Fargo, N.D. – Oakes will head to Casselton this Friday to battle #3 Central Cass. The Tornadoes (1-2) picked up their first win over Oak Grove last week, defeating Oak Grove 23-20, while the Squirrels (3-0) handled Sargent County 26-6.
Central Cass looks like an early season Class 11B title contender, knocking off preseason No. 1 Hillsboro-Central Valley in the opening week and then cruising to victories over Thompson and SC. The Squirrels are averaging 33 points per game, and their offense has a healthy mix of run and pass. Their offensive line has opened up gaping holes for tailbacks Owen Wiersma and Isaac Wisnewski to dart through and given quarterback Brendan Maasjo abundant protection to survey the field and target receivers Jake Deutsch, Will Ellison, and Frosty Wienewski. The Squirrels’ defense has been stout as well, allowing only 13 points per game and creating short field opportunities for their potent offense.
Oakes started the season with losses to ranked teams Beulah and Harvey-Wells County, but prevailed over the Grovers 23-20. The loss of three-time all-state selection Garret Meehl, now a quarterback at Moorhead State, has clearly impacted the offense. The Tornadoes have struggled to find their offensive identity and are averaging less than 10 points per game, while last season they averaged 41 points per contest. Running back David Schmitz leads the team in rushing yards and is averaging over five yards per carry but has yet to score a touchdown. Quarterback Xavier Vossler is completing 45% of his passes and has thrown two touchdowns to three interceptions. Their defense is allowing 22 points per game and will need to be aggressive but stay disciplined to stymie the Squirrels’ attack.
The two teams clash for the first time since 1996, the final year before North Dakota adopted a four-class football plan. From 1997-2020, Central Cass competed in the division formerly known as AA (now 11A), while Oakes has spent time in A (11B) and 9 man. They now both play in the Southeast division of 11B, so this game will count towards the region standings. Tune in for the pregame at 6:45 pm with kickoff at 7 pm on 104.7 FM or listen at this link: https://kfgo.com/high-school-sports-live-stream/
