Kari Gibb/MDN Minot North junior Christian Deadmond (12) brakes tackles and pushes for the endzone at the start of the second quarter of play. Minot North beat Valley City Friday, October 25, to earn the WDA Class AA top seed headed into next week and round one of the postseason play.

The Minot North football team hosted the Valley City squad for a winner take all game on Friday, October 25, and overcame first quarter mistakes and penalties that both teams encountered for the home win and top spot in the Western Dakota Association (WDA) standings going into the postseason play next week. The 42-21 win was just what the Sentinels needed.

Valley City scored first with just under four minutes to play in the first quarter. Both teams had moved the ball midfield but the Hi-Liners got onto the scoreboard first. With just 31 seconds left in the first quarter, Minot North was able to take the lead and never looked back.

With the score 7-6 for the Sentinels, the ensuing kickoff gave the visitors 31 seconds to move the ball. On the first play from scrimmage, the Sentinel defense strip-sacked the quarterback and recovered the ball on the 17-yard line. Minot North started the second quarter of play with their second touchdown of the game and the 14-6 lead.

The home team added another score in the second quarter to take the 21-6 halftime lead. With seven minutes remaining in the third quarter of play, Minot North scored again for the 28-6 lead and the game looked to be over.

Valley City showed why they were in contention for the top seed at the end of the third quarter as they scored twice to narrow the Sentinels lead to 28-21 with 30 seconds left before the fourth quarter started.

Minot North did not shy from the challenge and added a score after two minutes of play in the fourth and the final touchdown with six minutes to play in the game.

With the win, Minot North ended their first year as a varsity team as the top seed from the WDA and will host the fourth seed from the east- Devils Lake (5-4) in the opening round of playoffs on Friday, November 1, at Sentinels Stadium.

As the two seed, Valley CIty will host the third seed from the east- Wahpeton the same day.

GF Red River 27,

Devils Lake 0

The number four team in Class AA hosted the top team when the Grand Forks Red River football team traveled to Devils Lake. The undefeated Red River bunch led the entire game and held the hosts scoreless in the road win. The loss may open the door for Minot North to move up in the rankings going into the postseason play.

Red River as the top seed from the east will host the west fourth seed, St. Mary’s next Friday.

WF Horace 34, Fargo South 20

The number four team in the Class AA, West Fargo Horace, hosted Fargo South and had their hands full. Horace led 7-5 in the first minutes of play in the second half before opening the offensive playbook.

The home team, Horace, jumped to a 21-5 lead before the end of the third quarter only to see the visitors jump back into the game. With just under two minutes to play, Horace led 27-20 but were able to score the last touchdown before time ran out for the win.

As the second seed from the east, WF Horace will host the third seed from the west, Jamestown next Friday.

Jamestown 34,

Watford City 16

The fifth ranked team in Class AA, Jamestown made the trip to Watford City and were behind early to the home team as the Wolves led 16-0 after one quarter of play and held the 16-14 lead at the halfway point.

Jamestown cleared the travel effects and took the 20-16 lead with ten minutes to play in the third quarter and added two more scores before the fourth quarter began enroute to the 34-16 win.

Jamestown travels to face WF Horace in round one of the postseason play on Friday.