Grand Forks Central (4-0) Poised for Dakota Bowl Run

THE KNIGHTS ARE 4-0 THIS SEASON AFTER A 1-8 RECORD IN 2024.

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KVRR) –Four weeks into the North Dakota high school football season, plenty of teams are turning heads. In Division 2A, Grand Forks Central is a team to watch.

“Yeah, it just shows like how much more we want it this year,” said senior Brooklan Bruce. “Having that one win season last year kind of drove us all to work that much harder this summer and come back harder this year just so we can be a winning team.”

It’s all smiles on the practice field for the Grand Forks Central Knights after beginning this season a perfect 4-0. Central, who finished last season 1-8, has turned it around this season and is one of just three unbeaten teams in North Dakota Division 2A.

“You know, I think these guys are putting the right amount of work this year, this winter, this summer, and it’s finally coming to fruition,” said head coach Jake Schauer. “You know, it’s a good group of guys. They play well together, and good things happen when you get along with your teammates.”

Just two seasons ago, the Central Knights reached the Dakota Bowl. The team says the thing that got them there back then is what this team possesses.

“It’s a big senior class,” said coach Schauer. “Last year, we had about eight seniors. That’s just not enough at this level of football to really form a class that leads you to success. I loved those kids. They were great kids. But it just wasn’t a great year as far as having that senior leadership. And this year, you’re more like 20, 25 seniors. That’s kind of what you strive for. That’s what you need to build a program is just having those numbers 9 through 12 and year in and year out too.”

Senior Eli Thompson added, “Our group of seniors now got a lot of reps and everything. So, we came back this season, we were stronger than ever because all that experience and stuff from last season. So, I think that’s the big determiner is your class, like how big your class is. So yeah, because two years ago when we went to Dakota Bowl, we had a lot of seniors. So, I think that’s just the determining factor.”

With four games down and five to go, the team knows they must stay hungry to reach their goals.

“We have had a good start, you know, everything’s looking strong,” said Bruce. “We just got to keep trying to improve, you know, nothing’s perfect yet. We got to keep getting better so that once we get into conference play here, we can rack up some more wins. A lot of us seniors were sophomores when we went to the Dakota Bowl so it’s kind of like we were all on like special teams and on the sideline watching and it’s just something we want to get back to and actually be on the field and experience that. So all of us seniors are really working for it.”

The Knights take on Fargo South on Friday, September 26 at 5 P.M. as they look to improve to 5-0 on the season.