The Minot High Magicians and the Minot North Sentinels have played one game each in the 2024 fall season and both have seen shifts in their polling results despite just one week of action.

The Magicians entered the season as the preseason coaches poll top team after winning the AAA North Dakota state title at the end of the 2023 season. One game later and Minot High is listed at fourth place in the media poll with no first place votes.

The only game Minot High lost in 2023 was to West Fargo Sheyenne, and that same team beat the Magicians 24-17 to open the 2024 season. The win, combined with a win the week prior, has WF Sheyenne at 2-0 atop the AAA East and atop the media poll this week.

Bismarck High has played twice as well and won both games. They have moved to the second slot in the media polls while fellow AAA West team, Mandan now sits at number three above Minot High. Fargo Davies rounds out the top five with one win and also received one first place vote.

Currently in the AAA West standings, Mandan sits atop with Legacy in second and Bismarck High in third with each team at 2-0 to start the year. Century and Minot High each are at 0-1 while Williston is at 0-2 for the start of the 2024 season.

In the AAA East, WF Sheyenne is followed by Fargo Davies then Shanley with a 1-1 mark. West Fargo and Fargo North are each at 0-2 to start the year.

Minot North was not a varsity program in 2023 and was not ranked in the coaches poll to start the season. The Sentinels posted a first game win in the historical season opening game over AAA West Century JV.

The win was impressive enough to garner media attention as a team that received votes in the poll, although not quite enough to break into the top five in the poll. Grand Forks Red River at 2-0 is atop the media poll for AA this week. Jamestown at 1-0 received three first place votes while Fargo South at 0-1 had two first place votes.

West Fargo Horace at 1-0 sits in fourth and had one first place vote while Grand Forks Central at 0-1 sits at fifth place for the AA media poll this week.

In the AA West standings, Jamestown is atop with the 1-0 record while newcomer Minot North is second with the only other 1-0 record. Watford City with a 1-1 mark is third while St. Mary’s and Valley CIty are at 0-1 thus far. Dickinson is the only team to have two games played and is at 0-2 in the standings.

In the AA East, GF Red River is at the top of the standings with WF Horace in second. Devils Lake is third with a 1-1 record. Fargo South, GF Central and Wahpeton are each at 0-1 after the start of the 2024 season.

The polls are voted on by members of the North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NDAPSSA).

Division AAA Football Poll (NDAPSSA)

1. West Fargo Sheyenne (17) 2-0 95

2. Bismarck High (2) 2-0 72

3. Mandan 2-0 49

4. Minot High 0-1 41

5. Fargo Davies (1) 1-0 33

Others receiving votes: Fargo Shanley 1-1.

Note: First Place votes in parentheses.

Division AA Football Poll (NDAPSSA)

1. Grand Forks Red River (14) 2-0 93

2. Jamestown (3) 1-0 73

3. Fargo South (2) 0-1 62

4. West Fargo Horace (1) 1-0 47

5. Grand Forks Central 0-1 15

Others receiving votes: Devils Lake 1-1, Bismarck St. Mary’s 0-1, Dickinson 0-2, Minot North 1-0.

Note: First Place votes in parentheses.