2025 Week 11 (North Dakota)

The season is drawing to a close. Many states are into the playoffs by now. And I finally saw snow for the first time this season. In Wyoming of all places, high elevation. But still snow. But I had football planned for the weekend and North Dakota would be my 9th state of 2025.

North Dakota, like Montana, is rather regimented about their playoffs. 3A and 2A play on Friday nights, while 1A and 9-man play on Saturday afternoon. Though the exact kickoff times can vary slightly.

But one major consideration is when Bismarck hosts more than one game on Friday. Four high schools call the Community Bowl home. Those being the three public schools: Bismarck, Bismarck Century, and Bismarck Legacy as well as private school Bismarck St. Mary’s. With the opening round of the state playoff in 3A, three of the Bismarck teams had qualified for the playoffs.

Considering there’s only twelve teams in the state in 3A, and Bismarck makes up a quarter of those twelve. With so few schools, only 12 big schools are in 3A. Primarily from Bismarck and Fargo areas. Aside from Bismarck, Bismarck Century, and Bismarck Legacy, and Mandan, along with West Fargo, West Fargo Sheyenne, West Fargo Horace, Fargo North, Fargo Davies, Fargo Shanley, there’s also two other schools: Minot just due north of Bismarck along US2, and Williston, a growing oil-centric city also along US2 west of Minot near the Montana border.

With two teams hosting, the Community Bowl was busy for Friday, and one game was scheduled for 4pm. And the other at 7pm.

Now, I had been here back in 2011. Even then there was a doubleheader and I was late arriving and only saw the night game. Between Bismarck St Mary Central and Minot Bishop Ryan/Sawyer. It was on a Wednesday night, as back then the schedules were worked around the calendar to squeeze another week into the playoffs.

So, it was interesting to finally be back. There wasn’t much for Friday games and the draw to see two games, with four new teams, couldn’t dissuade me.

On Friday afternoon, I drove south and west through endless two lane roads amid rain and gray skies to I-94 near Steele. And further west into the capital city of Bismarck. I didn’t have a ton of time as kickoff was fast approaching. With the threat of rain, I only took my zoom lens camera in with me. Along with the rain hood for it.

It was also cold, and this was my first game dressed with long pants and a jacket, and hat.

I got to the front gate on the west side and was let in. Though I had called ahead, I wasn’t aware of any particular protocol for media. And those manning the ticket table didn’t seem to know. But I did get in, and they had rosters in a bin at the top of the steps

#44 – Bismarck v. West Fargo

I made my way around the stands instead of down the steps and was regretting it as the hill was just dirt and growing slippery but I made my way down it to the field level. And onto the field.

This was my first time seeing both teams. The Bismarck Demons and the West Fargo Packers. It always bothered me that the Devils Lake Satans were forced through endless pressure to change their nickname, yet the Bismarck Demons have long remained the name of the team in the state capital.

It was cold, and windy, as the game started. And I mostly camped out on the home side’s south end. It seemed like Bismarck was going to win easy but then it became a slog. The crowds were small but boisterous. Cheering appropriately but the afternoon playoff game on Halloween night really drained some of the potential support.

A narrow lead for Bismarck gave way to a West Fargo lead late. But a blocked extra point would prove fatal. Bismarck, trailing by 6, would score and their extra point would extend it to 21-20 and take home the victory.

North Dakota Spotlight: Bismarck Eeks By West Fargo, 21-20 ( PHOTO GALLERY)

During the game, I stumbled upon another photographer wearing Steelers apparel. And questioned him and his choice of Bengals gloves. Turns out he’s from Youngstown. And had gone to Chaney. I explained where I was from, and struck up a conversation about it, the closing of Chaney, the Chaney-East game that had happened the week before, and the future combined high school. I had intended to see him after the game but he was only there for the first game and I had to make my way to the bathroom after the game.

On the upper level of the seating area, is the bathrooms exiting onto the promenade. And two concession stands. Both are glass-enclosed and protected from the elements. Only one was in use today. And I went in and saw they had pulled pork everything. Including nachos. Steep at $9 for high school fare, since this is a college venue as well, I didn’t question it.

And they were so good. On par with the brisket nachos in Texas, but for a much cheaper price (and smaller, as well).

I sat on the cold, west bleachers and ate them before any more bad weather or heavy winds could make it unbearable. The early game had ended quickly, so there was considerable time until the 7pm kickoff for the night game between Century and Sheyenne.

Given that there’s only twelve teams in 3A, it’s not that unsurprising that Century and Sheyenne had played two state championships against each other. Though this year it was a first round/quarterfinal round game.

#45 – Bismarck Century v. West Fargo Sheyenne

Again, this was the first time I had seen either of these two teams. And I was pulling for the visitors in this one. Century were the Patriots with a familiar red/white/blue motif, similar to a cross between the Bills ‘redesigned’ uniforms they wore in the mid 00s, and the Patriots monochrome. Heavy use on the navy colors and a red helmet. Not the greatest look as it’s been constantly and consistently overdone. Sheyenne, meanwhile, was blue with orange.

This was another low scoring game. Which was strange given how it started. Sheyenne quickly scoring coming right to the endzone I was momentarily camped out in while getting my early game tweets out.

But for as close as the game was, it never seemed that way. Sheyenne struggled to move the ball after that. Always having something happen that stymied them. And Century was equally as incapable of doing much else despite two touchdowns. But it was just two touchdowns and the fourth quarter trudged on toward the final line. Before Century added a pick-six in the final minute to win, 21-7.

North Dakota Spotlight: Bismarck Century Advances to State Semifinals with 21-7 win over West Fargo Sheyenne (PHOTO GALLERY)

The next day, I had a long drive from Bismarck to Killdeer. Killdeer is a small city southeast of Watford City and part of the oil patch. It sits not too far north of Dickinson on ND22. A boom town if there ever was one, the Cowboys of Killdeer High School have benefitted greatly. A new school built west of town. And their old sports complex in town rehabbed with vibrant field turf.

The game was kicking off at 1pm local, which thanks to the zigzag pattern of the timezone borders in southwestern North Dakota, put the game into the Mountain Timezone. Just about two hours from Bismarck depending on how fast you feel like driving.

Leaving Bismarck, I traveled west on I-94 to Richardton. Taking ND8 north through town. It was my first time ever inside the town. Part of the Richardton-Taylor/Hebron co-op. ND8 taking you right by the field in town. Another to my endless bucket list I hope to one day see a game at.

Route 8 mostly heads due north until just south of Halliday, abruptly turns and ends at ND200. The major east-west road through the middle of the state between the much more well-traveled I-94 and US2.

ND200 is part of a multi-state chain of Route 200s, starting in Idaho and then traversing Montana which I am well acquainted with, and then into North Dakota where it gets overshadowed as it passes south of Alexander and now bypasses Watford City to head south and then east through the areas of Killdeer, Halliday, north of Beulah, past Hazen, and then splits. With the continued route going north and east to US83 and through Underwood following US52 to Carrington, and then alone again as it meanders through eastern North Dakota through Mayville and Portland, and into Minnesota. Where the MN200 portion lacks any sort of consistency. Zigzagging here or there and following different other roadways as it travels east. Where it unceremoniously ends when it reaches US2, about 50 miles from Duluth.

Once on ND200 heading west, there isn’t much to see besides Dunn Center, which is part of Killdeer’s school district. And then as you approach town across the south side, it’s endless lots of oil related businesses. Storage yards for equipment, trailers, platforms, supplies, etc. A roundabout takes you north into town, as ND22 Business takes you through town, while ND22 follows ND200 to the west to avoid town completely. Thus keeping all the oil-related traffic from Killdeer’s downtown area.

The old school and sports complex are located atop the hill, almost due north of the ND22 roundabout with ND200. I stopped at the Cenex and had a chicken sandwich and a sprite. And then made my way up the hill where parking was at a premium.

Every street seemed lined with cars. There was very little actual parking for games. No lots near the school or field. Just endless lattice work of streets to park on.

At the top of the hill finally is the field. With a new facade built for it. And an expanded home seating area. As all fans sit on the west side of the field. The school itself abuts much of the east side beyond the track. The scoreboard mounted on the north corner of the school as close to the 50 yard line as possible.

#46 – Killdeer v. Dickinson Trinity

This had all the makings of a good game. A hotly contested regular season rematch. Two teams that are geographic rivals as Dickinson is not too far to the south. A small, loud, raucous stadium on a beautiful day.

And then it just was a struggle. Trinity was moving the ball well but kept getting stopped. Once on a fourth down pass out of the reach of a diving receiving. Turnovers. Even Killdeer were in on it. And the first half was just 12-6. Kicking was difficult. So was passing. As the winds were strong from the south.

And then the floodgates opened. The third quarter couldn’t stop scoring plays. But Trinity just could never get the edge needed to tie it up. Every good play of theirs was met by an equally good play by Killdeer.

I did have one of my best photographs of the season, possibly all-time, in the second half of this game. When two Cowboys defenders and a Trinity receiver went up for a pass, aiming southwest toward the sun, and all three off the ground. The Titans player had the ball but lost it as he came down with it thanks to a swat by the defender.

Killdeer could sense it and the Trinity faithful occupying their lone section on the north end of the stands grew quiet. To the point Trinity didn’t stop the clock with timeouts late. Well aware of the reality of a 20 point deficit. Killdeer wins, 39-19.

North Dakota Spotlight: Killdeer opens playoffs with 39-19 win over Trinity (PHOTO GALLERY)

After the game, I stopped back at the Cenex for another chicken sandwich (only $5) and two more sprites (only $1.49 ech for 20oz cans). As well as Pork Egg Rolls.

I drove west to US85, through Watford City, past Alexander and onto ND68 to Sidney, Montana for the evening. Seeing a great sunset in the distance over the hills in far western North Dakota.

ECONOMICS

For the weekend, for football, I drove 277 miles. I spent $2 for water and $9 for pulled pork nachos in Bismarck. And spent $13 in the morning in Killdeer. And another $11 after the game. For a total of $35 on food. Everything else was work related.

I added six new teams and one new stadium. As I had been to the Community Bowl (labeled Coca-Cola Stadium) back in 2011. Though it has had many different sponsor names over the years. But always generally being called the Community Bowl since its inception.