ROLLA - It is not often that a team gets an opportunity to make up for past mistakes.

So North Prairie is relishing the fact that it gets another shot at Langdon-Munich - the only team that has beaten Cougars this season.

"We didn't have a great game the first time we played them. We might have gone in a little cocky," North Prairie senior Michael Bonn said. "We are hoping to show we can do better this time around."

Today's game marks the second time in three seasons that North Prairie has made the Class A semifinal round as it lost to eventual state champion Harvey there in 2007. A win would put North Prairie in the Dakota Bowl for the first time as a co-op, where it will play either No. 1 Watford City or No. 2 Velva.

"That is the ultimate goal," Bonn said. "In the past, we've kind of been known as a choke team in the playoffs, since we can't seem to make the finals. But we are going to try our hardest to get there (today)."

Bonn, 5-foot-8 half back, leads the team in rushing with 1,197 yards and 11 touchdowns, but had 21 carries for 91 yards in North Prairie's 20-8 loss to Langdon-Munich on Oct. 16.

Turnovers and missed opportunities plagued the Cougars in that one. Quarterback Jaden Pfeifer threw two interceptions and the Cougars were stopped twice near the goal line in the second half.

Pfeifer, who completed 9 of 21 passes for 74 yards and a touchdown vs. Langdon-Munich, will need to be sharp today.

"Quarterback wise, he is going to have to make the right decisions," North Prairie head coach Davy Zinke said. "If he has people covered, he has to run and he has the ability to do that. He is really quick. It comes down to making the right choices. If he does that, it should put us in good situations."

The Cougars also have to keep an eye on Jon Dinius, Langdon-Munich's speedy back who torched them for 257 yards, including a 61-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter that sealed the win.

"He has flat out speed and if he gets into the open he is going to make it. We held him in check until that long run and basically we have to find him and take care of him," Zinke said.

North Prairie defeated Cavalier 40-32 in the quarterfinal round despite trailing 32-14 at halftime.

"I think we gained a lot of confidence in that game," Bonn said. "We've been known as a team that if we get down we give up on ourselves, but that was in the past. We just didn't want to lose. I think that will help a lot in this game. If they score before we do, or get ahead of us, we know we have the ability to come back."

Kickoff is 1:30 p.m.