North Dakota State Championship Notes: 9-Man-11AA
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FARGO, ND— Time to take a look at the prospects to know and quick notes we are watching today with the state championship games at the FargoDome. 9-Man: North Prairie Cougars (11-1) vs. South Border Mustangs (12-0) North Prairie, Quick…
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Continue ReadingFARGO, ND— Time to take a look at the prospects to know and quick notes we are watching today with the state championship games at the FargoDome.
9-Man:
North Prairie Cougars (11-1) vs. South Border Mustangs (12-0)
North Prairie, Quick Notes:
- From my eyes, the Cougars have at least two Division I prospects on their roster just on both of their lines alone, and a few others that have a future playing on Saturdays as well amongst their skill players.
- The Cougars had just one mutual opponent versus the Mustangs, which is New Rockford-Sheyenne in which is the Cougars only loss in 2023 in which South Border defeated New Rockford Sheyenne defeated by 4 and the Cougars lost 36-34
- North Prairie holds the upper hand when it comes to their 2023 scoring average, averaging 51 points per game and that showed off today.
Cougars to Know:
Nate Tastad Nate Tastad 6'5" | 265 lbs | DL North Prairie | 2024 State ND , OL/DL (2024) Twitter
The NDSU commit shows off one of the most fiery first steps I have seen out of an offensive linemen in my last several years covering the Dakotas, however that shows consistency across the Cougars offensive line as there is plenty of athleticism to go around. If you decide to blink while Nate multi engages with his blockers, you certainly might miss him powering into the second level, as this young man’s technique is very sound on the Cougars offensive line. Nate also is very swift with his instincts defensively, as look for him to have several well-engaged tackles tomorrow morning
Blake Mattson Blake Mattson RB North Prairie | 2024 State ND , ATH, (2024)
Totaling a whooping 47 total touchdowns on the year for the Cougars with over 3000 total yards, if you are not paying full attention to Blake Mattson Blake Mattson RB North Prairie | 2024 State ND tomorrow, you better wake up quick from your sleep. Blake is a prospect that exceeds expectations around the edges as he is an bursty north-south runner that has plenty of fluidity for a 2024 prospect still awaiting his first offer. I love watching Blake with his first step with the ball in his hands, as he shows off well-versed vision especially thru contact that is built for the long haul.
South Border, Quick Notes:
- The Mustangs have not one but two 1000 yard rushers from the 2023 season.
- The Mustangs throw the ball just slightly more than the Cougars, however what stands out to me is their precision they show off from their two passers in sophomore Berkley Frantz and senior Connor Kosiak who combined have a completion percentage well over 70%.
- The Mustangs also have a junior in Levi Bucholtz Levi Bucholtz ATH South Border | 2025 State ND who had eight interceptions during the 2023 season and was also the top receiving threat for South Border.
Mustangs to Know:
Levi Buchholtz, WR/DB (2025)
Watching Levi on tape, he shows off a well-rounded catch radius and does a solid job of coming back to the ball when he needs to and also the vertical to take the top off the secondary. He also shows off that bigger than his measurables range with his arm length as this young man is consistently making plays in high traffic areas.
11A:
Dickinson Trinity Titans(12-0) vs. Kindred (11-0)
Dickinson Trinity, Quick Notes:
- The Titans have three weapons that have 10+ touchdowns in the 2023 season in senior quarterback Jace Kovash, senior running back Ty Dassinger Ty Dassinger 5'11" | 200 lbs | RB Dickinson Trinity | 2024 State ND , and senior wide receiver Gage Glaser.
- The run/passing stats for the Titans are relatively balanced which will give the Kindred Vikings a slightly different look than what they are used to.
- Dickinson Trinity did own the offensive scoring battle over Kindred averaging over 40 points per game in the 2023 season.
Titans to Know:
Ty Dassinger Ty Dassinger 5'11" | 200 lbs | RB Dickinson Trinity | 2024 State ND , RB/LB (2024) Twitter
An 1000 yard rusher during the 2023 season, the Vikings defense will certainly need to prep for Dickinson Trinity’s Ty Dassinger Ty Dassinger 5'11" | 200 lbs | RB Dickinson Trinity | 2024 State ND today at the FargoDome. This senior is as fluid as a running back this state has to offer in the 2024 class, and yet somehow is still waiting on his first offer. Ty on tape shows off a feisty accelerator that bursts out to his top speed quickly. He also shows off versatility with his run patterns, as he can take it either east-west or north-south and it is clear he has the great vision to exceed with either also with his patience. He is a prospect on both sides of the ball to prep for too, as Ty was 3rd on the Titans this season in tackles and second in the tackles for a loss/sacks category. How this young man doesn’t have any offers yet this late in the season, truly shocks me.
Jeremiah Jilek, LB/TE (2024) Twitter
The Titans defense is lead by senior middle linebacker Jeremiah Jilek, who led Dickinson Trinity with 81 tackles thus far in 2023. If you want a linebacker in 2024 with an eye-popping motor that gets downhill quickly, Jeremiah is very much worth a look as he flew into the backfield with 10 tackles for a loss/sacks in 2023 and the tape shows why. He also has patient vision getting into the backfield and certainly has the football IQ built up to attack the ball with the best angle possible. If you are looking for who would be a good NAIA fit linebacker prospect, I would take a good look at this young man.
Kindred Vikings, Quick Notes:
- Like they have been for the last handful of years, the Vikings defense has been crushing it at the 11A level, averaging just 7 points per game defensively. Only two teams thus far have scored more than two touchdowns on the Vikings in 2023, with that being Lisbon (20) and in the state semifinals last week with Langdon Area (32).
- The Vikings are loaded with athletes from their freshmen class all the way up to their senior class and are lead upfront by Minnesota commit Riley Sunram Riley Sunram 6'5" | 280 lbs | DL Kindred | 2024 State ND , the #1 overall prospect in the 2024 class in North Dakota.
- Offensively, the Vikings are churned by North Dakota’s top athlete in the 2025 class, as Jake Starcevic Jake Starcevic 6'2" | 200 lbs | ATH Kindred | 2025 State ND has 32 total touchdowns and over 2000 all-purpose yards this season as his versatility for the Vikings has been top notch.
Vikings to Know:
Riley Sunram Riley Sunram 6'5" | 280 lbs | DL Kindred | 2024 State ND , DL/OL, Kindred (2024) Twitter
Riley is one of the most instinctive defensive ends I have gotten to cover in the Dakotas ever in my time. He has a massive football IQ and vision that shows off so much range to cover within the inside box. Riley is a barreller on his quick release downhill and the physical hands he constantly has shown off all year should show a lot of fear if you are a quarterback or running back in the backfield, as Riley brings the man amongst boys physicality at the 11A level at 6’6 280 pounds with athletic movement like a deer. If you want the analytics, nearly 40% of Riley’s 40 tackles this season were for a loss (15) and with another growth spurt in mind, he certainly will be one to watch in the Big Ten in the coming years.
Jake Starcevic Jake Starcevic 6'2" | 200 lbs | ATH Kindred | 2025 State ND , ATH, Kindred (2025) Twitter
Another two-way prospect that the Titans will certainly have to prepare for is Kindred junior Jake Starcevic Jake Starcevic 6'2" | 200 lbs | ATH Kindred | 2025 State ND who is the state’s top swiss army knife in the 2025 class. Jake can do a lot with small areas to run thru and runs downhill with contact very effectively. As 6’2 200 pound outside linebacker defensively, this kid shows off a sideline to sideline presence as he has plenty of juice in his motor to constantly get into the backfield or the edges as in my eyes, he projects at linebacker at the next level. He is very decisive on both sides of the ball and certainly is another Division I fit in my honest opinion as our #1 athlete in 2025.
Fargo North Spartans (11-0) vs. Grand Forks Central Knights (7-4)
Fargo North, Quick Notes:
- Although the Spartans are significantly run dominant, they have two massive targets at the tight end position, that when they pass the Knights will have to be ready for in 6’6 senior Carter Zeller and 6’5 senior Joe Rose Joe Rose 6'4" | 245 lbs | TE Fargo North | 2024 State ND .
- We talked about the top athletes in the state in our last quick note and the Spartans have another best in class one of their own in North Dakota State commit Peder Haugo Peder Haugo 6'2" | 205 lbs | LB Fargo North | 2024 State ND within the 2024 class that any fan watching should have his name circled to watch at the FargoDome.
- The defensive dominance of the Spartans has really come even further alive in these playoffs as their opponents have only had 21 points scored (10.5 average).
Spartans to Know:
Carter Zeller, TE (2024) Twitter
For 6’6 230 pounds, Carter is an athletic route-runner and one that has massive hands and a monster catch radius when the ball attacks his hands. Last week against West Fargo Horace, Carter proved that it takes an army to bring him to the turf as this young man is very efficient getting heavy contact yards after the catch. This young man has so much balance and strength in his hands, I am surprised he hasn’t attained more Division I FCS looks offer wise, however he has been a huge target in the Northern Sun that regardless will be playing on Saturdays next year.
Peder Haugo Peder Haugo 6'2" | 205 lbs | LB Fargo North | 2024 State ND , ATH (2024) Twitter
Peder’s agility has grown so much over the last year or so especially between the tackles, as he dominated for the Spartans in every rushing category there is in 2023 with over 1300 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns for the North Dakota State commit that will be playing on his new home turf on Friday in the FargoDome. Not to mention defensively, Peder is another sideline to sideline outside linebacker that last week against West Fargo Horace, popped from out of my screen into the mesh of the tackle box with the extremely fluid motor he has. I love the way Peder finishes his runs as I believe he is the best back in the 2024 class in both Dakotas.
Grand Forks Central, Quick Notes:
- The Knights are a prime example in 11AA it is not how you start the season, it is how you finish as Grand Forks Central has seen an improvement defensively in my eyes during these state playoffs.
- Anywhere you draw it up, under recruited 2024 Jack Simmers Jack Simmers 6'0" | 190 lbs | ATH Grand Forks Central | 2024 State ND is the force to be reckoned with on this team as their top passer, rusher, and defensively one of their top tacklers. Did I mention how much I love this 2024 class of athletes in this game?
- The Knights are another team that thrive with their tight ends, as expect North Dakota commit Tray Kuntz Tray Kuntz 6'4" | 210 lbs | WR Grand Forks Central | 2024 State ND to be a name to watch for at the FargoDome today from a dominant 2024 class of tight ends in the Roughrider State.
Knights to Know:
Jack Simmers Jack Simmers 6'0" | 190 lbs | ATH Grand Forks Central | 2024 State ND , QB/ATH (2024) Twitter
Jack is a prospect that has significantly developed his football IQ in all assets of his game from the quarterback position to special teams as he certainly plays with instinct, and the Division II level has started to take notice. There is plenty to like about the balance that Jack runs with on every down as there is plenty of fluidity at his disposal when he gets downhill in the open field. I also have been impressed with his touch ball especially on intermediate routes. Certainly going to be a next-level prospect likely at the D2 level.
Tray Kuntz Tray Kuntz 6'4" | 210 lbs | WR Grand Forks Central | 2024 State ND , TE (2024)
The North Dakota commit has some of the most impressive hands as a blocker I believe in this deep 2024 class of tight ends in North Dakota. He also shows off plenty of well-versed angle blocking as if you watch his tape against Devils Lake, Tray drive blocks into the next area code with really robust pad-level in my eyes. The Fighting Hawks will be excited to keep this young man in Grand Forks next year as one of a few Knights staying home at UND.