WEBSTER CITY – It’s a game that Gavin Dinsdale will never forget, and one that isn’t likely to escape the memories of Carroll head coach Dennis McCartan anytime soon either.

Expecting a repeat would be foolish. Still, that’s what Dinsdale, Webster City’s bulky senior tailback, is going to try to accomplish tonight.

Eighth-ranked WCHS will begin its quest for a Class 3A District 2 title this evening when it makes the long trek to Carroll take on the Tigers (1-1) at 7:30 p.m.

Dinsdale turned heads when the two teams met a season ago, rushing for a single-game school record 369 yards and four touchdowns in an offensive shootout that eventual district champ Carroll won, 49-35.

Dinsdale ripped off 12 double-digit runs, including scoring sprints of 66 and 73 yards. His performance left McCartan thoroughly impressed.

“What a beast,” McCartan said following the 2014 encounter. “In person he’s so impressive and it’s the breakaway speed. He’s a stud and a force to be reckoned with, and he’s a man because he’s playing both ways. He was just incredible out there.”

Dinsdale read those words. He was flattered, and he hopes to leave the same type of impression tonight.

“What the Carroll coach said was really nice,” Dinsdale said, “but it’s not going to change the way I play. We’re going down there to win.”

Dinsdale enters tonight’s game with 1,878 career rushing yards, which places him 12th on the school’s all-time leaderboard. His 29 career touchdowns places him tied for 10th all-time.

He needs 122 more yards to become the school’s 12th member of the 2,000-yard club.

Just like Gilbert and Clear Lake did in the first two weeks of the season, WCHS head coach Bob Howard expects Carroll to shade its defense to Dinsdale’s side in an effort to limit his effectiveness. But that could leave spinback Avery Fuhs and wingback Payton Kannuan open to create.

“I doubt (Dinsdale’s) going to have 380 yards, but that’s where we’re certainly going to start is with running Gavin,” Howard said. “If they overload to take him away, then we’ll go to Avery or Kannuan.”

Fuhs has been the biggest beneficiary of all of the attention Dinsdale has so far received. He’s averaging 6.9 yards per carry and his 144 yards is second on the team to Dinsdale (213 yards).

“Yeah, (Fuhs) is a much better runner than he was last year,” Howard said. “Some of that is because I’m using him as a runner more, and he’s also 12 to 15 pounds bigger this year and that helps.”

Carroll, previously ranked No. 10 in the Associated Press poll before falling to No. 6 Harlan 36-0 last week, utilizes more of a ball control offense this year. The Tigers spread the field and relied on the arm of then senior quarterback Addison Ross last fall.

Tigers’ running back Matt Pauk (332 yards) is off to a strong start; he’s averaging 7.5 yards per carry.

Pauk rushed for 115 yards on just 14 totes against WCHS a year ago, and he’s got the bulk of his offensive line returning as well.

“They run and they’ve got a big line,” Howard said. “(Pauk) is a good running back. He’s got enough speed where if he gets out in the open field he’s going to hurt you.”

Neither Gilbert nor Clear Lake had significant success moving the ball on the ground against the Lynx. Both eventually shifted to pass-happy schemes, and that’s what Howard hopes happens again.

“I sure hope they have to throw,” he said. “The other reason the other teams have thrown is because they’ve had to. I’m sure they’re going to start out trying to run it.”

WCHS has received solid play out of linebackers Victor Jergens and Ryan Ferrari, which is a big reason why the defense has allowed just 26 points in two games.

Ferrari leads the unit with 13 1/2 tackles. The Lynx have already accumulated nine tackles for loss and five sacks.