Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Fort Dodge’s Dreshaun Ross works his way toward another technical fall at the state tournament in Des Moines on Thursday. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

DES MOINES — It was business as usual for Koy Davidson and Dreshaun Ross here on Thursday.

The Dodger senior and junior quickly advanced to the semifinals with easy victories in the Class 3A brackets.

FDSH sophomores Trace Rial (106) and Joe Constable (285) lost their quarterfinal matches, but are still one win away from earning their first state medals.

Senior Hunter Richardson (150), juniors Rylee Brown (150) and Jesse Egli (175), along with sophomore Jayce Skow (165) and freshman Damien Yeoman (113), were eliminated from the tournament for the Dodgers.

“We have to just worry about what’s directly in front of us,” said FDSH head coach Bobby Thompson. “There is a lot more on the line now. We have to take things one match at a time, then look at the next step and analyze it.

“There’s no time to be satisfied.”

Davidson (144) an Oregon State University recruit, moved his career record to 144-18, which ranks him eighth on the school’s all-time win list. The third-seeded Dodger handled No. 6 seed Nolan Howell (43-9) of Clear Creek-Amana, 7-2.

“It’s tough in the quarters, when we come early (in the morning) and then don’t wrestle until later on,” Thompson said. “Koy was dominant and controlled the match.”

Up next for Davidson (36-2) — the 138-pound state champion a year ago — is second-seeded JahKari Clark (38-2) of West Des Moines Valley.

“Just going in approaching everything the same,” Davidson said. “Wrestle my match and get to my attack early.”

Clark owns a SV-1, 4-1 victory over Davidson from the Ed Winger championship round last month.

“Clark wants to slow the pace and snatch a takedown,” Thompson said. “Last time we wrestled his style and didn’t finish on the edge, we got caught.

“We need to wrestle our style, get in his face and get points so he has to come at us now.”

Ross (215), who is looking for his third state title, spent little time on the mat again Thursday with a barrage of takedowns in a 21-6 technical fall victory over Joseph Monge (47-10) of Lewis Central that lasted just 76 seconds. This was a rematch of the district championship last Saturday in Fort Dodge.

“My goal is to just go out there and do what I have trained to do my whole life. If being done quickly (is the result), then that’s what it is,” Ross said. “It feels good to be in the semis again.”

The future Oklahoma State Cowboy brings his career record to 109-2. Ross has won 102 straight matches.

“I’m very excited for Friday, to get out there and get back after it — especially with one of my good friends (Davidson) also in the semis,” Ross said. “Having him on my side and having success with me definitely makes it more enjoyable.

“I love to see my teammates go out there and perform to what they are capable of. It gets me excited and makes me want to go do the same.”

In his two state tourney wins, Ross (18-0) has spent only two minutes and 17 seconds on the mat. In his four matches here last year, he competed for six minutes and 39 seconds total.

“Dreshaun has the same focus each time out,” Thompson said. “His approach to the match is the same, regardless of what’s in front of him. He knows he just needs to take care of himself.”

Ross now meets No. 4 seed Kolby Gibbons (33-3) of Johnston on Friday in a 215-pound semifinal. Gibbons has a technical fall and a decision to his credit so far.

Constable (39-7) was in a dogfight with No. 4 seed Henry Morh (34-10) of Waukee Northwest in their 285-pound quarterfinal. Morh picked up an escape with 1:48 left in the third and prevailed, 1-0.

In the first meeting between the two, Mohr earned a SV-1, 4-1 victory.

“Joe did a lot of hand fighting and didn’t fully commit,” Thompson said. “We didn’t make anything happen until about 13 seconds left. We needed to commit earlier.”

Now Constable (39-7) will have ninth-seeded Andrew Hine (23-10) of Waukee in the blood round. Constable beat Hine at the Ed Winger Classic.

For Rial (23-6), it was a rematch from a regional dual against Cedar Rapids Prairie’s Chase Watkinson (39-3). Rial, the five seed, lost to Watkinson by a 14-2 count earlier this month.

On Thursday, Rial closed the gap. The Dodger 106-pounder was the aggressor, recording a takedown in the first period for a 3-0 lead. Watkinson tied it at 3-3 with a second period takedown, though, then prevailed with an escape and takedown late in the third.

“Trace wrestled a really tough match,” Thompson said. “He got a takedown early, but then we gave one up late.

“He definitely closed the gap.”

Rial now faces eighth-seeded Oliver Lange (28-10) of Valley in the blood round. Rial defeated Lange 9-1 during the regular season.

Egli (35-13) won his first match, drubbing Peyce McCoy (23-21) of Dubuque Hempstead by a technical-fall score of 17-0 in 2:22 at 175.

Egli, who is now 88-61 in his career and a three-time state qualifier, got eliminated from the tournament by David Theisen (24-11) of Western Dubuque by fall (3:41).

Brown (35-18) lost a wild tilt with Andrew Rouh (24-19) of Ankeny at 157. The two combined for 34 points, but Brown — who is 90-63 in his career — ultimately fell, 19-15.

“We showed a lack of urgency at times in a couple of matches,” Thompson said. “I think the guys who are veterans learned a lesson about not overlooking anybody. You have to go out there and make it happen.”

Senior Hunter Richardson (21-26) lost by fall to Wyatt Heying (19-7) of Spencer in 3:14 at 150. It was a district rematch.

“Making the state tournament was a good way to cap Hunter’s career,” Thompson said. “He stuck with it and made it to state. He had two tough draws, but it’s still a great achievement to get down here.”

Yeoman (33-19) was in a score-fest with Asiaha Martinez-Ruiz (31-8) of Norwalk. The undersized Dodger freshman ultimately suffered a 23-10 major decision loss.

“I know Damien is disappointed, but he had a great season — especially as an undersized (113 pounder),” Thompson said. “He has nothing to hang his head about. He has three more years to build on — get bigger and stronger.”

Skow (15-23) fought through an illness and returned to the lineup after missing the first round on Wednesday with the flu.

“It was great for Jayce to get out there,” Thompson said. “He’s a young kid, and getting him the opportunity to get on the mat is a positive way to end it.”

The Dodger sophomore lost to Bondurant-Farrar’s Jordan Rial (34-8) by fall in 1:57. Rial is the son of former FDSH state medalist Pat Rial and nephew to assistant coach Mark Rial.

Class 3A semifinal matches and blood-round matches will begin at 9 a.m. inside Wells Fargo Arena on Friday.

FORT DODGE SEMIFINAL MATCHES

144 — No. 3 Koy Davidson, sr., (36-2) vs. No. 2 JahKari Clark, sr., (38-2)

215 — No. 1 Dreshaun Ross, jr., (18-0) vs. No. 4 Kolby Gibbons, sr., (33-3)

FORT DODGE CONSOLATION MATCHES

106 — No. 5 Trace Rial, so., (23-6) vs. No. 8 Oliver Lange, fr., Valley (28-10)

285 — No. 5 Joe Constable, so., (39-7) vs. No. 9 Andrew Hine, jr., Waukee, (23-10)