Division AA semifinals feature top four seeds

BISMARCK – Four teams remain on the road to the Fargodome in Division AA, and chalk held firm across the board in the opening round as all four top seeds defended home turf in the quarterfinals. Friday night’s semifinal slate features a high-stakes rematch of last season's final-four thriller in the Magic City alongside an unprecedented West versus East showdown in Kindred.

(2E) Central Cass Squirrels (8-2) at (1W) Minot North Sentinels (9-1)

Kickoff: 6:30 p.m., Sentinels Stadium, Minot

At Stake: A trip to the Dakota Bowl at the Fargodome

For the second straight November, Sentinels Stadium serves as the backdrop for a clash of philosophies between the Squirrels and Sentinels with a state championship berth on the line.

How They Got Here:

Central Cass punched its semifinal ticket with a 28-8 quarterfinal victory over West Region Division AA foe Devils Lake. Quarterback Brody Kegley was sharp from the pocket, connecting on intermediate chunk gains to Parker Wixo and Blaise Cotton while the Squirrel defense clamped down across four quarters. Minot North, meanwhile, hosted the first playoff game on its home field and leaned on its trademark defensive bite and timely second-half stops to edge Grand Forks Red River in a 19-14 defensive battle.

By the Numbers & Playmakers:

Central Cass brings one of the most prolific passing operations in Class AA to western North Dakota. Kegley is as comfortable as they come with the ball in his hands, completing 170 of 233 passes (73 percent) for 2,193 yards, 26 touchdowns, and just 5 interceptions. Benji Boway provides backfield balance with 722 rushing yards on 136 carries. On the perimeter, Wixo leads the receiving corps with 41 catches for 622 yards and 7 touchdowns, while Cotton has hauled in 32 passes for 539 yards. Cotton also headlines the Squirrel defense, leading the squad in total tackles from his linebacker post.

Minot North counters with a run-heavy identity and a defense that surrenders just 17.1 points per contest. Through 10 games, the three-time defending WDA champion Sentinels have compiled 2,666 yards of total offense, including 1,747 on the ground. Bell-cow back Cooper Chick leads the push with 778 yards and 10 scores on 162 carries, complemented by Davyion Clemons (341 yards, 6 TDs) and Cian Hannon (309 yards, 2 TDs). Through the air, Henry Woodbeck (511 yards, 4 TDs) and Zander Kleen (394 yards, 5 TDs) share snaps, leaning on versatile standout Cameron Jesz (26 catches, 518 yards, 4 TDs). Jesz also anchors the secondary with six interceptions, flanked by Gavin Tobey’s five picks, while linebacker Harrison Schaefer (64 tackles) and defensive end Jameson Langager (34 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 2 FF) disrupt opposing backfields.

Rematch History & Stakes:

Friday is an exact replay of last year’s semifinal, in which Minot North held off Central Cass 21-13 in a fourth-quarter dandy. Central Cass has advanced past the opening round in six consecutive postseasons, but the Squirrels are bidding for their first Dakota Bowl appearance since 2022 (when they finished runner-up in Class 11B) and are hunting for the first football state championship in school history. Minot North is looking to punch a return ticket to the dome and capture its first state title in program history.

Keys to Victory:

Why Central Cass Wins: If the Squirrel offensive line keeps Kegley clean to establish quick rhythm throws to Wixo and Cotton, Central Cass can stretch the field horizontally. Boway churning out four yards on first down will keep Minot North’s pass rush from pinning its ears back, while Cotton and the linebackers must wrap up Chick on first contact to prevent second-effort first downs.

Why Minot North Wins: The best pass coverage is keeping Kegley on the sideline. If Chick, Clemons, and Hannon grind out extended, clock-eating drives, it limits the Squirrels’ possession count. Defensively, when Kegley does drop back, the Sentinels' ball-hawking secondary (11 combined interceptions between Jesz and Tobey) must capitalize on contested throws. Playing in November conditions at Sentinels Stadium also gives the physical hosts a decisive weather edge against an aerial attack.

(2W) Dickinson Mavericks (8-2) at (1E) Kindred Vikings (10-0)

Kickoff: 6:30 p.m., Kindred High School Field

At Stake: A trip to the Dakota Bowl at the Fargodome

A pair of storied programs meet for the very first time on the gridiron Friday night, as the Mavericks make the long trek east to face the state's undisputed small-school juggernaut.

How They Got Here:

Dickinson delivered a complete four-quarter performance at the Biesiot Activities Center last week, rolling past Grand Forks Central 35-14 behind four total touchdowns from Nathan Stevenson and physical inside running from Wyatt Turner. Kindred enters after a 42-7 victory over Jamestown, but that final score is deceiving. The Blue Jays brought heavy physical pressure early, carrying a lead into the halftime locker room before the Vikings broke open a tense contest with a 28-point fourth-quarter eruption.

By the Numbers & Playmakers:

Dickinson brings exceptional balance to the field, averaging 329.4 total yards per game with near-even distribution (1,667 rushing, 1,627 passing). Dual-threat quarterback Nathan Stevenson commands the attack, completing 103 of 122 passes for 1,575 yards, 21 touchdowns, and only 3 interceptions, while adding 500 rushing yards and six scores. Workhorse Wyatt Turner provides the hammer between the tackles, amassing 957 yards and 11 touchdowns on 206 carries. Out wide, Paxton Lyson is Stevenson’s top aerial target with 46 catches for 593 yards and 4 touchdowns. On defense, Stevenson leads the team with 63 tackles and 4 forced fumbles, joined by edge rusher Ayden Ho (6 sacks, 10 TFL) and defensive backs Lyson (7 INTs) and Jesse Hammond (4 INTs).

Kindred has operated as an absolute powerhouse, compiling a staggering 66-4 record since 2021 with state titles in Class B and Class A. The offense is balanced and explosive, led by quarterback Jackson Schlieman, who has completed 75 of 131 passes for 18 touchdowns against just 4 interceptions. Workhorse back Brock Johnson has been devastating on the ground, piling up 1,269 yards and 14 touchdowns on 139 carries—an eye-popping 9.1 yards per attempt. When Schlieman airs it out, big-play wideout Brooks Bakko leads the way with 29 catches for 565 yards and 8 scores, complemented by four other receivers with multiple touchdown grabs. Defensively, the Vikings boast uncommon size and speed, surrendering very few chunk plays behind Clayton Altoff (53 tackles), Cam Kittelson (50 tackles), and a secondary that has collected 12 interceptions.

Historic Stakes & First Meeting:

Friday marks the first-ever varsity football meeting between Dickinson and Kindred. For the Mavericks, the night carries immense history: Dickinson is seeking its first trip to the Dakota Bowl since 1997, when they edged WDA rival Bismarck High 28-26 in Dakota Bowl V to take the Class AAA state championship. After decades as a WDA big-school power before transitioning to Division AA, the Mavericks sit one win away from ending a 29-year state title game drought. Standing in their way is a Kindred squad that has won 32 of its last 33 games dating back to 2024 and is hunting for a crown in a third different classification.

Keys to Victory:

Why Dickinson Wins: The Mavericks can take pages right out of Jamestown's first-half blueprint. If Turner establishes tough inside yardage early and Stevenson takes care of the football while avoiding negative plays, Dickinson can keep Kindred's explosive offense off the field. Defensively, Lyson and Hammond must bait errant throws to win the turnover battle and generate short fields.

Why Kindred Wins: After last week's first-half wake-up call, expect the Vikings to play with sharp early urgency. Feeding Brock Johnson between the tackles and on the perimeter will open up play-action strikes from Schlieman to Bakko. Defensively, if Altoff and Kittelson fill running lanes quickly on early downs, it forces Dickinson into obvious drop-back passing situations where Kindred's opportunistic secondary can capitalize.

Fries at the Bottom of the Bag 

Chasing 1997 History: Dickinson’s quest for a Dakota Bowl return has been 29 years in the making. The Mavericks last played for a football state title in 1997 when they edged WDA rival Bismarck High 28-26 under the Fargodome roof in Dakota Bowl V. A win Friday sends Dickinson back to the dome for the first time this century.

Kindred's Six-Year Juggernaut (66-4): To understand the challenge facing the Mavericks, Kindred has lost just four games since the start of the 2021 campaign. The Vikings' 66-4 record (.943 winning percentage) over that span includes state championships in Class B (2021) and Class A (2023). Kindred has won 32 of its last 33 games dating back to 2024.

A Historic First Meeting: Despite both programs carrying rich athletic traditions in North Dakota, Friday marks the first-ever gridiron meeting between Dickinson and Kindred.

Contrasting Styles in the Magic City: You will not find two more diametrically opposed offensive philosophies than Central Cass and Minot North. The Squirrels feature Brody Kegley's 2,193 passing yards and 26 aerial scores, while the Sentinels counter with Cooper Chick and a power ground game that has piled up 1,747 rushing yards.

Secondary Showcase (27 Combined Picks in Kindred): Keep your eyes glued to the skies out east. This semifinal features two of the state's most opportunistic secondaries: Dickinson has intercepted 15 passes (led by Paxton Lyson's 7 and Jesse Hammond's 4), while Kindred's defensive backfield has pulled down 12 interceptions. One tipped ball could determine who plays at the Fargodome.

Minot North vs. G.F. Red River (Photo/Eric Pearson)