Fargo North and Grand Forks Central Look to End Championship Droughts

1-SEEDED FARGO NORTH AND 7-SEEDED GRAND FORKS CENTRAL BATTLE IN THE DAKOTA BOWL FRIDAY.

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) –– Friday is the Dakota Bowl in Fargo. In Class AA, the Fargo North Spartans and Grand Forks Central Knights will battle for the crown.

Fargo North enters as the favorite. A perfect 11-0 coming into the game. The Spartans have not won a state title in 23 years and were just one game away a season ago losing to Jamestown in the championship. Spartans running back Peder Haugo believes being on the big stage last year will help North bring the title home.

“Last year …in this game, we were like wow, we made it to the state championship,” said Haugo. “It was kind of that making factor. This year, we are here to win it all and I feel like there is going to be nothing… left on the field. [Winning a title in] the last ever game in a Spartan football Jersey would mean the world to everybody on this field and I know it would mean the world to me.

Head Coach Adam Roland understands a state title is goal for every team, in every sport.

“Any State championship in any sport, whether it’s team or individual is super special,” said Roland. “For the the athletes involved, for the coaches and.. for the community.”

On the other side, the Grand Forks Central Knights eye their first title since 2005. The Knights began the season 1-4, but have since won 6-straight games and enter the Dakota Bowl as the 7-seed.

Head coach Jake Schauer it has been about improving week after week.

“To watch them improve week after week has been something that’s special,” said Schauer. “Those are the type of teams that kind of can sneak in like we have. Those teams that improve every week. So, when you do end up playing teams the second time, they don’t really know what to expect.”

For the Knights players, ending their own championship drought is be a goal for all Knights past and present.

“The last time we were in the state championship I was like a month old,” said senior WR/SS Tyler Whalen. “Now, it’s like 18 years later, but it’s just really cool. The energy is great. Everyone’s happy to be here and just a really cool thing to be a part of. Winning a banner wouldn’t just be great for every player we have now, but for all past Central football alumni. Everyone’s been counting us out, so it’s kind of why not us. We’ll play anyone anywhere. We’re just going to do everything we can on the field and see what happens.”

Kickoff for the Class AA Dakota Bowl is set for 3 p.m. tomorrow at the FargoDome.