 4-62, Russell Potraz 4-43, Jace Peterson 2-24, Nick Bice 1-7, Tyler Schreier 1-6; MHS: Hernandez 5-64, Dylan Eygabroad 3-40, DiIorio 2-31, Garth 1-25, Carson Williams 1-7, Casey Linsenmeyer 1-5.

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