2025 Week 12 (North Dakota)

I didn’t expect to be back in North Dakota. In fact, if I had been in North Dakota this weekend. It was state semifinal weekend, and there weren’t a lot of games to choose from. And it was going to be cold. Now, I started the week in Eastern Montana, and there were a few games there I was interested in. But, I was going to be in North Dakota and the drive back-and-forth wasn’t worth it for what would be the same number of games, if that.

Being that it was the state semifinals, there wasn’t a lot of options. The two largest classes had semifinals on Friday, while the smallest 11-man and the 9-man classes had games on Saturday afternoon. Bismarck, where I was in Week 1 was not high on my list. The other 11AAA game was in Fargo at Fargo Davies. Which I had been to a game at and seen play back in 2011. So that left the two 11AA games. Minot North, a relatively new school was hosting Central Cass. While Devils Lake was hosting Kindred.

Both games would be new for me. Both would be two new teams for me. Both were projected to be good games. The only real factor that swayed me was Central Cass. A team I had wanted to see for a while, who had one of the more unique nicknames in high school football: the Squirrels.

That, and Minot was closer to where I was on Friday. For Saturday, the options were even more stark. Langdon/Munich was hosting a game, but in northeast North Dakota. And Killdeer had another home game against Bottineau. But I had just been there and that was on the western edge of the state. That left the two 9-man games. LaMoure/Litchville-Marion was hosting South Border and New Rockford-Sheyenne/Maddock was hosting Hankinson.

Again, both would be new. But New Rockford seemed like the easier Saturday morning drive from Minot. And with snow in the overnight forecast, the closer the better. And at worst, I would just forgo the Saturday game altogether.

So, after spending the middle of the week in Montana and one of the most eye-piecing sunrises I’ve got to witness in a while. I was going to Williston Friday morning before the long day going to Minot with a meandering drive along the Missouri River on the ND1806 through the oil country.

I got to stop in New Town, one of my favorite middle-of-nowhere towns in the state. One that is growing by leaps and bounds thanks to the Bakken Formation.

It was much later than I wanted to, that I got into Minot. And tried another shot of the welcome sign on US52 southeast of town. And then went around the west side to the US83 bypass which is just adjacent to the new Minot North High School.

When I got into the parking lot, a local bank was sponsoring free food for early arrivers. I had a a burger and a hot dog. Both very good. Though cooled off quickly as the night set in.

#47 – Minot North v. Central Cass

I had called ahead on this game and was in to cover it. I was shocked that for the size of the school the stadium was built with stands only on one side. And the crowd was small. The weather certainly didn’t help. Cold with heavy winds. With a threat of snow that would prove correct. The field sits on a hilltop northwest of the school.

I setup on the Squirrels side of the field. As there wasn’t much for backdrop facing east. At least the stands gave some light for the background. The facility is new and very nice. A heavily built entrance facility with Minot North and Sentinel Stadium prominently displayed in lights. With concession and restrooms acting as bookends for the ticket window and entryways.

I was shocked that Central Cass kicked a field goal in the first half. And that Minot North tried one later in the half. Though there’s didn’t get off the ground on a bad setup. But some second half back and forth game the Squirrels a slim 17-14 lead before Minot North’s William Bentley scored on an 8 yard score to clinch a berth in the state championship game, 21-17.

North Dakota Spotlight: Minot North earns first berth in State Title Game, 21-17 over Central Cass (Photo Gallery)

After the game, I stayed on the field to take it all in. As well as to wait to meet a friend I met at the Center-Stanton 6-man game in 2023 who now does announcing and play-by-play for PSP Network in North Dakota.

After that, I made my way to the bathroom where I made the error of all self-inflicted errors. I propped my camera up against the wall and it slipped out and crashed down hard. So, I’m down to 1 of my 2 cameras. Hopefully I can get it fixed. Though I’m doubtful it would be a cheap fix. May buy a used replacement to finish out the state title games. But will have to see.

I’m still smarting about it. As I almost always set the camera down to ground upset down and the floor was mostly clean that I wouldn’t usually have grimaced at the decision. Luckily I did have my other camera. But I didn’t bring it to the game with me as the threat of weather kept me from wanting to protect two cameras from potential rain or snow. But I had to get back quickly to check that the lens–the most important part–was still working. And luckily it was. I just had to switch over to the backup camera. And have no room for error.

After the game, the roads were treacherous. One thing North Dakota does, that is somewhat infuriating, is that they mostly wait for the snow to end before taking good care of the roads. Lack of people or resources given the state’s large size explains the rural areas, but in and around Minot you’d expect better pre-treatment.

I spent the night in Minot, and around 9am I was ready to head out to New Rock. It was just about a two hour drive and I figured I’d stop to eat something somewhere along the way.

US52 was not well cleared, either. So, driving was much slower than anticipated. But I did have a lot of cushion built into my schedule as I knew this might be the case. By the time I reached Fessendon, the roads were clearing up. And I made a pitstop at the Cenex where I turned east off US52 onto ND15.

Used the bathroom and bought some freshly fried Champs Chicken tenders.

ND15 was an easy straight shot east that ran just south of New Rockford. But, as was the case, I was not in a sightseeing mood. One, my secondary camera was now indisposed of, so stopping to find the welcome sign on US281 east of town was not of major importance. Instead, I turned north onto County Route 14, which runs north south paralleling US281, but the sports complex sits right on the road on the southwest edge of town.

But what I lacked getting a welcome sign, the water tower was across the street from the field. With almost all the name visible without much gallivanting through the trees along the road near the field’s entrance.

Getting in was a breeze as I parked just north of the main entrance and walked in. I didn’t speak to anyone, but no one asked me anything anyways when I walked by. As ticket takers were operating at the entrance right from the cars. As there was little fencing or perimeter around the field.

The New Rockford Athletic Field is a baseball/football hybrid that’s common out west. The field sitting across the top of the infield from left field to right field. With its own dedicated scoreboard at the west endzone’s outfield wall. The home side was in the outfield with it’s own pressbox and small stands. The visitors stood and sat across the infield near second base. There was no ropes or dividers. And fans crowded up to the field as close as feasible without being reprimanded. But did make photography a bit more troublesome. As I was constantly in and out of people moving up and down the field. But, as the play moved up or down the field, so too did the flock of people.

Fans were setup with cars around the outfield wall. Including several enterprising groups that used flatbed tow trucks staged around the left outfield so they could see over the wall. The trees surrounding the complex cave a nice view in almost all directions. The only real downside was the baseball portion of the field was being renovated and littered with equipment, materials, and just otherwise not looking like a baseball backstop. So, I stayed on the visitor side facing the outfield wall.

#48 – New Rockford-Sheyenne/Maddock v. Hankinson

New Rockford and Sheyenne are two small towns about 11 miles apart. They had consolidated into one school in one school district in 2006. In 2023, Maddock was added into a co-op. Though the team generally still just referred to themselves by the initials NRS, NRS Rockets, or New Rockford-Sheyenne Rockets. Maddock is 38 miles from New Rockford.

For the game itself, a one-sided projection was not immediately obvious. Hankinson was moving the ball well, and benefited from two kickoff returns by Raeshaun Earl. But as the game moved on, Hankinson continued to struggle to keep pace.

A fourth down stop that looked much closer than the chains indicated was the dagger in the hearts of the Hankinson Pirates. A few quick scores by NRS pushed the game in the fourth quarter just enough that it was becoming clear Hankinson was not going to have the offensive firepower to come back. New Rockford-Sheyenne/Maddock won, 72-50.

North Dakota Spotlight: NRS Rockets advance to 9-man State Championship with 72-50 win over Hankinson (PHOTO GALLERY)

The Rockets of NRS move on to the state championship game in Fargo. Where they’re play LaMoure/Litchville-Marion at 9am from the Fargodome.

After the game, I headed south to Carrington and stopped at the Pizza Ranch for dinner.

ECONOMICS

For the entire weekend, I drove 205 miles to attend both games ending in Carrington. I had seen a game in Carrington previously as well. I spent $0 on food at Minot North thanks to the free burger, hot dog, and bottle of water. On Saturday, I spent $10 at the Cenex and another $10.61 at Pizza Ranch after the game. A total of $20.61 for food. And spent $38 on travel expenses.

All tolled, I added four new teams and two new stadiums to my personal total.