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Party crashers

Century spoils Minot High’s Homecoming with 41-14 win

Justin Martinez/MDN Senior wide receiver Kyler Stenberg breaks a tackle and sprints down the field in Minot High's homecoming game against Bismarck Century Friday night.

The Minot High School football team entered Friday’s Homecoming matchup against undefeated Bismarck Century with the hopes of pulling off an upset in front of an electric crowd at Duane Carlson Stadium.

The Magicians ambushed the Patriots from the opening kickoff, taking the ball into Century’s red zone on both of their first two possessions. After coming up empty on the first drive, Jaxon Gunville found the promise land the second time around.

The junior quarterback punched it in from one yard out to give the Magi a surprising 7-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

“We were making plays early,” MHS head coach Barry Holmen said. “We cashed in on opportunities and played our best football all season. We’ll take that any day.”

After allowing the Patriots to tie the game, Minot High went back to work in the second quarter. Century’s defense had no answer for the Magi’s passing game as Gunville led his offense on a 77-yard drive consisting of 62 yards through the air.

Gunville ended the drive fittingly, finding senior wide receiver Jacob Schiele on a picture-perfect, 17-yard touchdown pass to put the Magi back on top, 14-7, with 7:13 left in the first half.

The Patriots responded with a score of their own, as junior quarterback Cade Feeney found the end zone on a one-yard run with 1:52 left until halftime. Gunville and company took to the field at their own 23-yard line for one last drive, determined to finish strong.

That’s when everything fell apart for the Magi.

Minot High’s nightmare scenario unfolded as Gunville scrambled to his right side on a broken play. He got hit by a pair of Century defenders and fumbled the football, allowing the Patriots to recover it at the Magi’s 17-yard line.

Century’s offense capitalized two plays later, as senior running back Nathan Kraft ran it in from five yards out to give the Patriots a 21-14 lead at halftime.

For a Minot High team that played two quarters of almost near-perfect football, entering halftime without the lead was devastating.

“I just have to take better care of the ball,” Gunville said. “I was carrying the ball like a loaf of bread, and that play was huge. It definitely shifted momentum in the game.”

The Magi’s offense never recovered in the second half, starting off the third quarter with consecutive three-and-out drives. Meanwhile, the Patriots’ offense found their rhythm.

Kraft ran through the Magi’s defense at will, earning his third score of the night on a five-yard run with 4:39 left in the third to give Century a 28-14 lead.

The Patriots outscored Minot High, 20-0, in the second half and cruised to a 41-14 victory.

After allowing 221 total yards in the first half alone, Century’s defense held the Magi offense to just 16 yards in the final two quarters.

“I think it was a combination of problems for us (in the second half),” Gunville said. “Century’s defense played really well, and we just weren’t executing the same way we did in the first half.”

Gunville finished with 199 passing yards and two total touchdowns on the night. Schiele also had a strong showing, hauling in four catches for 94 yards and one score.

Despite the tough loss, the team kept its head up after the game. The Magi (2-4, 1-3 West Region) travel to Mandan on Friday for a must-win game if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive.

It’ll be an uphill battle for a Minot High team that’s currently fifth in the West Region standings with just three games remaining on its schedule.

“We battled hard tonight and improved as a team,” Holmen said. “It got away from us in the second half, but that’s a very good Century team. I still feel we can make the playoffs, and that’s what we have to get our kids to believe, too.”

Justin Martinez covers Minot High School sports and Class B high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @JTheSportsDude.

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