Bismarck is the top team in North Dakota this season, according to our Fab 5 presented by the Army National Guard. But don't overlook Shanley, Minot/Dakota Memorial, fargo South and Grafton/St. Thomas.
MaxPreps 2013 North Dakota Preseason Fab 5 presented by the Army National Guard1. Bismarck2012 finish: 12-0, class AAA state champion
Head coach: Mark Gibson
Team PreviewThe Demons have been the team to beat in North Dakota for much of the past five years. Winning state titles in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012, Bismarck may have had one of the best defensive teams in North Dakota history last year when it allowed just 49 points in 12 games with four shutouts in the final five games of the season. The top skill position players on the offense are gone with Western Division Senior of the Year running back Layne Johs graduating along with all-conference quarterback Ben Jolliffe and lineman Jamie Thorson. All-conference lineman
Jaden Friedt is back to head the offensive line. The defense also loses three all-conference players in linebacker Riley Plant, and defensive backs Lee Braunagel and Josh Seibel. However all-conference defensive lineman
Thomas Sease returns. The Demons are 55-5 over the past five seasons with a 17-game win streak entering the 2013 season. Bismarck has also lost just two league games over the past five seasons with five straight conference titles.
See the Top 15 North Dakota football dynasties
2. Shanley (Fargo)2012 finish: 10-2 record, class AA champion
Head coach: Rod Oksendahl
Team PreviewLed by the legendary Oksendahl, who was recently inducted into the National Coaches Hall of Fame in Des Moines, Iowa, Fargo Shanley is aiming to repeat as state champion at the Class AA level. Shanley has one of the state's best quarterbacks to get the job done in
Chase Montplaisir (6-foot-2, 210 pounds), who completed 109 of 193 passes for 2,336 yards and 25 touchdowns last season. Oksendahl lost just nine seniors from last year's roster and returns a pair of all-state players in Montplaisir and junior running back
Danny Stasch.
See last season's North Dakota football rankings, presented by the Army National Guard3. Minot/Dakota Memorial (Minot)2012 finish: 7-3
Head coach: Barry Holmen
Team PreviewThe Magicians finished in third place in the AAA West Division and haven't won a league title since 2007, but there's reason to be optimistic in 2013. Minot returns all-state quarterback
Alex Yanosko along with all-state second team members
Brady Lampert (running back),
Ben Love (kicker) and junior
Zach Danielson (linebacker). All-conference tight end
Jacob Holmen also returns along with honorable mention picks
Kimani Benjamin (wide receiver) and
Josh Pizzo (defensive back). Minot was blown out by Bismarck last season, 42-0, but played both Century and West Fargo within a touchdown, leading to speculation that the Magicians could challenge for the league title.
See last season's North Dakota football playoff brackets
4. Fargo South2012 finish: 8-3
Head coach: Troy Mattern
Team PreviewThe Bruins return one of the state's top running backs in
James Johannesson, who earned all-state honors as a sophomore last year. He rushed for 1,352 yards and 15 touchdowns during the season and set school records with 311 yards rushing and 32 points in one game. The Bruins figure to be the favorites in the Eastern Dakota Conference with all-conference offensive linemen
Drew Fahrman (6-4, 250) and
Joe Mehrer (6-2, 295) also returning. Fargo South has won four state titles in the past nine seasons, including one in 2010.
See last season's North Dakota stat leaders5. Grafton/St. Thomas (Grafton)2012 finish: 10-2
Head coach: Tom Maus
Team PreviewThe Spoilers have appeared in the state finals the past two seasons, going undefeated in 2011 and winning the Class AA championship while going 10-2 last season and falling to Shanley in the state title game.
Austin Contreras, a receiver and defensive back, is the only returning all-state player for Grafton/St. Thomas, which has gone 22-2 over the past two seasons.
