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As the Fall high school sporting season continued to wind-down another champion was crowned. After running the regular season gauntlet to the top seed from the East and for the first time since 2008, Shanley claimed the final victory!
In his final game Andrew Kankelfritz got the first score mid-way through the opening half. Legacy got the equalizer shortly after resuming play only to see sophomore Andrew Schneider knock-in the game winner in the 60th minute!
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The championship came shortly after former Shanley quarterback Cooper Mattern lead Concordia to a 58-point humiliation of Hamline with six total touchdowns & 400 yards passing!
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NDSU's quarterbacking was nearly that effective during their stop in Grand Forks but it was the defense that left more questions to be answered. Beginning with the 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown it played out as nearly a perfect storm for the Hawks. The biggest thing the defense will need to try and improve on is stopping the run. Gaven Ziebarth averaged nearly a first down for all of his 18 carries. That combined with Luke Skokna's three total scores (returning, rushing & receiving) was too big of a hill to overcome.
What the coaches will devise to help prevent a repeat should the two teams meet in the postseason is no simple problem to answer but with four games remaining that NDSU will have a good chance of winning, should they come to it, the lightning is far from guaranteed to strike again like it did yesterday!
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It's still very early in their schedule but the Fargo Force have started 6 - 0 with a pair of shutouts and 25 goals. There's no telling how the rest of the season will progress but it's completely merited to be optimistic!
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Following what seemed to be a statement win in Houston last Sunday the Twins fell flat at their building, getting pushed to elimination with a 9 - 1 loss and coming up just short in game four, 3 - 2.
While it's a disappointing conclusion, if it serves as a springboard for the front office to find one or two more quality starting pitchers and improvement to the depth & approach at the plate then it will go down as an extremely successful season.
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In Grand Forks, Sheyenne earned their way to third place 4 - 1 over Minot in the Boys State Tennis Tournament.
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Before much of it, the Summit League announced it's Preseason All-Conference and team rankings. The men checked-in at third with Boden Skunberg & Andrew Morgan making the lists while the women were predicted to finish as the runner-up with Elle Evans & Heaven Hamling both making first-team.
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Another sterling week for the Fargo area sports scene!