MaxPreps 2014 North Dakota preseason high school football Fab 5

1. Bismarck
2013 finish: 11-1
Head coach: Mark Gibson

The Demons are the favorite to win the Class AAA state championship that eluded them last year. Bismarck has won four state titles since 2008 and fell in last year's title game to Fargo South, 42-34. Bismarck has 11 total returning starters, including all-state first team pick Jon Tharaldsen at wide receiver. Hayden Gibson (6-3, 220), a second team pick at quarterback, also returns along with starting middle linebacker Alex Seibel.

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2. Fargo South
2013 finish: 11-2
Head coach: Troy Mattern

The defending state champions return only two all-state players, but one of them, James Johannesson, might be the best offensive weapon in the state. As a junior, Johannesson rushed for 1,928 yards and 22 touchdowns in just nine games to lead the East Dakota Conference. He finished the overall season with 2,671 yards and 30 touchdowns. He went over 300 yards rushing twice, including a high of 331 yards. With 4,126 career rushing yards, Johannesson is already the school's all-time leading rusher. He's joined by fellow all-state selection Kyle Trefethren on the offensive line.

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3. St. Mary's Central (Bismarck)
2013 finish: 11-1
Head coach: Dan Smrekar

The defending champions in Class 2A are the favorite to win it again thanks to a strong senior class and seven starters on both offense and defense. Junior running back Jacob Heinert earned all-state first team honors as a sophomore while Jackson Grad, a senior tackle, also made the offensive team. Rising senior linebackers Noah Krebs and Jacob Schwab were all-state linebackers. Schwab led the defense with 138 tackles while Krebs had 87. Heinert was the first St. Mary's Central player to rush for over 1,000 yards in 15 years as he gained 1,068 yards with 17 touchdowns.

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4. Minot/Dakota Memorial (Minot)
2013 finish: 9-2
Head coach: Barry Holmen

The Magicians reached the AAA semifinals last year on the arm of sophomore quarterback Benjamin Bolinske, who passed for 1,496 yards while earning all-state first team honors. Bolinske returns for his junior season and could be the top quarterback in the state. Meanwhile Zachery Danelson is back to lead the defense at linebacker after earning all-state honors for the second straight season.

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5. Fargo Davies
2013 finish: 6-4
Head coach: Jason Thielges

The Eagles may have only gone 6-4 last year, but they return the talented pass-catch combo of twin brothers Aidan Hartness and Tristan Hartness. Both earned second team all-state honors last year with Aiden throwing for 982 yards and 10 touchdowns during the regular season and Tristen leading the conference with 24 catches for 467 yards and three touchdowns. Fargo Davies will also have one of the state's top offensive linemen in Gunnar Kollman.