Jimmy Lafakis/MDN Minot High School football players react after the ball is snapped during a practice. The Magicians will host the Bismarck Legacy Sabers for a 7 p.m. senior night contest on Saturday at Duane Carlson Stadium.

When Preston Jones steps on the field for Saturday night’s contest against Legacy, it will mark the final time he and 18 other Minot High School seniors will play at Duane Carlson Stadium.

Jones, an offensive/defensive lineman, looks to lead Minot (3-4, 2-3 WDA) over Legacy (4-3, 3-2 WDA) in a critical conference showdown. The senior night contest presents high stakes — if the Magicians win, their playoff hopes are still alive.

If they lose, they are out.

“It’s a big, big game,” Jones said. “We’re going to have a good crowd show out.”

Minot fell 35-17 to Bismarck High on Monday, Oct. 14. The Demons clinched a playoff spot after taking sole possession of second place, forcing the Magi to keep fighting for a potential postseason chance this week.

Mandan and Legacy are locked in a two-way tie for third place, a game ahead of Minot. Mandan owns the tiebreaker over both teams with two games remaining. Only the top 4 teams in the West Region make the playoffs.

Minot is on the outside looking in.

“I like our focus and preparation,” Minot head coach Barry Holmen said. “Even though it’s a short week in some regards, I think the kids are intent on giving it our best effort. We want to go out with a bang if we can here at home.”

Legacy senior quarterback Rhett Clements engineers the Sabers’ high-powered offensive attack. Juniors Lyric Hoffman and Keagan Woodbury provide respective ground and aerial threats out of the shotgun offense.

Back on Oct. 14, Clements threw for 206 yards and found Woodbury for 64-yard touchdown pass in a 50-32 loss against Mandan. Hoffman took a 71-yard kickoff return back to the house.

“(Clements) is very elusive, so we have to take care of him,” Holmen said. “I think that’s priority one. They have some good athletes to hand the ball off to and throw it around to. Offensively, they present some challenges. They can score a lot of points.”

Through seven games, Minot senior running back Payton Philion leads the Magi rushing attack with 757 yards. Senior quarterback Jaxon Gunville has amassed 908 yards with a 50% completion rate.

Gunville has tossed six touchdowns and thrown 10 interceptions. The Sabers’ defense will likely line up in a four-man front, which differs from Minot’s recent opponents.

“We’re working hard here on a short week to remind kids of their blocking assignments and the different angles that are resulting because they line up in different places,” Holmen said. “(Legacy) has some very rangy and athletic defensive backs. They present some challenges throwing the ball, too.”

Senior night brings a host of festivities, but the chance to stay alive against a rivalry foe has duly motivated the Magi. Jones said the Minot starters’ text message group chat has stayed active over the last few days.

“We talked about how we weren’t in the playoffs last year,” Jones said. “We don’t want that to happen again. We want to show out.”

The Magi vs. Sabers showdown will begin at 7 p.m. on Saturday evening in Minot.

“We’re ready to go out there and win a big game,” Jones said. “Something we haven’t done in a long, long time.”

Jimmy Lafakis covers Minot High School sports and Class B high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @JJLII30.