WEST REGION

BISMARCK

Head coach: Mark Gibson (144-30, 16th year)

Last year: 11-1, lost to Fargo South in state title game

Key players: Seniors – WR Jon Tharaldsen (6-3, 220), QB Hayden Gibson (6-3, 210), FB Noah DuBord (5-7, 215), OL Luke Keller (6-3, 230), TE Jacob Schulz (6-3, 235), C Sam Neubauer (6-0, 235), LB Brody Rohlfs (6-2, 195), LB Alex Seibel (5-8 200), DB Dalton Sanders (5-7, 160).

Juniors – WR Conner Hellebust (5-9, 145), DL-OL Tristan Hall (6-0, 265), FB-LB Jake Sanders (6-0, 190), DE Ethan Hauff (6-3, 190), DB-WR Cullen Irey (6-0, 165).

Key losses: DL Thomas Sease, DL Stanley Jones, OL Jaden Friedt, OL Zach Scalzo, OL Jordan Rau, RB-LB Ricardo Galindo, LB-WR Isaac Walth, DL Terrell Wheeler, QB-DB Kole Bauer.

Notes: The Demons won their 34th region championship and advanced to their seventh consecutive Class AAA state title game, falling 42-34 to Fargo South. Second-team all-state quarterback Hayden Gibson completed 83 passes for 1,297 yards and 14 touchdowns. His primary target, first-team all-state wide receiver Jon Tharaldsen, caught 32 passes for 725 yards and 11 touchdowns.

–

CENTURY

Head coach: Ron Wingenbach (146-100, 25th year)

Last year: 7-3, lost to Bismarck in semifinals

Key players: Seniors – QB-LB Chris Kraft (6-1, 190), WR-DB Cyril Nagurski (6-2, 190), WR-LB Joel Crane (6-0, 165), RB-LB Alex Flicek (5-10, 190), WR-DB Andrew Steinwand (5-10, 160), TE-LB Travis Vatsndal (6-1, 180), WR-LB Bobby Edick (5-8, 140), OL-DE Shawn Martin (5-11, 190), OL-LB Kendon Mosbrucker (5-11, 205), OL-DL Erick Smallbeck (5-10, 250), WR-DB Connor Rosenau (5-8, 140), RB-LB Dylan Kottsick (5-8, 180), OL-DL Logan Schaffer (5-11, 210).

Juniors -QB-DB Dalton Feeney (6-2, 205), RB-LB Zach Sweep (6-1, 200), WR-DB Adam Geiger (6-3, 200), OL-DL Tyler Paczkowski (5-10, 230), WR-DB Drew Cady (5-8, 145), RB-LB Logan Gross (5-10, 180), TE-LB Alex Horner (6-2, 200).

Key losses: RB-LB Hunter Babeck, RB-LB Jacob Barth, WR-DB Aaron Doan, OL-DE Michael Dukart, OL-DL Grant Gall, OL-DE Shawn Greenwood, TE-DE Tyler Grosz, WR-DB Landon Jochim.

Notes: The Patriots graduated 32 seniors, but return starting quarterback Dalton Feeney. Feeney completed 74 of 144 passes for 1,114 yards and 14 touchdowns as a sophomore.

–

DICKINSON

Head coach: John Tuchscherer (5-4, 2nd year)

Last year: 5-4, missed playoffs

Key players: Seniors – WR-DB Carter Blackwell (6-2, 160), WR-DB Ben Twist (6-0, 180), OL-LB Riley Schmaltz (5-10, 200), QB-DB Andrew Heckeman (6-2, 170), RB-LB Dillon Clark (5-11, 170), RB-LB Kass Dvorak (5-7, 175), WR-DB Tony Kostelecky (5-10, 170).

Juniors – RB-LB Michael McChesney (5-9, 175), OL-DL Quaid Larsen (6-2, 195).

Sophomore – WR-DB Aanen Moody (6-2, 160).

Key losses: WR-DB Levi Jordheim, RB Michael Cherwinski, OL-DE Mitch Mehrer, WR-DB Dylan Skabo, WR-DB Jace Dukart, OL-DL Aaron Sayler, OL-DE Blake Vance.

Notes: Heckeman threw for 607 yards and nine touchdowns and ran for 191 yards and five scores. Defensively, Schmaltz made 59 tackles – 8.5 for loss – and Twist recorded 25 and three interceptions.

–

JAMESTOWN

Head coach: Tim Fletcher (8-11, 3rd year)

Last year: 6-4, lost to Fargo South in quarterfinal

Key players: Seniors – QB-CB Ross Monson (6-1, 180), RB-CB Scott Nelson (6-1, 165), OL-DL Alex Zimmerman (6-4, 290), OL-DL Kyle Anderson (5-11, 225).

Juniors – TE-LB Logan Anderson (6-3, 200), WR-DB Noah Wanzek (6-3, 160), RB-LB Ben Hanson (5-11, 180).

Key losses: OL-DL Rob Bollinger, WR-DB Tommy Bruns, WR-DB Tyler Ukestad, WR-DB Caleb Ellingson, QB-DB Joey Gebhardt, FB-LB Eathan Gumke, TE-LB Marc Wagner, TE-LB Taylor Orr, WR-DB Shaun Hogan, OL-DL Austin Schwandt.

Notes: The Blue Jays grabbed the final playoff spot in a competitive West Region last year before falling to Fargo South in the quarterfinals. Many key players return from that team, including Monson, who threw for 1,002 yards and 10 touchdowns and received all-region honorable mention.

–

MANDAN

Head coach: Todd Sheldon (4-15, 3rd year)

Last year: 1-9, missed playoffs

Key players: Seniors – RB-WR-DB Cameron Christopherson (5-7, 145), WR-DB Alex Tweet (6-1, 150), LB-RB Eldin Alagic (5-11, 150), WR-DB Colton Stoltz (5-10, 155), TE-LB Wayne Clark (6-2, 175), QB-LB Trever Leingang (6-2, 180), WR-RB-DB Dmetri Tausend (5-9, 160), WR-DB Parker Harm (6-1, 170), OL-DL Richard Senn (6-0, 255), OL-DL Colin Schaeffer (6-3, 210), OL-LB Braden Bowers (5-11, 185), OL-DL Santana Butler (5-9, 230).

Juniors – WR-DB Nathan Glass (5-8, 160), QB-LB Jake Carlson (6-2, 180), WR-DB Gabe Meschke (5-7, 140), FB-TE-DB Richard Bendish, OL-DL Jace Cannard (5-11, 240).

Key losses: OL Derrick Markel, OL Travis Keller, OL Jake Hanson, OL Tyler Janz, OL Dustin Hermanson, QB Ross Effortz.

Notes: Christopherson received second-team all-state honors as a defensive back, leading the Braves with 151 tackles. Christopherson is one of 16 seniors.

–

MINOT

Head coach: Barry Holmen (70-27, 10th year)

Last year: 9-2, lost to Fargo South in semifinals

Key players: Seniors – RB-LB Zach Danelson, WR-LB Garrett Picard (5-11, 185), RB-LB Alex Mack (5-11, 195), OL-DL Braden Lach (5-9, 200), OL-DL Spencer Brekhus (5-9, 225), RB-LB Karter Gorney (5-11, 175).

Juniors – RB-LB Matt Marler (6-0, 185), WR-DL Braydon Lund (6-3, 230), QB-FS Ben Bolinske (5-11, 165), OL-DL Kyle Routledge (6-3, 185).

Key losses: K Ben Love, WR-DB Kimani Benjamin, QB-DB Alex Yanosko, WR Tre Kinchen, RB-LB Brady Lampert, RB-DB Josh Pizzo, RB-LB Kolton Larson, OL-DL Andrew Arnold, TE-DE Jacob Holmen.

Notes: The Magicians lost several offensive weapons that helped them advance to the semifinals last season. Minot does return junior quarterback Ben Bolinske, who filled in after starter Alex Yanosko tore his ACL during the first half of the season opener. Bolinske finished with 1,448 yards and 11 touchdowns.

–

WILLISTON

Head coach: Andrew Mock (1st year)

Last year: 1-8, missed playoffs

Key players: Seniors – LB Austin Arndt (6-1, 220), OL-DL Leo Zubiate (6-0, 300), DB-RB Brady Miller (5-11, 170), OL-DL Joren Falcon (6-3, 240).

Key losses: TE-DE Jayden Ferguson, WR-DB Seth Falcon, WR-DB Josh Drew, OL-DL Sheamus Klug, RB-LB Gabriel Jenson, OL-DL Seth Hinesley, WR-DB Matt Kohler.

Notes: Arndt received all-region honors last year after recording 108 tackles. Miller added 67 tackles and four interceptions while rushing for 481 yards.