SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA — It seems like less-than a week ago that area football teams finally were able to take the practice-field on Aug. 8 to get started with the official 2024 North Dakota prep football calendar for Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County … and while it was, indeed, less than a week ago, all those squads were mostly field-ready because of summer programs and other preparations that help North Dakota schools hit the ground running with autumn and winter right around the corner.
Everybody has their traditions to start each football season, with Hettinger/Scranton — for example — hosting a midnight-Thursday “football-under-the-lights” event that saw the Nighthawks take the field as soon as permitted, while other local schools were on the field on Aug. 8 from – basically – the break-of-dawn.
“What I’ve seen so far is just dedication, and we haven’t had anybody miss a practice yet … overall our attendance is up,” Nighthawks head football coach Jason LeFebre said. “There’s a lot of excitement and the kids are ready to rock-and-roll; they’re hooting and hollering and it’s good to hear the sounds and smell the smells.”
He added, with a laugh,” Some of them are nasty smells, but football is back.”
North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
Notable for all the teams was the beautiful weather the last few days, which lasted through the weekend and early this week, as pleasant temperatures are conducive for spirited practices. And while some of the teams were going through workouts in street-clothes — such as Bowman County, which finally strapped on the pads on Tuesday — and most were merely in shoulder-pads, shorts and helmets, initially, they all mentioned how good it is to get back on the field and resume some sense of football-normalcy.
“Oh yeah, pretty soon we will have those entire bleachers full of fans,” Bowman County head coach Chris Johnson said. “Bowman county loves football.”
Both Dickinson-based teams have been busy, with the Midgets and Trinity Titans going through drills at their respective practice-fields, and while both are anticipating their respective home-openers at the Biesiot Activities Center — DHS versus West Fargo on Aug. 30 and the Titans having to wait until Sept. 20 against Killdeer — coaches John Tuchscherer and John Odermann, respectively, were happy to get things underway.
“We’re excited to be out here and we’re excited about our guys; they’ve put a ton of work in this summer and now they see that work paying off,” Tuchscherer said. “Right now, they know the things that we can control — every day — is our energy and our effort … there’s going to be mistakes and that’s okay, because it’s part of learning, but controlling your energy and your effort and getting better every practice is going to help us get to where we want to be.”
Odermann added, “You think a lot during the offseason, stuff like, ‘What might we have?’ and things like that, but it’s good to get out here and see what we’ve got and we’re liking what we’re seeing so far; we’ve got some young guys who are pushing our older guys and that’s always nice to see, too.”
1/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
2/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
3/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
4/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
5/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
6/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
7/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
8/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
9/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
10/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
11/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
12/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
13/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
14/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
15/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
16/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
17/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
18/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
19/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
20/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
21/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
22/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
23/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
24/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
25/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
26/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
27/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
28/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
29/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
30/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
31/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
32/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
33/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
34/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
35/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
36/36: North Dakota schools, which included Dickinson High, Trinity, Heart River, Richardton-Taylor, Beach, Killdeer, Bowman County, Hettinger/Scranton and Hettinger County, hit the ground running for the start of the 2024 prep preseason, and while some were in street-clothes and others in half-pads, all are excited to get started.
Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press
While Killdeer is one of the odds-on favorites in Class A, Region 4 — along with Trinity — Cowboys head coach Andy Cook isn’t taking anything for granted, knowing that transfers, player-development, -strength and -growth all factor into the final product over the course of an entire season.
“There are good teams all around us, and the thing that I tell our guys all the time is: They’re all preparing in the same way you are and who knows who moved into some other school or what’s going on anywhere else,” Cook said. “That doesn’t matter to us, and we have to prepare week-to-week to make sure we’re in the best possible position to play that-week’s opponent.”
Beach High School head coach Mike Zier faces the same challenges as any rural 9-man team, and said he is happy with the number of players who participated in summer workouts and strength-training programs to help the Buccaneers prepare for the demands of the schedule, even with a smaller squad.
“Our turnout was good, and we had some of our kids who went to camp this year, and we’ve had a lot of solid effort,” Zier said. “Overall, we’re at about 16 kids — and that’s a little low — but we’ve been there before and the important thing is that we have the right 16, and I think we do because they come to practice, they work hard and that’s great.”
And it doesn’t matter whether they run a speed-oriented or power game, with only six days under their belts teams have to use their time wisely — especially at this early stage — according to first-year Heart River Cougars coach Tyger Frye, who has been with the program for the past few years before taking the reins from Mike Williams.
“I’m just looking forward to being back with these guys; this is going to be my third year here and last year I was calling plays for the first half of the year,” Frye said. “We have a lot of guys back … these guys are going to be tough and we’re going to be a power team again and be able to run the ball, so I’m super-excited.”
While Richardton-Taylor is on the uptick, head coach Brady Martin said it’s also local fans who are ready to see the 2024 season get underway, as the community revolves around the sport — similar to just about everywhere in the United States—– as an area of congregation and camaraderie.
“You know, last year we opened up with Grant County and played them very competitive during the first chunk of the game and people were excited just from that, and obviously getting the win was huge for us,” Martin said. “It’s been a really good start to the year so far, between the senior leadership and the experience has definitely shown here, right out of the gate.”
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Gaylon is a sportswriter from Jensen Beach, Fla., but has lived all over the world. Growing up with an athletic background gave him a love of sports that led to a journalism career in such places as Enid, Okla., Alamogordo, N.M., Pascagoula, Miss. and Viera, Fla. since 1998. His main passion is small-town community sports, particularly baseball and soccer.
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Publish date : 2024-08-13 08:36:00
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