Kari Gibb/MDN Minot North senior Kaden Flavin (6) makes a move against WF Horace senior Lucas Geigle (13) during a kickoff return in the 2024 NDHSAA Class AA Semifinals round of the playoffs hosted by the Sentinels on Friday at the Sentinels Stadium.

The Minot North football team has posted some milestones as the team is in the first season of play as a varsity team. Led by only four seniors, the Sentinels recorded the first touchdown in school history. The first varsity win in school history as well.

The 2024 team gathered attention to be ranked for the first time in school history as the season progressed along with the first ever playoff win in school history.

A new, more painful first hit the record books as a varsity team – Minot North recorded the first playoff loss in school history on Friday night, November 8, as the visiting Hawks won 42-20 in the end.

Minot North will need to wait until next season to work on the next ‘first’ on the list – the first trip to the Dakota Bowl and a shot at the NDHSAA state championship.

The third ranked Minot North in the Class AA football playoffs hosted the second ranked team from West Fargo Horace at the Sentinels Stadium. The visitors had one very obvious advantage; 11 seniors and 20 juniors for the Hawks.

WF Horace received the ball and played offense the first series. The Hawks used nearly half the first quarter of play to work themselves into the endzone for the 7-0 lead. Several times WF Horace ran the same running play over and over, relying on the size and strength of the offensive line to gain steady yardage on the ground.

The score at the end of the first quarter of play was the 7-0 lead for the Hawks.

Minot North had several players on the sideline in braces and on crutches. The loss of key starters hampered the offense in moments. Mistakes helped the visitors from the east gain momentum in the second quarter of play.

After a stellar run, the Sentinels lost a fumble that was recovered and returned for a score, and the WF Horace 14-0 lead.

The next two offensive series for the Sentinels led to interceptions in the passing attack that gave the Hawks field position and two more scores for the 28-0 halftime lead.

Each team scored in the first half of the third quarter and played even football on the scoreboard for the rest of the game. Take away the three turnover scores and the game was a 21-20 contest that might have gone either way with the momentum shifts.

The Horace Hawks will play in the 2024 NDHSAA Dakota Bowl for the Class AA title against the Rough Riders from Grand Forks Red River high school – the top ranked team in the state.

GF Red River 35, Wahpeton 22

The top ranked team in the Class AA football playoffs- Grand Forks Red River- hosted the fourth ranked team from Wahpeton in the 2024 NDHSAA Class AA Semifinals round and made short work at home with the win. The Rough RIders will play the second ranked Hawks from West Fargo Horace after their road win over the first year Sentinels in the other semifinal game.