🏈🏈 IT'S GAME DAY!
HUGE NIGHT IN WDA FOOTBALL!
By James Jackson- PSP Analyst:
Halfway through the last full month of the 2024 season, programs from all across the “Peace Garden State” now find themselves fully immersed in the blistering waters of conference play thanks to the unrelenting heat of the Friday night lights. Spanning all classes of play, North Dakota teams hit the gridiron this week entering the proverbial “fourth quarter” of the regular season. With nearly every game weighted with playoff implications, the PSP Network suits up once again to provide the most in-depth high school football coverage as the postseason rapidly approaches.
Loaded with Class AAA battles between top-5 teams and several receiving votes, Friday night’s PSP Network docket sees WDA adversaries clash as No. 5 Bismarck High and Legacy square off in a cross-city showdown, while Mandan travels to Duane Carlson Stadium to take on No. 2 Minot High.
In Class AA action, Dickinson heads to Minot North as both teams continue their push to break into the top-5 rankings and further feed their state title aspirations.
No. 5 Bismarck Demons (4-2 overall, 0-2 WDA) at (RV) Legacy Sabers (4-2 overall, 1-1 WDA)
Following a four-game winning streak against Eastern Dakota Conference foes to kick off a red-hot start to their 2024 campaign, the No. 5 Bismarck Demons have cooled after back-to-back losses to No. 2 Minot High and No. 4 Century to start Western Dakota Association play. Despite falling short by less than a touchdown to both ranked opponents, the Demons defense must return to their early-season form to remain in the title picture. Allowing just 8.5 PPG in victory over the first four games, the past two contests have seen Bismarck High relinquish an average of 27 PPG, equating to nearly four touchdowns per matchup. Nevertheless, the offensive unit of the Demons remains a silver lining, scoring an average of 30 PPG on the season and scoring less than 28 points only once.
Intent on staying perfect at home, the Legacy Sabers look to rebound from last week’s 34-7 road loss to WDA adversary Mandan. Although equipped with the firepower to put up 40+ points in half their matchups in 2024, the Sabers need to channel the stingy defense showcased in their opening two games to increase the odds of evening their 4-5 head-to-head record against the Demons on Friday night. Giving up only 6.5 PPG during that opening pair of victories, Legacy has went on to surrender nearly four times that amount of points (25 PPG) in their past four contests.
(RV) Mandan (4-2 overall, 2-0 WDA) at No. 2 Minot High (4-2 overall, 2-0 WDA)
Battling for sole possession of first place in the WDA standings, the Mandan Braves clash with the No. 2-ranked Minot High Magicians in a battle of the conference’s last two unbeatens. Meeting for their 52nd head-to-head showdown on the gridiron Friday night, the Magi enter the matchup holding a dominant 40-11 advantage in the win column against the Braves.
Hunting for their first victory against Minot High since 2021, the undefeated Braves will need to extend their dominance over WDA opponents to down the still-perfect Magi and lay claim to the conference’s top spot. In stark contrast to the paper-thin, 28-25 average margin of victory over their four EDC foes this season, Mandan’s play in conference action nearly mirrors their current WDA record: perfect. In statement wins at home over Williston and Legacy, the Braves overwhelmed their counterparts on both sides of the ball, handily outscoring them by a combined total of 75-21.
Paving a road back to the Dakota Bowl with weekly wins, No. 2 Minot High sets their sights on moving one step closer to their 18th WDA crown and a chance to call themselves back-to-back state champions. Earning their fifth state title in program history via a 38-35 instant-classic victory over
Fargo Shanley last year, the No. 2-ranked Magi ride a three-game winning streak into Friday’s contest. After starting the 2024 season with a sub-.500 record of 1-2, Minot High has proceeded to notch a win at home over Bismarck High and victories on the road against West Fargo and Williston. Showcasing a deadly combination of explosive scoring and stifling defense, the Magi have scored an average of 32 PPG while allowing just over one touchdown (8 PPG) over the past three contests.
(RV) Dickinson (3-3 overall, 1-1 WDA) at (RV) Minot North (4-2 overall, 1-1 WDA)
Jockeying for crucial position in the WDA’s wide-open Class AA standings, both the Dickinson Midgets and the Minot North Sentinels understand that Friday’s game has the future potential to decide their fate when it comes to the rapidly-approaching postseason. Sporting identical conference records with just three games remaining apiece, a massive head-to-head win for either the Midgets or Sentinels could wind up the difference between a ticket to the playoffs or a ticket home until next season.
Putting last week’s 31-12 loss to Jamestown in the rearview mirror, Dickinson needs to channel the scoring capabilities exhibited in wins over Fargo South, Grand Forks Central, and Watford City to have a chance of snatching a victory on the road at Sentinel Stadium. In their three aforementioned wins, the Midgets managed to double the average point production of their opponent, scoring an average of 29 PPG while holding their opponent to just two touchdowns. However, in “Jekyll and Hyde” fashion, Dickinson has been outscored by a combined total of 93-31 in their three regular season losses, breaking down to the Midgets’ defense allowing three points for every point scored by the Dickinson offense.
On the flip side of the field, the Minot North Sentinels ride a massive wave of momentum into Friday night’s home stand after a monster 45-6 road victory over Watford City. Scoring 35 or more points in four out of six games this season, the Sentinels offense enters battle with the Midgets locked, loaded, and averaging a stellar 31 PPG. Nevertheless, despite Minot North’s undeniable scoring ability, the outcome of the game relies heavily on which Sentinel defensive unit shows up under the lights.
Matching their offensive teammates’ success in victory, Minot North’s defense has allowed an average of just 10 PPG in wins over Century JV, Wahpeton, Grand Forks Central, and Watford City. Yet, when it comes to their losses to West Fargo Horace and Bismarck St. Mary’s, that number jumps by four touchdowns (28 points) to 38 PPG allowed.
@magiFB@mandansports@LegacySaberFB@BHSDemonHoops @DHSMidgetsAD @MinotNorthFB@WDAsports
(10-4-24) FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL PREVIEW:
PSP ANALYST- James Jackson
With football programs from across North Dakota marching into the last full month of the 2024 regular season, colder nights on the gridiron are offset by hoodies and red-hot rivalries as contenders across all classes continue their quest towards the playoffs and championship glory. Illuminated by the ever-brightening Friday night lights, the road to postseason play gets even hotter thanks to the PSP Network’s combination of comprehensive coverage and the most knowledgeable analysts in the game.
Headlining this week’s slate of games is a Class A showdown for the coveted Penny Trophy between No. 2 Velva/Drake-Anamoose/Garrison and No. 3 Bishop Ryan. Spanning a quarter century and multiple classes, this historic rivalry between the perennial powerhouses is annually one of the most “must-see” contests of the season. Also joining in the rivalry festivities are Bismarck Century and Bismarck High, a pair of cross-town programs looking to capture a burst of momentum heading into the final weeks of their respective schedules while bolstering their place among the WDA pecking order.
VELVA-BISHOP RYAN
Marking the 25th anniversary of what has become one of the premier rivalries in North Dakota high school football, Friday evening sees the No. 2-ranked Velva/Drake-Anamoose/Garrison Aggies (5-1) host the No. 3-ranked Bishop Ryan Lions (5-0) in a powerhouse Class A contest. The long-time adversaries square off in the 2024 edition of the Copper Bowl for the rights to the coveted Penny Trophy, a cheese-wheel-sized wooden trophy donated by the Aggie Foundation in 2012. Since its inception, both teams have laid claim to the trophy six times, setting up this week’s winner to take the lead in the over decade-long annual battle. Furthermore, after falling short in their first three efforts to take home the Penny Trophy, Velva has rebounded to win six of the past nine Copper Bowl matchups.
Looking to hold on to the Penny Trophy for the third consecutive season, Velva enters this year’s showdown on a five-game winning streak following a season-opening 13-6 loss to current No. 1-ranked Kindred. Boasting four 2023 First-Team All-State players on the offensive side of the ball (QB Ben Schepp, RB Hank Bodine, and WRs Reggie Bruner and Treyson Iglehart), the Aggies are averaging a whopping 52.4 PPG after wins over Harvey/Wells County, Surrey, Nedrose, Ray/Powers Lake, and Stanley. Not to be outdone by their offensive counterparts, the Velva defense has been nothing short of suffocating, allowing only 4.5 PPG and amassing three shutouts in the process.
Entering Friday night’s contest on a winning streak of their own are the undefeated No. 3-ranked Bishop Ryan Lions. Led by First-Team All-State defensive lineman Cade Okeson, the defensive unit of the 5-0 Lions has compiled an unignorable resume of their own thus far. In the same vein as Velva, Bishop Ryan has given up on average just 4.4 PPG while also notching three shutouts on the season. Even more, the Lions have shown they have the pieces to put points on the board as proven in definitive wins against Bowman County and Surrey. Outscoring these two opponents by a combined margin of 138-0, Bishop Ryan is averaging an explosive 51 PPG heading into this week’s Region 3 tilt.
BISMARCK-CENTURY
Despite being separated by less than five miles, the divide in the fanbases runs deep when it comes to city rivals the Bismarck High Demons (4-1) and the Century Patriots (3-2). After going a combined 7-1 against a collection of Eastern Dakota Conference foes to kick off their respective 2024 Class AAA campaigns, both the Demons and Patriots enter Friday’s contest hungry for their first Western Dakota Association win of the season. Along with hoping to capture a much-needed conference victory, Century looks to close the win-loss margin in head-to-head matchups against Bismarck High. Over 56 games, the Demons have bragging rights to a 36-20, 16-win regular season advantage over the Patriots all-time. However, in regard to postseason play, Century has the most recent laugh courtesy of a 28-0 shutout victory in the Class AA quarterfinals in 2021.
Just two years removed from a winless campaign, the Demons have kicked off the new season on a nearly inverse trajectory. Downing four straight EDC adversaries by an average margin of 35-9 to begin their schedule, Bismarck High looks to bounce back from a 21-14 road loss to No. 2 Minot High last week with a win at home against the neighboring Patriots. Showing balance on both sides of the pigskin, the Demons have allowed more than one touchdown in a game only twice in 2024 while scoring four or more touchdowns in all but one contest.
Also hoping to bounce back from a loss to begin conference play, the Century Patriots will need increased success on the defensive end to topple WDA nemesis Bismarck High. Allowing a combined 77 points in losses to formidable foes No. 2 Minot High and top-ranked Fargo Davies, the Patriots have given up an average of over three touchdowns per game thus far. Offensively, Century must post more than their respectable 25 PPG season average and channel the scoring success they displayed in their 55-7 home victory against Fargo North on Sept. 6 to better their chances of claiming a road victory this Friday.
*Note PSP Network adjusted their schedule to bring live coverage of Legacy at Mandan as BEK Sports will have coverage of Century and Bismarck.
Watch Live: https://t.co/EV8kvmd8eb or on YouTube!
Though back down South, I've been enjoying the ND State Fair action from afar and reminiscing on my wonderful times in the Minot area.
Missing @MinotHighAD, @SeanW_21, @NetworkPsp, @ZachKeenanTV, @colehcclem, and all the amazing people I met while covering sports for the MDN!
Big thanks to Nick and his crew from @NetworkPsp for covering the girls from Minot High and the WDA. Your coverage gives our fans a place to watch and enjoy. Thanks again!!
The season came to an end on Friday. The Magicians finished the season 4th in the WDA with a record of 7-3 and an overall record of 14-7. This Saturday, the Varsity boys will travel to Williston for the WDA individual qualifier.
I'm always stoked when I get the chance to cover @magiswim and interact with their amazing coaches and fans.
It should be a good one tonight against Fargo Davies! Looking forward to going to town on this recap for tomorrow's newspaper.