KINDRED, N.D. — Jerlow Field fell silent for a moment, as everyone watched Kindred’s extra-point attempt in overtime sail into the night air.
A make and another pair of overtime possessions would be played. A miss and Devils Lake would advance to the Dakota Bowl.
For the fans in the stands, it was tough to tell whether the kick was good or not, until a Devils Lake player started celebrating, and then the officials signaled that the try was no good. Pandemonium ensued for the Firebirds and their faithful.
West Region No. 2 Devils Lake knocked off the East Region No. 1 Vikings 28-27 in overtime in the North Dakota Division 2A football semifinals on a chilly Friday night.
“For us to come out here and upset one of the best teams I’ve ever seen in high school football, it’s amazing,” said Firebirds cornerback Coby Dronen Levitt. “Everybody stepped up when it was time to. Everything was just clicking.”
David Samson / The Forum
Devils Lake had the first possession in overtime, which started at the 10-yard line. The score knotted at 21-21.
Running back Bryar Exner rumbled three yards on the first play, and caught a 7-yard TD pass and tip-toed over the goal line near the front-right corner. The point-after was good.
The Firebirds led 28-21. Next, it was Kindred’s turn.
Vikings running back Sawyer Hesse had two carries for no gain. Kindred showcased some trickery with receiver Brooks Bakko hustling eight yards on a reverse. Myles Thielges rolled through traffic to score on fourth down from 2-yards out. The score would remain 28-27.
Devils Lake advanced to the Dakota Bowl for the first time since 2010. The Firebirds play West No. 1 Minot North in the Division 2A championship 20 minutes after the Division A title game Friday, Nov. 14, at the Fargodome.
“It’s a dream come true,” said Exner, who finished with 113 rushing yards and three touchdowns. “We all dreamed about it as kids, and now it’s finally come true.”
David Samson / The Forum
Devils Lake opened the scoring in the first quarter. Linebacker Kade Fee hauled in an interception at the Vikings’ 6-yard line on Kindred’s first play of the game. Exner scored from two yards on a carry up the middle at 10:08 to play in the first.
The Firebirds made it 14-0 at 7:31 in the second quarter. Quarterback Mason Palmer charged into the end zone on a 1-yard tush push.
Kindred countered on the next drive. Bakko corralled a 33-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline on a flea-flicker from quarterback Gabe Whipple at 2:30 left in the second. The Vikings trailed 14-7 at halftime.
Thielges tied the game with a 6-yard off-tackle run to the left at 5:41 remaining in the third quarter.
Dronen Levitt caught Devils Lake’s second interception at 11:16 in the fourth quarter at the Kindred 34. Palmer connected with Exner in the back-left corner for a 14-yard TD reception at 7:10 to play.
David Samson / The Forum
Kindred tied the game again at 2:55 left. Thielges took a direct snap, sprinted to the left and scored from three yards out. The Vikings defense held stout on Devils Lake’s next possession to force overtime.
The loss marked a disappointing conclusion to a strong season from Kindred.
“I’m so proud of how they handled themselves throughout the entire year,” said Vikings head coach Eric Burgad. “We faced a lot of adversity injury-wise. When that happened, we got stronger as a group.”
One of the injuries came last week, when star player Lukas Starcevic went down with a knee injury.
Kindred graduates five seniors, including Whipple and Hesse.
“What they did for this team is hard to put into words,” Burgad said of seniors. “They’re absolute glue guys that are going to be missed.”
David Samson / The Forum
David Samson / The Forum
David Samson / The Forum
David Samson / The Forum
David Samson / The Forum
David Samson / The Forum
David Samson / The Forum
David Samson / The Forum
David Samson / The Forum
After graduating from North Dakota State University, Haugland joined the Forum in January of 2023. Readers can reach him at 701-241-5508 or by emailing ahaugland@forumcomm.com
