ADM football head coach Mike Whisner and his counterpart at Dallas-Center Grimes, Scott Heitland, expressed mutual respect for the other’s program this week. The two coaches consider tonight’s game – one of the longest-running series in Iowa high school football – to be a friendly rivalry. Both staffs are close and know each other well. They also root for each other — except of course, when they play one another.

Such is the case tonight, when the Tigers (1-1) and Mustangs open up district play at 7:30 p.m. at ADM High School in Adel.

The Mustangs (1-1) lost their starting quarterback, leading rusher and top receiver from a year ago due to graduation. As a result, DCG has averaged just 3.4 yards-per-carry as a team. Junior quarterback Austin Kloewer is the team’s leading rusher with 111 yards, but averages just 3.8 yards-per-carry. Kloewer has added 186 yards through the air on 19-of-34 passing (55.9 percent) with three touchdowns to one interception.

Heitland said his team’s low yards-per-carry mark was due in part to the loss of those key players on offense, but added that his veteran offensive line — the entire line is made up of returning starters whom are either a junior or senior — is frustrated it hasn’t gotten a better push up front. On top of that, Heitland noted the team has faced two tough defense teams in Carlisle, whom the mustangs beat 27-24 in week one, and Pella, who crushed DCG 45-14 last Friday. Because of those factors, Heitland said he’s confident his team will start to break off some bigger gains on the ground tonight.

As for the series, ADM had a four-game winning streak from 2009-12 that DCG has followed up with a two-game winning streak of its own. Our coverage on KKRF 107.9 FM and raccoonvalleyradio.com begins at 6:45 p.m.