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MHS football faces must-win game against Mandan

Justin Martinez/MDN Senior wide receiver Jacob Schiele bursts toward the sideline during a Minot High football practice on Wednesday.

It’s now or never for the Minot High School football team.

The Magicians (2-4, 1-3 WDA) enter Friday’s road game against Mandan with everything to lose. With just three games remaining in the regular season, a loss to the Braves would end Minot High’s chances of making the Class AAA playoffs and guarantee the program’s first losing season since 1998.

The stakes have never been higher this season for head coach Barry Holmen and his young Magi, and Friday’s implications aren’t lost on the group.

“We have to win,” Holmen said. “The guys know that. We’ve had a good week of practice so far, and we feel we have a good chance to win and finish the season strong.”

Minot High enters the game on a low after enduring a crushing 41-14 loss to Bismarck Century last week on Homecoming Night. After holding a 14-7 lead in the second quarter, the Magi got outscored, 34-0, to finish the game.

The second-half collapse is just the latest chapter in the story of Minot High’s season. The Magi have been outscored, 35-10, this season in the third quarter alone.

“We’re still looking to complete a full game,” Holmen said. “We need to minimize our mistakes, start the second half better and put ourselves in a position to win in the fourth quarter.”

But Minot High isn’t the only team looking to extend its season. Mandan (4-2, 2-2 WDA) is currently clinging to the fourth and final spot in the playoffs, but a loss on Friday would hand that spot over to the Magi.

Helping defend that fourth spot for the Braves is stud wide receiver Elijah Klein. The 6-foot-7, 205-pound junior is a quarterback’s dream and every defender’s nightmare.

Klein has recorded three game of at least 100 receiving yards this season, including a ludicrous 216-yard game against Bismarck High on Sept. 14.

“We need to minimize one-on-one coverage on (Klein) because that’s a tall order for anybody,” Holmen said. “But we have to try and balance that by still getting some pressure on their quarterback. Sometimes the best way to stop a receiver is to just not let the quarterback have time to throw to him.”

On the defensive end, the Braves force their opponents to beat them through the air. Mandan fills the box and eliminates short-yardage plays, leaving plenty of man-to-man opportunities for opposing wide receivers.

This style of defense plays nicely into the sudden jolt of life in the Magi’s passing game. After struggling all season to establish a deep threat, quarterback Jaxon Gunville exploded for 228 passing yards against Century last week.

The junior recorded six passing plays of over 20 yards, and it’ll take more of that deep-ball magic if the Magi want to make the Braves’ defense pay and keep their postseason hopes alive.

“We still want to establish the run, but we need to get some athletes in space,” Holmen said. “We’re going to need (our wide receivers) to make some plays again.”

Kickoff in Mandan is at 7 p.m. this evening at the Starion Sports Complex.

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

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