Adam Papin/MDN Tyson Ruzicka leads the Minot High rushing attack with 1,090 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Trailing the West Fargo Sheyenne Mustangs 24-7 half through the third quarter of Class AAA state semifinal game, the seniors on Minot High’s football team gathered for a quick huddle.

“We said we’re not ready to be done,” said senior quarterback Lucas Beeter. “We’re not going home.”

Perhaps no play exemplified that mentality more than one on the opening drive of the game. The Magicians marched down the field and were striking at the Mustangs’ end zone. On fourth and goal, head coach Chauncy Hendershot called a trick play that saw the ball snapped to running back Tyson Ruzicka instead of Beeter. As Ruzicka was fighting for extra yards, the ball came loose, and West Fargo Sheyenne’s Sullivan Ihry picked it up and charged down field in what looked like a certain touchdown.

“I sent in a bad call,” said Hendershot. “All of sudden you just see this white streak and number 11 [Logan Conklin] tracking him down and tackles him at the one-yard line.”

Then, the defense held the Mustangs to a field goal.

“That just symbolizes the effort and grit that our team has,” said Hendershot.

The Magicians will need every bit of that grit and determination as they face the toughest challenge of the year when they take on the Fargo Shanley Deacons in Dakota Bowl XXXI on Friday.

“They’re looking to snap the ball every 12 seconds,” said Hendershot. “They are just relentless in their tempo. They can put up points in bunches, and they make their own breaks. Then they take advantage of momentum, and they’re looking for any crack. When they find it, they just pour it on.”

To prepare for an opponent like Fargo Shanley, who enters the game on a 15-game winning streak and are the reigning Class AAA state champions, the Magicians are focusing on what they can control and doing things the Minot way.

“We have to keep it about us and execute our game,” said Hendershot. “I think we’re still looking for our best four quarters of football.”

Hendershot and his team understand that Fargo Shanley is going to make plays on them, and they are going to put up points. The fewest points the Deacons have scored this season was 31, in last week’s semifinal victory over Fargo Davies.

“We’ve talked about the us versus us mentality, and we just have to live in the moment. Each play is a lifetime and win that play. Then, just stack them up at the end and usually the score takes care of itself.”

One thing that has helped carry Minot High this season has been the support from the community, and that hasn’t been lost on the players.

“Before our quarterfinal game against Mandan, we had over a foot of snow here at Duane Carlson. They came and helped clean that off to get us ready to play,” said Beeter. “We had an amazing section of fans down in West Fargo Sheyenne. The community support of this football team has been absolutely amazing. It means a lot to us, and it does not go unnoticed.”

The student body has also been supportive. According to Beeter, players feel the energy and love in the hallways, not just from students but from administrators as well. Players spoke of a tight knit group of people that are excited for the team.

If Minot High does win this year’s Dakota Bowl, it will be the first state championship for the Magicians since 1980.

The team they beat that year?

None other than Fargo Shanley. The Magicians won that game 30-7 but has lost seven straight appearances in the state title game, the last of which was in 2017.

Friday’s contest also will be the final varsity football game for a unified Minot program. Next year, Minot North will begin competing at the varsity level and the Magic City will have two teams at the Class AAA level.

The history of the moment isn’t lost on Beeter.

“I think we realize this is the last group of kids that’ll be together as a whole for Minot High as a program,” said Beeter. “I think it’s a really cool opportunity that we have, and where we’ve gone up into this season means a lot to us.”

The Class AAA Dakota Bowl begins with kickoff at 6:40 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 10.

08.25 – SMCHS Our Lady of Victory Stadium

Minot High – 21 7 7 2 37

St. Mary’s – 0 0 0 0 0

DeJarius Jones intercepted a pass and ran it back 32-yards for a touchdown, and Tyson Ruzicka added to rushing touchdowns to lead Minot High to shutout win. Minot High defeated Bismarck St. Mary’s for the 13th straight win and second straight shutout in the series.

Record: 1-0

09.01 – Duane Carlson Stadium

Bismarck Legacy – 0 0 0 0 0

Minot High – 21 28 0 0 49

The Magicians opened their home slate with 49 points in the first half. The trio of Tyson Ruzicka, Griffen Broderick and Logan Conklin each had multiple touchdowns in the game. Burke added a four-yard run of his own to go along with his seven PATs. It was the first time since 2011 that Minot High opened the season with two shutouts.

Record: 2-0

09.08 – Duane Carlson Stadium

Mandan – 0 0 6 6 12

Minot High – 13 15 0 0 28

Tyson Ruzicka ran for two touchdowns, and Lucas Beeter threw for two more to lead Minot High’s offense. The defense shutout the Braves in the first half and didn’t allow a point for the first 120 minutes of the season, and the Magicians outscored their opponents 105-0 in the first half through three games.

Record: 3-0

09.16 – Sanford Sports Complex

Minot High – 6 11 7 6 30

Bismarck Century – 0 0 0 0 0

Lucas Beeter threw for two touchdowns, one to Kaden Kraft and another to Tyson Ruzicka. Ruzicka added a 16-yard rushing touchdown to go along with Griffen Broderick’s five-yard score. Kellan Burke made a 20-yard field goal, and the Minot High defense pitched its third shutout in four games.

Record: 4-0

09.22 – Duane Carlson Stadium

Fargo Davies – 0 0 0 0 0

Minot High – 0 14 6 0 26

Another game, another shutout for the Minot High Magicians. Tyson Ruzicka opened the scoring with a 23-yard run. Not to be outdone, teammate Griffen Broderick added a 28-yard un of his own as the Magicians jumped out to a 14-0 halftime lead. Lucas Beeter threw for two touchdowns, one a 52-yard pass to Heston Faul and another 33-yard pass to Logan Conklin. Minot High improved to 5-0 for the first time since 2015.

Record: 5-0

09.29 – WFSHS Mustang Stadium

Minot High – 3 7 0 10 20

West Fargo Sheyenne – 7 0 7 14 28

Kellan Burke kicked a 34-yard and a 43-yard field goal, and Jaidrean Small returned an interception for a touchdown, but it wasn’t enough to overcome 21 second-half points from the West Fargo Sheyenne Mustangs. The game marked the lowest offensive output of the season for Minot High.

Record: 5-1

10.05 – MDU Resources Community Bowl

Minot High – 6 7 6 7 26

Bismarck High – 7 8 0 8 23

For the first time, an opponent scored before Minot High. Nonetheless, Tyson Ruzicka scored two rushing touchdowns, including one for 62-yards, and Griffen Broderick had a 50-yard pick-six to go along with his 25-yard rushing touchdown as the Magicians won 26-23. Ruzicka finished with 238 yards rushing on 23 attempts, averaging 10.35 yards per carry.

Record: 6-1

10.13 – Duane Carlson Stadium

Williston – 0 0 0 0 0

Minot High – 20 26 3 7 56

Logan Conklin caught two touchdown passes from Lucas Beeter, Braden Nelson caught a 13-yard pass from Cash Danielson and Griffen Broderick and Tyson Ruzicka added rushing touchdowns as Minot High jumped out to a 46-0 half time lead. They outscored the Coyotes 10-0 in the second half to record their third straight shutout over Williston. The win saw Minot High clinch the WDA title for the second consecutive year.

Record: 7-1

10.19 – Duane Carlson Stadium

West Fargo – 0 0 0 8 8

Minot High – 10 14 15 7 46

Anthony Brown returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown, and Tyson Ruzicka and Logan Conklin each added a pair of touchdowns as Minot High defeated the West Fargo Packers 46-8 to close out the regular season. Kellan Burke scored a 15-yard touchdown to go along with a 21-yard field goal and five PATS. It was the sixth time this season the Magicians allowed eight points or fewer in a game.

Record: 8-1

2023 State AAA Quarterfinal

10.27 – Duane Carlson Stadium

Mandan – 7 7 0 0 14

Minot High – 7 6 8 2 23

Tyson Ruzicka scored three touchdowns including an 80-yard run to open the scoring. The Magicians also had a quarterback sack in the end zone for a safety to close out the scoring. Ruzicka rushed for 230 yards on 27 carries.

Record: 9-1

2023 State AAA Semifinal

11.03 – WFSHS Mustang Stadium

Minot High – 0 7 13 27 47

West Fargo Sheyenne – 3 14 13 0 30

Minot High outscored West Fargo Sheyenne 40-6 in the final eighteen minutes of the game to rally from a 24-7 deficit and clinch a berth in Dakota Bowl XXXI this Friday. Logan Conklin had what was arguably the play of the season when he chased down West Fargo Sheyenne’s Sullivan Ihry at the one-yard line to keep the Mustangs out of the end zone. Minot High reached ten wins for the first time since 2015.

Record: 10-1