State volleyball (first session)
The first session of the 2009 North Dakota state volleyball tournament is complete. The brackets now look like this with four games remaining.
Class A
West Fargo will play Bismarck in the upper bracket semifinal. The Packers beat Bismarck St. Mary's 3-0, and the Demons beat Fargo South 3-0 in the first round.
Class B
Langdon will play Litchville/Marion/Montpelier in the upper bracket semifinal. The Cardinals beat Lisbon 3-1, and the Rebels beat Stanley 3-0 in the first round.
More to come later.
Posted by: Hotzler on 11/20/2008 at 4:59 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Fun facts from Minot
Made it to Minot for the North Dakota state volleyball tournament (Whew, that drive from Fargo is something!!)
I thought I would give you a few fun Minot facts before the volleyball stuff starts tomorrow.
-Population: About 35,000. It's the fourth largest city in the state.
-The city is named for Henry D. Minot, a railroad investor who was a friend of the city's founder, James J. Hill. Makes you wonder why it wasn't named Hill City. But oh well. Aside: Hill was a railroad man who ended his push through the state in the winter of 1886. This essentially started the town.
-Notebale residents include:
Lengendary actor Boris Karloff (for a year)
Auto racer Donny Schatz (He now lives in Fargo)
America's Next Top Model participant Nicole Borud (I knew this because my wife REALLY loves the show)
Former LSU men's basketball coach Dale Brown
Actor Josh Duhamel (He's getting married to singer "Fergie" by the way. I also know this because of all the pop-culture magazines my wife has on the coffee table)
Current North Dakota Governor John Hoeven
Current Minot High School swimmer Dagny Knutson, who set a trio of national records during the latest North Dakota state tournament. Look for her in the Olympics some day.
There you go: All you need to know about Minot. Bring on the volleyball.
West Fargo, Fargo South and Fargo North will go for the title in Class A. Lisbon will try for the Class B title.
Posted by: Hotzler on 11/19/2008 at 6:31 PM | Comments (5) | Permalink
See the game, get a few autographs
There have been several stories floating on the Web this season about California's Oaks Christian High School football team.
You see, the quarterback is a kid named Nick Montana. Yes, his dad is NFL legend Joe Montana. Joe was one of the best quarterbacks ever to play the game. I'm sure those fans of Tom Brady find it hard to believe anyone existed before the New England signal-caller, but it's true. Joe Montana was his generation's Tom Brady. ... Just better.
Anyway, there are a couple of other guys of note on the school's junior varsity. Trey Smith and Trevor Gretzky play receiver and quarterback, respectively. Trey is the son of actor WIll Smith, and Trevor the son of NHL legend Wayne Gretzky.
These kids aren't just getting attention because of their bloodlines. Well, Montana isn't, anyway. He's led the team to the playoffs, and has played so well he's been pulled at halftime of many of their games.
Gretzky and Smith have been very good players on the sophomore team, and will join the varsity for the postseason. They figure to play big roles for the team next season, according to the coach.
Check out some video of all three players here. It's worth the click of the mouse.
Posted by: Hotzler on 11/19/2008 at 10:56 AM | Comments (2) | Permalink
Are you ready for some ... volleyball ?!!!??!?!?
The North Dakota Class A and Class B state volleyball tournaments are set to get underway this week at the Minot State Dome in ... well ... Minot.
Several local teams, as well as yours truely, will be making the trip for the tournament.
Class A
West Fargo earned the top seed from the East after a perfect EDC season, and will face Bismarck St. Mary's at noon on Thursday in the first round.
Fargo South is a No. 3 seed, and it will take on Bismarck High at 2 p.m. on Thursday
Fargo North surprised a lot of people by taking out Shanley in the EDC state play-in game. They have a No. 4 seed, and will face one of the tournament favorites, Bismarck Century at 6 p.m.
Class B
Lisbon has reached state for the third-consecutive season as the Region 1 winner. The Broncos will play Region 4 winner Langdon at noon in the first round.
Look for my state preview in Thursday's Forum. It features surprising state participant Fargo North. We'll also have capsules of all our area teams. See you in Minot.
Posted by: Hotzler on 11/18/2008 at 8:52 AM | Comments (4) | Permalink
Bismarck 28, Fargo South 19 (final)
Class 3A introductions are underway for Fargo South and Bismarck.
Should be about 10 minutes before we cap off the North Dakota prep football season.
The Bruins are going for their fourth title in five years, and third in a row. Bismarck hasn't defeated South since 2003. The Bruins beat the Demons 40-14 in last year's title game.
First quarter
Kickoff. South will have the ball.
South forced to punt. Bismarck takes over at own 33.
8:49: Sophomore Adam Boe picks off a pass and goes 49 yards for the first score of the game. South leads 6-0.
3:56: South driving. Inside Bismarck territory.
South punts. Bismarck takes over at own 20. Terrible series for South offense.
Bismarck running back Jake Miller is gashing the Bruins defense. Demons driving.
End of first quarter
Second quarter
8:04: Carson Winkels plunges in from 2-yards out. Calvin Krueger kicks extra point to put Bismarck ahead 7-6.
6:29: Bismarck's Austin Gunderson picks off a Brock Larson pass and goes 51 yards for a score to put Demons ahead 14-6.
South's Brandon Jemison fumbles after reception to give ball back to Bismarck.
South has the ball with 28 seconds left in first half. It's not looking good for South on offense. This is their worst offensive performance since that terrible game against Edina in the season opener.
Halftime. Bismarck 14, South 6.
Halftime statistics: Jemison has 55 yards rushing on 13 attempts. Miller has 76 yards rushing on 15 carries. South has 127 total yards on 26 plays. Bismarck has 124 total yards on 28 plays. Larson has completed 2 of 5 passes for 14 yards. Bismarck QB Esley Thorton has completed 2 of 5 passes for 17 yards.
South not used to being in this position. The Bruins have a 54-4 record in the last five years.
Third quarter
Bismarck starts opening drive of second half at own 39-yard line.
Demons convert key third-and long play. Then Miller rips off 25-yard run to move ball to South 21-yard line. Bismarck driving.
Demons facing key fourth-and-13 play at South 23.
7:44: Bismarck misses 41-yard field goal attempt.
Jemison rips off three big runs, moving the ball to Bismarck 44-yard line. Jemison fumbles at end of third run, but South lineman recovers. Drive stays alive.
South has ball first-and-10 at Bismarck 29.
3:20: Kyle Roesler misses 42-yard field goal. Demons take over at own 20-yard line.
1:28: After picking up one first down, Bismarck punts from own 30-yard line.
South takes over on own 42-yard line after punt.
End third quarter
Fourth quarter
12:00: South faces fourth-and-2 from midfield.
Jemison gets first down, gaining just over two yards on a toss play right. Keeps South drive alive.
Fullback Lucas Seltvedt starting to have success on dive play. South has ball at Bismarck 32.
Jemison dive play moves ball to Bismarck 10 for a first down.
8:46: Jemison powers in from 3 yards out for touchdown. On two-point conversion, Larson pass sails high intended for receiver in the back of the end zone. Drive covers 58 yards in 12 plays.
8:38: Bismarck starts drive from own 23-yard line.
Demons convert key third-and-3 play moving ball to own 37. Thorton runs a QB keeper.
5:21: Bismarck faces third-and-4 from own 43. Big play. Demons call timeout.
South stuffs Miller in backfield and causes fumble, but the Demons have appeared to recover. Bismarck forced to punt from own 43.
4:56: South takes over at own 22-yard line.
Seltvedt 3 yards to 25.
False start. South back to 20. second-and-12.
4:10. Incomplete pass. third-and-12.
4:06: Incomplete pass. fourth-and-12. South lining up to punt.
4:01: Bruins mishandle snap on punt and Bismarck takes over at South 3-yard line. Not looking good for South.
Winkels 2 yards to 1-yard line.
3:19: Thorton scores on 1-yard QB sneak. Bismarck nails extra point for 21-12 lead.
3:04: Derek Holt catches 79 yard TD pass from Larson. Bruins cut lead to 21-19. One-play drive. Amazing. Holt makes great catch in tight coverage and then scoot up sideline for TD. Perfect pass from Larson.
Bruins still have three timeouts remaining.
2:57: Bismarck takes over at own 45-yard line after failed onside kick attempt.
2:51: Miller 2 yards to 47 before South calls timeout. Second-and-8.
2:44: Thorton stuffed on bootleg, but Jemison called for 5-yard face mask. Bismarck has second-and-5 at midfield.
2:39: Thorton 2 yards to South 48. Third-and-3. Bruins use last timeout.
1:51: Bruins stuff Winkels. Foruth-and-8 from own 47. Demons take delay penalty.
1:44: South starts at own 10-yard line after great punt.
1:41: Incomplete pass. Second-and-10.
1:41: Illegal procedure on South. Second-and-15 from own 5.
1:33: Bismarck scores on 8-yard fumble return as Miller picks off a hook-and-ladder attempt. Bismarck leads 28-19.
1:28: South takes over at own 18-yard line. South needs a miracle.
1:22: Pass interference call moves ball to own 33-yard line. First-and-10.
1:16: Incomplete pass.
1:12: Bruins complete short pass and Demons get called for late hit. Ball moved to South 49. First-and-10.
Larson to Holt to Bismarck 40.
:57: Incomplete pass. Second-and-10 at Bismarck 40.
:55: Incomplete pass. Third-and-10 at BHS 40.
:48: Incomplete pass. Fourth-and-10. Demons drop easy INT attempt.
:38: Thorton intercepts last-gasp effort and returns ball to own 36. Game over.
Two kneel downs and Demons run out clock.
South's bid for threepeat falls short.
Postgame stats to follow when we get hands on them as well as awards.
Final stats
Fargo South (324 total yards on 60 plays): Jemison 124 yards rushing on 26 attempts. Seltvedt adds 77 yards on 12 carries. Larson completes 7 of 18 passes for 118 yards. Holt catches two passes for 90 yards.
Bismarck (198 total yards on 53 plays): Miller rushes for 108 yards on 25 attempts. Thorton adds 34 yards on 13 carries. Thorton completes 5 of 9 passes for 44 yards. Krueger catches 4 passes for 33 yards.
Class 3A senior athlete of the year: Brent Qvale, OT, Williston. Qvale has signed to play football at Nebraska. Jemison was also a finalist for the award.
Class 3A coach of the year: Todd Matthews, Williston.
Posted by: Hotzler on 11/15/2008 at 6:04 PM | Comments (14) | Permalink