Dodge would go on to fumble the ball on the ensuing kickoff and Fitzgerald recovered to end any other Dodge threats.

In a battle of ranked teams, breaks usually play a big part in the outcome. Dodge got the first break in this game.

Fitzgerald received the opening kickoff and Dodge forced a punt. On the kick, there was a bobble on the snap and Hurricanes’ punter Mauro Mesa was only able to get off a 16-yard kick.

That set up Dodge at the Fitzgerald 42.

After garnering one first down, Gordon hit Scotty Whitten on a 19-yard pass on a third-and-15 play. That gave the Indians the ball first-and-10 at the Hurricane 11.

However, Dodge could get no closer as the Hurricane defense stiffened. The big play was Fitzgerald’s Juwan Alexander stopping Gordon on a third-and-seven play.

That forced a 28-yard field goal attempt by Elkins, which he missed.

With just under 10 minutes left in the first half, Fitzgerald’s Brad Taylor hit R.J. Davis on a 51-yard pass play down to the Dodge 8.

After two penalties for 10 yards and two runs, the Hurricanes had the ball third-and-goal from the 10. A three-yard run by Trenton Pruitt got the ball down to the eight and on the next play Dodge County was called for an offsides penalty.

That made it fourth-and-goal from the three and Fitzgerald responded when Thomas ran the ball in for the touchdown.

Mesa’s point after made the score 7-0 with 7:00 left in the second quarter.

At that point in the second quarter, Dodge had the ball for only one play, a punt to begin the period.

When Dodge got the ball back, the Hurricanes forced a three-and-out as the Indians had to punt on a fourth-and-12 play from their 32.

Fitzgerald took over their 40 and drove down to the Dodge County 10. On a fourth-and-inches play, Fitzgerald’s Larry King was stopped for a three-yard loss by Dodge’s Ezekiel Andrews.

That ended the last scoring threat of the first half.