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If Dodgeville football coach Scott Tolzman was seeking answers he most definitely got them Friday night.
After an 0-9 season last year the Dodgers got out of the blocks early this season and delivered a knockout punch to Fennimore 33-21 in the non-conference opener for both squads.
"With several young players on varsity in starting roles I was not sure now they would respond," Tolzman admitted after the game. "It was a good win for the team. There were mistakes but if each week we keep improving and keep getting better we could have a good season."
Tolzman was wondering if it was "here we go again" when the Golden Eagles scored on the opening drive and the Dodgers followed by giving up the ball on downs.
But the Dodgers tightened the defense and forced the Eagles to punt. Four plays later Payton Hanson took the ball 49 yards on a sweep play and Austyn Whitlatch kicked the conversion to tie the game at seven.
The second quarter saw the Dodger defense hold and eight plays after getting the ball back they scored again on a Whitlatch quarterback sneak.
After a change of possession the Dodgers recovered a Fennimore fumble and seven plays later Whitlatch hit Hanson with a 31 yard scoring strike a for a 19-7 lead at halftime.
The Dodgers added a touchdown on the first play of the second half in an unconventional way. Whitlatch kept the ball on a missed hand-off and took off on a run. He fumbled it after going 68 yards but Kristian Haag was there to pick it up ran it in from the 10 for the score.
The fourth quarter saw the Dodgers on a short field. They capitalized on it when Nick Crowley grabbed an 11 yarder from Whitlatch. Whitlatch added a two point conversion.
Fennimore scored again but the Dodgers shut the door the rest of the way.
"The team did not let down after getting behind and they learned a lot by coming back and getting ahead," Tolzman said. "They finished the game and the win built a lot of confidence."
Whitlatch carried 11 times for 122 yards and scored once. Hanson picked up 99 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown. TC Smith gained 60 on 11 tries.
Jake Bechen was the leading receiver with four catches for 45 yards. Crowley picked two for 42 and a touchdown.
Whitlatch hit on eight of 13 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns.
Whitlatch had all the extra points, one on a kick and two on a run.
The Dodgers recovered three fumbles, one each by Matthew Clerkin, Haag and Whitlatch.
The Dodgers entertain Mineral Point Friday in another non-conference match-up.