Coaches tab Minot, Jamestown to win football divisions
BISMARCK – While Williston, Watford City and TMCHS (Belcourt) opened its 2023 football seasons last weekend, eight more WDA teams hit the field this week.
The preseason coaches’ poll conducted by the ND Pigskin Preview publication has Minot High the pick to take the West Region’s top spot in Class AA. The Magicians were a playoff qualifier a season ago and finished 6-4. Bismarck Century (5-7 in 2022), which advances to the Dakota Bowl before falling to Fargo Shanley, is second in voting. Mandan (8-3) is third followed by Bismarck Legacy (6-4) in fourth. Both were playoff qualifiers. Bismarck High (0-8), Bismarck St. Mary’s (3-6) and Williston (2-7) round out the region voting. The Pigskin Preview prediction is significantly different. Mandan is the top pick followed by Bismarck Century, Bismarck High, Minot, Bismarck Legacy, Williston and Bismarck St. Mary’s.
In Class A, two-time defending champion Jamestown (10-2 in 2022) is the coaches’ pick to take the top spot in the West Region. Dickinson (4-5), a playoff qualifier in 2022, is second with Watford City (2-7) in third and TMCHS Belcourt (1-8) in fourth. The Pigskin Preview prediction mirrors the coaches’ vote.
In the Midco Sports power rankings, Minot High was is No. 3 in overall Class AA behind Fargo Shanley and WF Sheyenne. Century was fourth with Mandan fifth. Bismarck High was named a bubble team in the hunt for a playoff spot. In Class A, Jamestown is No. 3 overall behind Fargo North and Fargo South. Dickinson is a team expected to also be in contention for postseason play.
Point After
This marks the 85th season the WDA has sponsored football…Quality Results Formula (QRF) will again be used to determine seeding for Class AA and A playoff qualifiers…Toby Schweitzer take the reins of the head coaching post for Bismarck St. Mary’s, taking over for long-time coach Dan Smrekar...Jamestown will bid to become the first-ever WDA program to win three consecutive football titles.
2023 ND Pigskin Preview
AA Coaches' Poll
West Region
1 Minot High
2 Bismarck Century
3 Mandan
4 Bismarck Legacy
5 Bismarck High
6 Bismarck St. Mary’s
7 Williston
A Coaches’ Poll
West Region
1 Jamestown
2 Dickinson
3 Watford City
4 TMCHS (Belcourt)
Photo: Jamestown vs. Dickinson, courtesy of Forum Communications
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