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Even though the Dodgers lost a SWC match-up 36-20 to Lancaster the banged-up team showed some explosive qualities.
All three touchdowns came on big plays. Lancaster pushed across two scores for a 14-0 halftime lead . They got a score at the 5:41 mark of the first quarter when Payton Alvardo raced in from the seven and Michael Murphy kicked the conversion..
Alvardo took part in the second score when he took a flip from Nolan Wolf and lobbed it to Taylor Williams for a 41 yard score. Murphy booted the extra point.
The Flying Arrows moved the score to 22-0 when Jacob Divall bulled in from the seven and Logan Wolf got in for the conversion.
Then came the Dodger explosion.
Trenton Reddell, who avoided the interception bug that had been plaguing the Dodgers much of the season, spotted Noah Pittz in the clear and the duo hooked up for a 21 yard score.
After Colby Lull and Alvardo put up in a pair of rushing scores the Dodgers scored twice in 20 seconds.
The first six pointer came on an 84 yard pass play from Reddell to Sawyer Garthwaite. Then on the next possession the Arrows fumbled and Tavion Mclin picked up the loose football and took it in for a 75 yard TD. Reddell then passed the football to Matthew Pittz for the conversion and boosted the score to 36-20.
The big plays for scores impressed first year coach Jakob Kastenholz.
"Those plays were huge," the coach said. "To be able to compete to the end and finish with a couple scores says a lot about the character of our team. We got to the point where it wasn't looking good, but we just decided to go out there and have some fun."
Kastenholz was also pleased with the improved play against one of the SWC's top teams as the Arrows were 5-2 coming in.
"Much cleaner but penalties plagued us though," Kastenholz said. "Still a few fumbles but no interceptions. That was huge in keeping us in that game. We always talk about being able to bounce back when things stop going our way, and it took a little while for us to bounce back Friday. As a program, we still need to learn how to win, but we are getting there."
If there was a downside of the game for both sides it was the decisions of the officials when it came to assessing penalties. For awhile it appeared the skies were raining flags.
"Penalties played a huge role in this one," said the coach.
Friday the Dodgers host Richland Center, a team that is winless in the SWC but has a history of coming oh so close. Last week they lost to River Valley 14-7.
It will also be senior night as the Dodgers say good-bye to several four year starters and key performers.
"I cannot say enough about this group of seniors," Kastenholz said. "As a first year head coach, you cannot ask for much better. They have worked so hard to change the culture of this program and really embraced some of our new philosophies. I really feel for them because we felt like we were a playoff team, and that is now out of the question. The big thing we try to reiterate is that a complete culture change in a program doesn't happen in one year. But, this group of seniors can hang their hats on the fact that they started this change. It is our hope that someday they can come back to watch, or be a part of this program, and be proud of what they did to right the ship. Such a great group of kids, both on and off the field."
The Dodgers injury list is shrinking for the final game.
"We are close to full strength," Kastenholz said. "A couple bumps and bruises to take care of, but alright for the most part."
He knows the Hornets will put up a good fight and will try and avoid and 0-for.
"We are expecting a balanced attack from them," the coach said. "They are out of the playoffs as well, so they are going to leave it all out there."
DODGER STATS
Passing
Reddell 15-29 for 275 2 tds
Rushing
Reddell. 9/2
LaCarder Walker. 7/2
Chase Forsyth 1/0
Receiving
Walker 2/22
N. Pittz 3/38-1 td
M. Pittz 4/61
Jack Heimerl 1/55
Garthwaite 3/95
Brady Jabs 1-4
Joey Honerbaum 1-0