Dickinson leads playoff push

Dickinson High School opened its North Dakota Division AA playoff run with a 40-20 victory over Grand Forks Central on Friday. The win sets the stage for the team's next challenge as the state tournament proceeds. Other North Dakota squads also secured first round wins in various divisions.

In Division AA, four other matches concluded on Friday. Central Cass defeated Devils Lake 28-8. Minot North beat Grand Forks Red River 19-14. Kindred took down Jamestown 28-21. These results eliminate the losing teams from the state bracket for this cycle.

North Dakota Division AAA games also ended on Friday. West Fargo won 38-26 over Mandan. Legacy defeated Shanley 42-7. Century beat West Fargo Horace 28-14. Fargo Davies claimed a 21-14 win over Bismarck. All four winners advance to the next round of the state playoffs.

Volleyball competition moved forward in Minnesota Section 8A and North Dakota Districts 3B and 4B. In Section 8A, Sacred Heart defeated Red Lake County Central in three straight sets. North Star beat Benson County in five sets. Fertile-Beltrami dropped Goodridge/Grygla in three sets. Climax-Fisher and Lake of the Woods both won their quarterfinals in straight sets.

North Dakota District 3B and 4B tournaments featured loser out rounds and semifinals. In District 4B, New Rockford-Sheyenne defeated Dunseith in three sets. North Prairie beat St. John in straight sets. Langdon Area-Munich defeated Nelson County. North Star beat Benson County in four sets. In District 3B, Hatton-Northwood defeated Griggs-Midkota in four sets. Midway-Minto beat Larimore and Drayton Valley-Edinburg beat North Border in their loser out matches.

The next round of football games is scheduled for Saturday. Quarterfinals for North Dakota 9-man, Division A, and Minnesota 9-man sections will take place. Semifinals for Minnesota Section 8, 8A, 8AA, and 8AAA volleyball tournaments are set for Saturday as well. Championship games for several Minnesota sections are scheduled for Nov. 5 and Nov. 6 at the Fargodome.

Specific times for Saturday's football games include a 1 p.m. kickoff for Lewis & Clark at New Rockford-Sheyenne. A 7 p.m. kickoff is set for Northern Cass at Bishop Ryan-Our Redeemer's. Minnesota Section 8 9-man semifinals begin at 2 p.m. at the high seeds. North Dakota District 3B and 4B semifinals will follow the loser out matches, with times set 25 minutes after the previous games conclude.