This football season has a similar feeling to a fall past for
Hope-Page.
Two years ago, the Wolverines lost their first game of the season before ripping off a long winning streak. That strong run culminated with a trip to the Dakota Bowl.
Hope-Page (8-1) has won eight consecutive games this season after losing in overtime in its season-opener. The Wolverines are hoping for a playoff outcome comparable to the magical 2000 season.
"There are a lot of parallels to that," Hope-Page coach Chad Kainz said. "But this is a different group here this year."
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The Wolverines will face a sizeable obstacle in the 9-man state quarterfinals as they are scheduled to host TGU-Willow City at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. The Titans eliminated Hope-Page from the playoffs last season with a shutout victory, and also scored an impressive 36-0 victory against Region 1 champion Barnes County North last Saturday.
"They came in here last year and shut us out," Kainz said. "The kids are kind of looking to settle the score there a little bit."
The Titans (10-1) also enter the game on an eight-game winning streak, outscoring opponents 120-6 in their last three games.
"They're very explosive on offense and they have a good, salty defense," Kainz said.
Central Cass virtually unbeatable
Central Cass has been dominant this Class B volleyball season. The numbers are impressive.
The Squirrels -- currently on a
24-match winning streak -- have posted a 34-1 overall record and lost only three games all season. Central Cass has won all 54 games played during its long victory string.
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"We've been playing real well and it's good to see at the end of the year," said Central Cass first-year coach Amy Weinzierl. "We're playing much more as a team than individuals."
Balance has been the key for the Squirrels. Lyndsy Gegelman, Bethany Kost, Amanda Levos, Melissa Springer, Molly Schultz and Rachel Nelson have all recorded more than 100 kills this season. Gegelman and Kost have each gone over 200.
"In a crunch someone always steps up and we don't need to rely on just one person," Weinzierl said.
Something else
Fargo North senior linebacker Nate Pederson recorded 116 tackles in the regular season to lead the Eastern Dakota Conference. ... West Fargo junior defensive end Cole Rieniets led the EDC this season with 6½ sacks. Junior teammate Dan Dardis ranked second with 4½. ... Wahpeton junior running back Adam Marohl led the EDC in scoring with 82 points.
Readers can reach Eric Peterson at (701) 241-5513 or epeterson@forumcomm.com
