2023-10-20 04:03:38
FARGO — Behind a ground attack led by Peder Haugo, the Fargo North Spartans capped off an undefeated regular season with a home win over the Jamestown Blue Jays on Thursday night.
Haugo had 159 yards on the ground and two rushing touchdowns for the Spartans in the 46-22 win. He also hauled in an 80-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ethan Welk.
For Haugo and the Spartans, finishing off the regular season with a win over the team that defeated them in last year’s state championship game at Dakota Bowl XXX was a moment they’d been waiting for all season.
Fargo North senior running back Peder Haugo scores a touchdown against Jamestown on Oct. 19, 2023.
Chris Flynn / The Forum
“It feels good. This was something we were looking forward to all year,” said Haugo. “We had this game circled. To be able to get them at home and start the run into the playoffs off right feels good.
“Now, we’ll put the 9-0 record behind us. Everyone is 0-0 going forward playing for every week they can earn.”
Haugo credited the Spartans lineman for their role in the victory.
“They’re big every week,” he said. “They’re the heart and soul of this team. Nobody can thank the boys up front enough. They don’t get enough credit. Without them, we wouldn’t be here.”
In addition to Haugo’s three touchdowns, North also had two short-burst touchdowns from Billy Ward as well as a 13-yard rushing score from Kayden Rasmussen.
Fargo North senior quarterback Ethan Welk runs a draw against Jamestown on Thurs., Oct. 19, 2023.
Chris Flynn / The Forum
North’s first score of the night came courtesy of Max Watson’s 24-yard field goal.
North’s Welk was 4 for 9 for 109 yards with the one touchdown to Haugo. He also ran for 90 yards. The Spartans rushed for 339 yards.
“It was a goal of ours,” said North coach Adam Roland of the win. “We set goals as coaches and as a team going into the year. We wanted to be conference champions and we wanted to be road warriors winning all our games on the road and at home, too. We wanted an undefeated season and that’s what we got.”
The key to the North’s success was approaching the season day by day, which the team will continue to do in the playoffs, Roland said.
“We took it one game at a time this year,” he said. “We want to limit distractions going forward and stay focused. We’re truly going one practice at a time. We’re only guaranteed one week and we have to earn the next one.”
Jamestown running back Sam Mayhair broke the tackle to pick up a few more yards against Fargo North at North on Thurs., Oct. 19, 2023.
Chris Flynn / The Forum
Jamestown’s Ryan Kallenbach was 14 for 24 through the air for 234 yards and two touchdowns, with a 24-yard scoring pass to Nate Waltz and a 66-yard lob to Jackson Jarrett.
The Blue Jays scored once more with just seconds left as Kelan Harstad ran the ball in from 3 yards out.
“It’s a different team and a different year,” said Jamestown coach Bill Nelson of the Blue Jays. “I still really like what we have. We had a couple of kids out tonight and we still did a lot of good things tonight.
“There’s a reason North is the number one team in the state. They’re good. There is no two ways about it.”
While North ends the regular season unbeaten at 9-0, the Jamestown Blue Jays head into the playoffs 5-4.
Jamestown junior tight end Jackson Jarrett scored a touchdown on this pass play from junior quarterback Ryan Kallenbach against Fargo North on Thurs., Oct. 19, 2023 at North High.
Chris Flynn / The Forum
Todd Rose joined The Forum in August of 2022 as a sports reporter. Prior to joining The Forum, Rose worked as a sports reporter for the Daily Press in his hometown of Escanaba, Michigan from October 2020 to July 2022.
Rose can be reached via email at trose@forumcomm.com or via Twitter @To2D_Rose.
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