First Down Friday: Three top-five matchups in North Dakota, and another statement win for Horace

DAVIES DOMINATES SECOND HALF, PULLS AWAY FROM SOUTH
FARGO — Grant Tschosik tallied two touchdowns and an interception to help Fargo Davies hold off Fargo South 41-17 in cross-class action. Down 21-10 at the half, South opened the third quarter with a touchdown drive to cut the lead to four. It was all Davies after that, though. Gage Brewer hit Malachi Werremeyer in the fourth quarter to make it 33-17 Eagles.

Fargo South faces another Class AAA school next week, hosting Bismarck St. Mary’s. Davies hosts the 25th Street Showdown against Shanley. You can watch that game live on

WDAY+

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FERGUS FALLS CELEBRATES HOMECOMING WITH WIN OVER PERHAM
FERGUS FALLS — Homecoming for Fergus Falls brought a packed house as the Otters welcomed the Yellowjackets from Perham. Fergus Falls came out firing in the first with Griffin Babolian taking an inside hand-off 25-yards for a touchdown. Babolian had two scores on the ground. In the third quarter leading by 21, Otters Quarterback Henry Bethel scrambles 41-yards for a touchdown to go up by four scores.

Perham battled back in the second half with two late touchdowns including an 80-yard pitch and catch with Blaiz Schmidt connecting with Gage Aanenson to find the endzone.

Fergus Falls fended off the Yellowjacket comeback with a 28-14 final score. Fergus Falls, now 2-3, are back home next week against Little Falls. Perham, also 2-3, head to their home turf with a matchup against Thief River Falls.

#3 SHEYENNE UPSETS #2 MINOT AT HOME
A top-5 matchup in Class 3-A in West Fargo. #3 West Fargo Sheyenne and #2 Minot. Magicians struck first with a 35-yard field goal just passing the crossbar. Later in the first, Mustangs Quarterback Caden Olson heaved a deep ball to Caleb Duerr for a 42-yard touchdown. Sheyenne comes up with the win 28-20.

Next week, the Mustangs head across town to take on rival West Fargo. Minot heads to Bismarck next week.

SHANLEY’S OFFENSE FLEXES MUSCLES IN 49-POINT WIN
FARGO — Shanley football improved to 6-0 with a 69-20 win over Bismarck Legacy. Landon Meier threw three straight touchdown passes to build a 21-0 lead in the first quarter for the Deacons. Meier heaved one 60 yards to Fisher Hannesson to make it 14-0. The Deacon’s 69 points are the most they have scored all season.

Shanley visits Fargo Davies in the 25th Street Showdown next week. Watch it live on

WDAY+

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MOORHEAD SPLITS HOMESTAND WITH 30 POINT WIN OVER ST. CLOUD TECH
MOORHEAD — A rematch from last year’s season opener, Moorhead hosting St. Cloud Tech. On the opening drive for the spuds, Taye Reich ran it up the middle while making Tigers miss for a 9-yard gain and a first down. It would only take a couple of plays for the Spuds to strike, Reich took it once again up the gut, this time it was a 8-yard touchdown run. Moorhead on the board first.

After a couple of punts, St. Cloud found itself in the red zone, Noah Theis called his own number and snuck it in to tie the game. The Spuds would explode in the 2nd half scoring 27 points en route to a 48-13 win. Moorhead goes on the road to face Sartell next week.

NORTH CONTINUES ITS WINNING WAYS AGAINST RED RIVER
GRAND FORKS — The North Spartans traveled to Cushman Field for a top-five Class 2-A match-up against Red River. North only has one loss to the Riders since 2015, and that loss came last season. Starting in the first quarter, North was already up by a score. Spartan Peder Haugo fumbled the ball, and Red River recovered to head back the other way.

It only took three downs to deliver. Pearce Parks hit Logan Bjerke, and he took it all the way to the end zone for six. The extra point was blocked, 7-6 North. The Spartans were quick to respond. Off the kick return, Samuel Adams-Vandel broke free and took it all the way home for the touchdown. North would stay ahead and stay perfect 38-20.

North will continue their road trip next Friday to play Devils Lake at 6 p.m. Red River will travel south to play Horace next Friday at 6 p.m.

WEST FARGO HOLDS OFF ST. MARY’S 
WEST FARGO — A pair of one-win teams battle in West Fargo as the Packers welcome St. Mary’s for just the 7th time ever. The Packers packed the first punch as Leyton Hofland scored from 4-yards out. Two-point conversion was good putting the Packers up 8-0.

On the next drive, an incomplete pass slipped out of the hands of Keyton Mcgregor and right into the hands of St. Mary’s Sam Fedorchak who took it to the house for a pick-six. West Fargo would hold on with a 34-27 final.

West Fargo stays at home next week against Sheyenne. St. Mary’s heads back to the metro with a matchup against Fargo South.

HORACE STUNS CENTRAL, WINS THIRD GAME
HORACE — The Horace Hawks picked up their third-ever varsity win and third win of the season with a 22-15 win over Central. Caden Johansen got the Knights on the board first with a 10-yard touchdown run. Horace answered late in the first quarter with a goal-line touchdown pass from Taylor Stefonowicz to Mason Johnson. Horace outscored Central 8-0 in the second half to hold on for the win.

Horace stays at home for another Grand Forks team, Red River next week. Central hosts Wahpeton Friday.

DICKINSON PUTS AN END TO JAMESTOWN’S WIN STREAK
DICKINSON — The Blue Jays were on the road out West this week for a top-five class 2-A match-up against the Midgets. The Midgets were down a score when Stephen Zawodny let it fly to Kaden Krieg for the touchdown to tie the game. Jamestown was quick to answer back. Ryan Kallenbach connected with Tyson Jorrison for the score to give the Blue Jays the edge.

Dickinson didn’t lose hope. Braden Meschke barely broke the plane for the touchdown to knot the game, and they eventually would take the game by five points with a 29-24 final.

Dickinson will stay at home next Friday to host Turtle Mountain Community at 8 p.m. Next Friday, Jamestown will return home to play Valley City at 7 p.m. Watch that game on WDAY Xtra or stream on

WDAY+.

BARNESVILLE DROPS 52 IN THE FIRST HALF TO GET 17TH STRAIGHT WIN
BARNESVILLE — The Trojans quest for back-to-back perfect seasons continued this week with Warroad coming to town. With four minutes left in the second quarter and the running clock rule already in effect, there was a rare throw by Barnesville’s Zachary Bredman to Peyton Amundson who didn’t go down easy throwing stiff arms and when it was all said and done it was a 24-yard gain.

Next play, it was a double handoff to Ethan Larson who went untouched into the endzone to put Barnesville up 52-0 at halftime. No more scoring happened and The Trojans get the win, and will play Park Rapids Area next week.

THOMPSON WINS THREE STRAIGHT, NORTHERN CASS CAN’T FIND FIRST WIN 
THOMPSON — Region one and two went head to head tonight. Thompson hosted Northern Cass, who was looking for its first win of the season. In the second quarter, tied at six apiece, the Jaguars can’t handle the snap, and the Tommies are able to jump on it first. It was a Thompson first down at the ten.

The Tommies were able to turn the fumble into a touchdown. Drew Overby made a quick pass to Josh Juve, who took it 10 yards to the end zone. Thompson wins three straight with the 29-20 win.

Northern Cass will continue its pursuit for its first win of the season next Friday at Oak Grove at 7 p.m. Thompson will host Langdon Area/Edmore/Munich next Friday at 7 p.m.

HILLSBORO/CENTRAL VALLEY DROPS THREE STRAIGHT, ELLENDALE/EDGELEY/KULM BUILDS A WIN STREAK
HILLSBORO — After being shut out the past two weeks, H/CV hoped they could turn things around against the Thunder. The Burros were down 21-0 in the third quarter. While trying to create some offense, Tyson Leshuk got sacked by Benet Giesler. H/CV was still able to collect the first down, eventually getting inside the red zone. Within ten, Leshuk dished it to Landon Olson, who broke through the tackles for the touchdown. That would be as close as they would get, falling to the Thunder 28-7.

E/E/K will return home to play Central Cass next Friday at 7 p.m. H/CV will host Grafton next Friday. Kick off is at 6 p.m.