Hey everyone! Guess what? FOOTBALL IS BACK and we are getting started this Friday, when Week 0 kicks off the High School Football season in North Dakota!
This will be just a quick recap, and a quick run down of everything from last years state championships and some things to pay attention too heading into this season, as well as letting you know what teams have my attention as we head into the season.
- New Champions Crowned in the Dakota Bowl 2024.
Four new champions were crowned in the Dakota Bowl last year, here’s a quick recap of who took home their Divisions Championship
9-MAN: *Champion* New Rockford-Sheyenne/Maddock vs. Lamoure-LM
A collision between two programs who rolled through teams during the regular season, Lamoure-LM and New Rockford-Sheyenne/Maddock. Both teams had high octane scoring offenses as well as stout and controlling defenses. NRS-Maddock would prevail in the clash of the titans as the 9-man champion, rolling over the Loboes 62-26 to take home the title. Both teams will certainly be in the fold for this seasons title as well.
Class A: *Champion* Velva-Drake-Anamoose-Garrison vs. Kindred
What was both teams’ matchup in Week 0 last season was their final matchup in 2024. Kindred, the Powerhouse of Class A the passed couple of seasons defeated Velva-Drake-Anamoose-Garrison in their first matchup, and never looked back during the regular season dominating teams week in and week out thanks to a high powered offense and great defense. Velva with a little revenge on the mind, bided their time, and fought their way to a rematch in the Dakota Bowl, where this time the result would be different. In a close one, Velva would reign supreme over the high powered offense of the Vikings outlasting them 14-12, to bring home the state championship. Both teams said goodbye to each other after that, as Kindred is on the move, more on that later…
Class AA: *Champion* West Fargo Horace vs. Grand Forks Red River
Red River managed to make it through the regular season with a undefeated record and cruised to the Dakota Bowl where they took on the Hawks of Horace. In a low scoring game the Hawks would get the win 14-8 to take home the title, but much like Class A runner-up Kindred, they are on the move as well, more on that later…
Class AAA *Champion* West Fargo Sheyenne vs. Fargo Davies
A battle of Fargo took place in the final game of the Dakota Bowl. Both teams respectively held the #1 spot in the state throughout the season. Fargo Davies did it by running the ball down your throat, hardly ever passing using a 3-back system to navigate the field. Sheyenne brough a counteractive style, being more likely to spread it out and pass, and that’s where the Eagles of Davies downfall began. Running the ball is always a great way to run clock and preserve a lead in the game…. when you have a lead. Davies fell behind in the game and couldn’t get any sort of pass game going, which led to their downfall losing 24-14 and the Mustangs bringing home the title.
- -Teams Making Changes to their Classification, and new powerhouse in Class AA?
5 teams will play in a different classification this year, how will they handle the change? For the good? For the bad? I guess we will have to wait and see….
Sargent County – Sargent County will move UP to play in the A classification this year after moving up from 9-man the season before.
Valley City – Valley City will move DOWN to the A Classification after playing previous years seasons in AA.
Central Cass – Cass will move UP to the AA Classification as a move to make up for 2 teams leaving the AA classification. Central Cass will join a familiar face from Class A…
Kindred – The Boogeyman of Class A is finally gone, and the Vikings will move UP to AA after rolling through the Class A Division the last couple of seasons.
West Fargo Horace – After taking home the AA state title last season, Horace will be moving UP to the big boys in AAA, completing the East Region made up of Fargo Teams.
The move I’m paying attention to the most is Kindred. This team manages to reload every year with talent, and quite literally could have walked to the Dakota Bowl while in Class A. Will Kindred be able to continue this impressive streak now that it moves into the Classification with teams like Red River, Minot North, Devils Lake and Jamestown? Kindred will begin their season in AA next Friday when they travel to Devils Lake to take on the Firebirds. Will the Viking team of Class A show up in AA? AA teams better hope not.
- Teams who have my attention entering the 2025 season.
Here’s a list of 3 teams per classification that I have my eye on going into the 2025 season. (Note: This is not who I think the best teams are in each classification, these are just teams with interesting storylines going into the season.)
9-Man:
- Lamoure-LM: How couldn’t this team be in my mentions when it comes to 9-man? Lamoure ROLLED through the regular season and most of the postseason before running into New Rockford-Sheyenne/Maddock in the Dakota Bowl. Lamoure-LM returns multiple starters and producers on both offense and defense including lightning quick playmaker Gunner Thielges and the teams starting quarterback who impressed last year and is only a junior Mason Warcken. Look for Lamoure-LM to ROLL again this season with a trip to the Dakota Bowl on the winning side in mind.
- New Rockford-Sheyenne/Maddock: NRS-Maddock was a powerhouse last season and finished the year on top, however graduation happens. NRS-Maddock will return some key contributors to last season’s team, but will be missing the rumbling-stumbling-bumbling style of Carter Engebretson, as well as the tall hands in the sky wide receiver Bennet Meier. NRS-Maddock and Lamoure-LM COULD be meeting again the Dakota Bowl this season we will just have to wait and see.
- South Border: South Border 2 years ago was in the state championship, and looked to get back last year, but injuries and sickness around the team derailed them, before ultimately getting rolled by Linton HMB in last years quarterfinals. South Border returns do it all quarterback Berkley France, and a team hungry to improve off last years lackluster season, can South Border keep up with Lamoure-LM in Region 3? This will lead up to a good Week 3 matchups between the two teams.
Class A:
- Valley City: Valley City jumps down a class from AA last year, and could have a slight advantage entering the season. With Kindred leaving to go to AA, Class A is wide open and COULD Valley City takes its place as the team to beat in Class A?
- Langdon Area- Munich: A team that finished last season at 9-3, returns seniors at the Quarterback, Running Back, and Wide Receiver position. Again… with Kindred being gone, Class A could be wide open to a bunch of different teams to play in contention, when I look at teams success from last year, with multiple seniors at key positions, this usually adds up to a pretty successful team going into the next season.
- Ellendale/Edgeley-Kulm: This team had to play in the shadow of both Kindred AND Central Cass while playing in Region 1 last season, and managed to finish the year at 7-3. With both those teams gone, EEK has a chance to shine their light on the Region, and will have a good new rival to play with as the years come along with newcomer Valley City. Aside from missing star player Joseph Kramlich due to graduation, EEK should be considered in the running as a favorite in Class A.
Class AA:
- Kindred: Well? The big bullies of Class A have moved up a class to some new competition, how does it play out? Will Kindred continue its dominance like passed years, OR will this team face adversity for the first time in years when they play teams that can smack them in the mouth back? Kindred will be my #1 team to watch in AA just for that reason.
- Minot North: This should be the team everyone in AA should be a little worried about… This team finished 8-3 last season, and 4-1 in the West Region. Minot North also returns plenty of Senior and Junior Talent. Look for Minot North to be a problem in the upcoming AA Season.
- Grand Forks Red River: Red River cruised to the Dakota Bowl and was upset by 2-loss Horace, can they return this season to avenge their late loss and bring home a state championship to Grand Forks?
Class AAA:
- Bismarck High: One of those teams that it always feels weird when you DON’T see them fighting for a state championship every year. Bismarck was defeated by eventual State Champion West Fargo-Sheyenne in last years semifinals, and will be looking to be right back in the spotlight this season. Will Bismarck be the team to be able to unseat the dominant Fargo Schools of the last couple of years?
- Fargo Davies: The runner-up in last seasons State Championship. Davies managed to control their regular season with their 3-back system, but when it came to a deficit the team needed to pass and couldn’t do it. Can Davies mix in some passes this year and get back to the State Championship and be on the winning side?
- Minot: Minot started off slow as last years reigning Champion, but would straighten out towards the end, making it all the way to the Semi Finals where they would lose to Davies. Minot just like most teams in AAA knows how to reload and get back in the fold, so expect Minot to be a contender for the AAA title this season.
Early Week 0 State Champion Predictions:
For fun, and something to look back on at seasons end, here are my predictions of the teams to take home their respective State Championship this season.
9-Man: Lamoure-LM
Class A: Langdon Area-Munich
Class AA: Minot North
Class AAA: Bismarck High
And there it is! A quick and easy look at this upcoming season in North Dakota High School Football! How do you think your favorite team will do? Who will take home those State Championships? Who could be the sneaky teams to ruin a teams title run?
Where to Listen!
-Be Sure to tune in every Friday Night during the High School Football season to the “Prep Sports Roundup” LIVE on KSJB 600 AM, and 100.1 FM, where we have live on site reporters who report the score and any notable highlights that need to be mentioned too! We also feature a STATE-WIDE scoreboard check 2-3X an hour. Don’t miss the action and all the fun on Friday Nights on KSJB from 7-10 EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT!
Also be sure to keep yourself updated on breaking news, results, poll positions, and predictions during the Buffalo City Blitz on KSJB as well! Your daily sports fix from 12-12:30 every weekday!
And finally, be sure to checkout ksjbam.com for all other sports news including the Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Timberwolves, NDSU Bison, Green Bay Packers, and SO MUCH MORE!
Best of luck to all players, coaches, and fans this upcoming season! We look forward to all the hard hitting action that North Dakota High School Football brings year after year!
Photo Credit: Valley News Live, West Fargo-Sheyenne Athletics.
Comments