CONNOR HANSON runs the ball for Webster City last Friday night against Mason City. (DFJ photo by David Borer)

FORT DODGE — Webster City begins defense of its district title here Friday night, taking on Fort Dodge.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. inside Dodger Stadium.

The Lynx (2-2 overall, 0-0 in league) split their four non-district games to open the season, earning convincing wins over Boone and Mason City around losses to No. 1 (Class 3A) Humboldt and third-ranked (4A) Waverly-Shell Rock.

Jaxon Cherry has picked up right where he left off last year, as the junior leads the vaunted WCHS ground attack with 606 yards and eight touchdowns. He is also one of the leading tacklers for the Lynx on defense with 24.5 tackles, three sacks and four tackles for loss.

CJ Hisler, Cael Nixon and Ty McKinney each have over 100 yards on the ground and a combined four touchdowns, with McKinney also throwing for 296 yards and a TD. Keegan Hisler is his top target with six receptions for 135 yards, while brother CJ has seven covering 101.

As a team, Webster City’s defense has nine sacks, 13 tackles for loss, three fumble recoveries and three interceptions.

On the way to a perfect league run, the Lynx bested Fort Dodge last year in Webster City, 41-14.

The Dodgers (2-2, 0-0) are led by seniors Connor Carver and Javion Jondle. Carver, a Bemidji State commit, has thrown for 805 yards with 10 touchdowns and two interceptions, adding 228 yards and three scores on the ground.

Jondle, who is headed to Iowa Central in the fall, has caught 39 passes for 405 yards and six scores. Grant Williams has 125 yards receiving and Nate Opande 112, with Orion Larson-Trott adding 238 yards rushing and five TDs.

Fort Dodge has forced nine turnovers on defense, including a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown by Kaleb Lynch. They are coming off a 37-23 victory over Marshalltown and also topped Waterloo East the week prior, 50-6.

In both losses this year, the Dodgers have scored 32 and 30 points.