Mike Kraft/MDN Minot North’s Christian Deadmond stretched for the goal line during the third quarter against Devils Lake at Sentinel Stadium on Friday, Oct. 10.

It’s one of the oldest cliches in sports, but football is a game of inches.

The Minot North football team experienced that first hand in the biggest moment of its game against Devils Lake on Friday, Oct. 10. And not just once, but twice.

With the Sentinels leading by just six points in the waning seconds of the third quarter, Christian Deadmond dove ball-extended toward the goal line on an 8-yard carry up the middle and broke the goal line plane by no more than an inch before losing control of the ball. The ball was recovered by the Firebirds, but after a lengthy discussion among the officials, it was ruled a touchdown.

Deadmond’s touchdown run proved to be the difference, as the Sentinels held off a late rally for a 26-20 victory over Devils Lake at Sentinel Stadium, giving Minot North (7-0 overall, 3-0 West Region) the inside track on both a second West Region regular season title and the top seed for the Class AA playoffs with two weeks remaining.

“From my angle I thought he broke the plane,” Minot North coach Jacob Holmen said. “You can never tell from 25 yards back, but that’s a learning opportunity for Christian. We teach guys not to extend the ball unless it’s the last play of the game or fourth down. We got away with one there.”

The Firebirds (5-2, 2-1) came within inches of pulling off an improbable fourth-quarter comeback, but Minot North’s defense stonewalled a quarterback draw by Mason Palmer near the goal line on fourth-and-goal with 18 seconds left. The Sentinels proceeded to take a knee on the next play to remain unbeaten and sit alone atop the Class AA West Region standings, handing the Firebirds their first conference loss of the season in the process.

“I heard my dad in the headset say that they were going to run it and sure enough he was right,” Holmen said. “Last year, they did that same exact play on us and it scored and I remember telling coach Rudolph last year before the play to watch quarterback draw and sure enough they score. This year we stopped it, so it’s a year of learning from our mistakes. Really proud of our guys. Excellent fight.”

Devils Lake did manage to do something to Minot North that the Sentinels hadn’t experienced in a couple games: score on their defense. After two straight shutouts and 12 straight scoreless quarters, Minot North finally surrendered a touchdown to an opposing offense. The Firebirds snapped the scoreless streak with 6:31 remaining in the third quarter when Palmer found twin brother Max Palmer for a 36-yard touchdown to cut Minot North’s lead at the time to 13-7.

Palmer nearly pulled off a furious rally with three long touchdowns in the game. His second came with 7:35 left in the fourth on a long strike to Domingo Engberg. The Firebirds quarterback made it a one-score game with a second deep hookup with Max Palmer with 2:58 left.

“We have a lot of respect for that football team,” Holmen said. “They’re good, they’re physical and their quarterback can make plays. Anytime they have the ball in No. 2’s hands over there, they can score real quick. It’s a combination of us not finishing in the fourth quarter as well as we needed to and them playing really well. Credit to Devils Lake. They are a really good football team.”

The Minot North defense surrendered points, but it also continued to create turnovers. The Sentinels turned the Firebirds over twice in the first half, with Minot North’s Coke Richeson being responsible for both.

Devils Lake took the opening drive into Sentinels territory, but Richeson picked off Mason Palmer at the 31- yard line to end the threat. Richeson was back in the lineup after missing time with a high-ankle sprain. He had returned for a game, only to reaggravate the injury.

“Cole’s a captain,” Holmen said. “He’s one of our best leaders on the team. Just a great kid and I’m just super happy for him and really proud of what he brings to the team. Beyond the interceptions, he’s a great leader.”

Richeson stepped up with another big play in the second quarter. Mason Palmer heaved a pass into the end zone that Richeson came down with for his second interception of the game.

“We haven’t faced that much adversity this year,” Richeson said. “It’s definitely a test for us and good timing for us to have it now instead of later down the road when we need to win big games.”

Minot North’s defense stopped the Firebirds on downs the first of two times in the second half following Deadmond’s touchdown run by a mere inch. The Sentinels turned that into points, extending their lead to 26-7 soon after. Quarterback Brayden Blikre hit a wide open Josia Jaquinet for a 38-yard touchdown with 8:38 remaining in the contest.

Evan Berg and Blikre each had rushing touchdowns for the Sentinels in the first half.

The Sentinels host Jamestown on Thursday, Oct. 16.