JAXON GRIFFITH breaks into the open field for his touchdown run against Fort Dodge on Friday night. (DFJ photo by David Borer)

The Webster City football squads went toe-to-toe and play-for-play with one of the top teams in Class 4A at home on Friday night.

After 48 minutes of hard-nosed football, the Lynx came up just short against Fort Dodge in a 7-6 clash.

All 13 points were scored in the second quarter, as Cal Pederson got the Dodgers (2-0 overall) on the board when he caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Tru McBride. Bo Marsh converted the extra point.

Just over four minutes later, Jaxon Griffith broke free against the Fort Dodge defense, sprinting to the end zone from 42 yards out for Webster City (1-1). The PAT was blocked by Iowa Hawkeye commit Noah Daniel, though, and the score remained that way for the final 27-plus minutes of action.

“Fort Dodge played a great game and has several really good football players,” WCHS head coach Andy Brim said. “They are physical and fast and played hard.

“I thought our kids played hard and battled for four quarters. I think we have a lot we can take from that game and build on moving forward.”

Griffith finished with 64 yards rushing on 11 carries, while Aiden Hrnicek added 52 yards on the ground and 25 in the air. Griffith caught both of Hrnicek’s completions and recorded a team-high 11.5 tackles on defense.

Grant Arends had seven tackles on defense for the Lynx, with Gavin Wynkoop adding 6.5 and Coyce Bertran five. Arends picked off a pass and defended three others.

Dawson Bertran recovered a fumble.

“Grant Arends played a great game and made some huge plays in the second half on the defensive side of the ball to keep us in the game,” Brim said. “Cole Nohrenberg really stepped up and competed for four quarters when he had to play both ways.

“It’s tough to play both ways on the line in a game that physical, but his effort was great.”

For the Dodgers (2-0), Will McElroy ran for 115 yards. Oklahoma State University wrestling commit Dreshaun Ross had 51 yards on the ground, with almost all coming in the final possession when Fort Dodge was trying to run out the clock.

Webster City heads to Clear Lake this week. The Lions (2-0) knocked off Humboldt last Friday night.