BISMARCK - Grand Forks Central's Jaden Cochran hauled in a Brody Leddige pass and outran the St. Mary's defenders for the game-winning score early in the fourth quarter to propel the Knights to a 14-7 win over the Saints in the season opener for both teams on Aug. 28 at Smrekar Field at Our Lady of Victory Stadium.

Grand Forks Central opened the scoring with Cason Kotrba's five-yard touchdown run on their first possession. St. Mary's responded quickly as senior standout Beckett Price sprinted for a 48-yard touchdown, leveling the score. Both teams had a handful of possessions in the first half and it appeared St. Mary's was on its way for a score before the half ended. However, Price left the game after a long run left him shaken up. He did not return. He finished the game with 90 yards on 10 carries. SM moved the ball inside the 10-yard line but the drive stalled at the four-yard line with under two minutes remaining in the second quarter.

The game remained tied until the fourth quarter when Grand Forks Central broke through with a 59-yard touchdown pass, which proved to be the game-winner. St. Mary's defense stood firm with a turnover on downs deep in their territory. SM was able to march down field, but its final attempt to get the game-tying score fell incomplete on fourth down near the goal line. Quarterback Patrick Richter finished 21-37 for 168 yards for SM. The Knights improved to 1-0 overall, while the Saints fell to 0-1.

Grand Forks Central will face Jamestown on September 4, while St. Mary's prepares to take on Grand Forks Red River on the same date.