WEST FARGO - Century entered its Division AAA quarterfinal on paper as the underdog. But playoff football is decided on the field. The No. 4 seeded Patriots flexed their muscle, both offensively and defensively, in the second half, emerging with a 28-14 victory over the East's top seed West Fargo Horace on Oct. 30. Century (4-6) wasn't a typical No. 4 seed. All six of its defeats were decided by one score and three times the squad lost by a single point. Horace knew it was going to face a stiff test, and it was correct.

The ground game was the story for the Patriots which accumulated over 340 rushing yards. Senior Carter Wylde led the way with 130 yards while quarterback Kaden Welstad had 106 and junior Knoxx Wedelstedt added 99. The play of Century's line enabled them to control time of possession, and then on defense, shutdown Horace's ground attack.

Century got the start it wanted, moving the ball on the ground and finishing a scoring drive on QB Welstad's one-yard run. However the Hawks wrestled away momentum. Aiden Green scored from six yards out on the ground and then hauled in a 16-yard pass from Matthew Dick for 14-7 lead. But the Pats would answer before the half would end on Wedelstedt's 1-yard run.

Century would regain the lead in the third quarter on Wedelstedt's second rushing TD, and then called on its defense to stand tall. Horace was knocking on the door for a score at the Pats two-yard line. However, just one yard was all it would get. and the ball was turned over on downs. Century would grind out a 99-yard scoring drive, capped off by Wedelstedt's 15-yard TD run. The turn of events seemed to take the air out of the Hawks, who were seeking their first-ever AAA playoff win.

Horace would return inside the five-yard late in the final quarter but the Patriots once again turned them away.

Next up for Century is a showdown with rival Legacy on Nov. 6. It's another "road game" for the Pats, but one in familiar surroundings at the MDU Resources Community Bowl. For Horace (7-3), its elusive first AAA postseason win will have to wait at least one more season.