North Dakota high school playoff football shakes up division standings

The first round of North Dakota high school football playoffs ended on Friday with several divisional shifts and one historic upset.

Central Cass defeated Devils Lake 28-8 in Casselton to secure a spot in the Division 2A semifinals. This marks the Squirrels' second consecutive trip to that round. Devils Lake, the 2025 champion, finished its season with a 6-4 record.

Brody Kegley led the Central Cass offense with three touchdowns. He connected with Blaise Cotton for the first score and with Parker Wixo for the second. Kegley later added a 54-yard passing touchdown to Wixo in the third quarter. That catch tied the school single-season record for passing touchdowns, a mark Kegley also shares. A late rushing touchdown by Kegley closed the game.

Devils Lake scored twice on runs by Easton Encinas. His second touchdown, accompanied by a two-point conversion, gave the Firebirds an 8-14 halftime deficit. The team was held scoreless in the second half.

Central Cass will face Minot North in the semifinals. The two teams met in the 2025 Division 2A semifinals, a game Minot North won 21-17.

In Kindred, the top-seeded Vikings defeated Jamestown 28-21. Jamestown took a 7-point lead at halftime on a pass from Brady Neenow to Braden Hemminger. Kindred tied the game in the second half after Jackson Schlieman threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Luke Starcevic following a muffed punt.

Graham Hess returned an interception for a touchdown to give Kindred a 21-14 lead. The Vikings then used a hook-and-ladder play to score the winning points. Starcevic pitched to Brock Johnson, who ran into the end zone to seal the victory.

Century upset the top-seeded Horace team 28-14 in Horace. The game was tied 14-14 at halftime. Knoxx Wedelstedt scored Century's first touchdown of the second half. The defense then stopped Horace on three plays from inside the two-yard line. Century drove the field again, and Wedelstedt scored a second touchdown to establish the final margin.

Century will face Legacy in the semifinals. The Patriots are aiming to return to the Dakota Bowl.

Moorhead remained undefeated with a 64-29 victory over its opponent. This was the first playoff game the Spuds hosted as a 6-A school. Jett Feeney led the offense with multiple passes to David Mack and Zak Walker in the first half. Feeney moved into fifth place on the school list for passing touchdowns in a single season, passing Joe Mauer. David Mack left the game with an injury.

West Fargo defeated Mandan to advance to the Class 3A semifinals. Joaquin Valdez scored on the second play of the game. Camarillo threw a deep touchdown pass to Wyatt Dockter in the second half. Ashton Wiggestrand scored on a long run in the fourth quarter after Mandan had taken the lead. Wyatt Knudsen recorded a fourth-down sack to help the defense secure the win.