Late score sends Prairie over Dodgers in weather delay filled game

Besides being engaged in a toe to toe battle with defending SWC champion Prairie du Chien the Dodgeville football team had to overcome the weather.

There were two lightning delays that turned what should have been a two hour game into over four hours.  It ended up to be a classic with the Blackhawks scoring last for a 23-21 win. A field goal gave Prairie the edge.

The Blackhawks used a long pass and a pair of runs to set up a third run that got them on the board first in the first quarter at 5:31.  

The Dodgers got to work with the run and an open hole as Aiden Duran raced to the eight. Sophomore quarterback Blake Stodola then hit junior receiver Andrew Hessling with a six yarder and it was soon 7-7 at 3:18.

Prairie got a score a half minute into the second frame and the halftime score had Prairie in the lead 14-7.

Then came the eventual decider, the field goat at 7:31 of the third quarter.

The Dodgers got a Duran touchdown to make it 17-14 with 24 seconds left in the third.

Then, with 4:38 left the Dodgers got the lead at 21-17 thanks again to Duran.

But Prairie had one more gasp. With 1:13 left they pushed in a score and put the finishing touches on a 23-21 win.

In between the scores were the weather delays which caused coach Matt Staver and staff to be creative in keeping the Dodgers ready to get back to the game.

“The biggest thing was keeping our guys engaged,” Staver said. “The staff (including our youth managers) did a great job of keeping players loose but focused during the weather delays—reminding them of assignments, walking through situations, and staying mentally sharp. When it was finally time to go, they were ready in five minutes because their mindset never left the game.”

In the end Staver was impressed with how the team handled the delays and how they responded.

“Delays can wear on a team, but I think it highlighted our resilience. For us, it was a chance to show maturity and composure. Once we kicked off again, our kids responded with energy and focus.” Staver said.

With the Dodgers relying on the run for the majority of their success...moving the football, getting into scoring position and making the pass an effective weapon Staver sees the stable of running backs as a key.

“All of our backs continue to get more comfortable hitting the holes,” he said. “The offensive line opened some great lanes. Aiden really stepped up with a huge night—194 yards and two scores—but all the backs are running harder, finishing plays, and understanding the offense at a deeper level each week.”

Also, Jack Graber had six carries for 67 yards and Griffin Busch added 51 on seven tries.

Stodola added 17 yards and Harper Olson eight.

One part of their game the Dodgers have been improving on as the season progresses is playing clean as in holding mistakes to a minimum.

“That comes down to preparation and focus,” Staver points out. “Our kids are really buying into the idea that the details matter— relentless effort, ball security, and execution. We talk every day about playing disciplined football, and they’ve shown they can minimize mental mistakes when the lights are on.”

Prairie’s final march may have been influenced by the fact they are the defending SWC champs.

“You can see why they’ve had the success they have,” Staver said.  “They play with confidence and composure, and you know you’ll get their best shot every time. For us, it’s a great test. We respect them, but we also believe we’re building something that can compete with programs like that.”

Staver gave a shout out to the blue collar players...the O line.

“I just want to credit our offensive line. They were great—physical, consistent, and set the tone for the entire night. When you rush for 318 yards, it’s because those guys are winning up front. That’s Dodger football.”

Look for a grinding ground game Friday when Lancaster visits the Dodgers. Both teams are among the rushing leaders in Division 5. The Dodgers are third with 1421 and the Flying Arrows are fourth at 1371.

“Lancaster is a proud program that’s going to fight hard to get things going,” Staver predicts. “We know they’ll come in hungry. For us, it’s about continuing to focus on ourselves—executing cleanly, playing physical, and building on the momentum we’ve created.”