West Region Division AAA season kicks off

2026 WDA Division AA Football Season Preview BISMARCK -- The Western Dakota Association (WDA) kicks off its 88th campaign this month with familiar rivalries, returning playmakers, and critical trench battles defining the race for the conference crown. Defending conference champion and Dakota Bowl runner-up Century return several standouts. As does Bismarck High, who reached the state semifinals before falling to eventual-champion Fargo Davies. Those two squads and will be the favorites for to the conference title. For Legacy, Mandan, Minot High and Williston, those squads will be looking to make a push for the postseason as well. A Look Back The 2025 season showcased the depth and competitiveness of the West Region. Bismarck Century caught fire down the stretch, making a memorable postseason push that included a hard-fought 21–13 semifinal victory over Legacy to punch their ticket to the Dakota Bowl. Bismarck High reached the semifinals for a second year in a row. Legacy earned its first-ever playoff win. And Mandan also secured playoff berth for an eighth-straight year. Team Capsules Bismarck High Demons Key Returners: Hayden Bondley, Sr., QB; Weston Scott, Sr., FS/WR (All-State, All-WDA); Najeh Boyd, Sr., WR/DB; Garret Randolph, Sr., DB/WR; Andrew Skorheim, Sr., OL; Anthony McArthur, Sr., DL. Team Strengths: Perimeter skill, game-breaking speed, and postseason experience. The defending conference champions return virtually their entire core of perimeter athletes on both sides of the ball. Led by senior quarterback Hayden Bondtly alongside playmakers Weston Scott, Najeh Boyd, and Garret Randolph, the Demons possess the speed to produce chunk plays offensively while locking down space on defense. Several key returners played critical roles during last year's playoff run, providing valuable big-game poise. Areas to Improve / Show Progress: Interior trench development, rotational depth, and health. The Demons enter the season with questions surrounding the interior seven on both sides of the ball. Getting dependable contributions from reserves and underclassmen alongside veteran anchors Andrew Skorheim and Anthony McArthur will be vital. Avoiding the injury setbacks that have impacted key starters in recent years remains a top priority. Century Patriots Key Returners: Peyton Seil, Sr., OL/DL (All-State, All-WDA); Ian Schweigert, Sr., OL/DL (All-State, All-WDA); Marshall Arndt, Sr., WR/DB; Carter Wylde, Sr., RB Team Strengths: Interior trench leadership and athletic upside. While the offense features several new faces, the veteran presence of All-State linemen Peyton Seil and Ian Schweigert provides a proven foundation to control the line of scrimmage and establish time of possession. Senior Kaden Welstad steps under center at quarterback, supported by returning senior running back Carter Wylde and an athletic backfield and receiving corps. On defense, returning interior experience anchors a unit with the speed to make plays sideline to sideline. Areas to Improve/ Show Progress: Linebacker play, overall defensive depth, and special teams. Century will feature young contributors stepping into varsity roles on defense, making the non-conference schedule essential for building live-game execution. The Patriots also enter the fall looking to settle question marks in their kicking game for the first time in several seasons. Legacy Sabers Key Returners: Griffin Zins, Sr., LB/TE; Beckham Presley-McKay, Jr., RB; Jack Mitchell, Sr., OL/DL; Qwentrell Rasmussen, Jr., TE/DL; Jake Link, Sr., WR/S; Weston Kraft, Jr., QB; Eli Stugelmeyer, Jr., QB; Brody Degner, Jr., OL/DL; Blaze Miller, Sr., WR/DB Team Strengths: Returning varsity experience and physical maturity. The Sabers bring back a solid group of players who adjusted to the speed and physicality of varsity competition last season. With another full year in the weight room and scheme preparation, versatile leaders like Griffin Zins, Jake Link, and Jack Mitchell are primed to step into expanded two-way roles. Areas to Improve / Show Progress: Replacing graduated talent and offensive execution. Legacy must fill significant shoes after losing several key offensive playmakers to graduation. Solidifying the quarterback spot—with juniors Weston Kraft and Eli Stugelmeyer competing—and establishing early production from running back Beckham Presley-McKay will be critical to sustaining a postseason push. Mandan Braves Key Returners: Cole Carlson, Sr., QB; Jacob Baumann, Sr., OL/DL; Daniel Wentz, Sr., WR/DB (All-WDA); Dontay Birdine, Sr., OL/DL; Ivan Hophauf, Sr., WR/DB. Team Strengths: Senior leadership, trench continuity, and postseason poise. The Braves boast a sizable senior class with extensive playoff experience under its belt. Foundational anchors Jacob Baumann and Dontay Birdine return up front to anchor the line of scrimmage, while All-WDA perimeter standout Daniel Wentz and Ivan Hophauf provide proven playmaking to spark the passing game and outside attack. The team also will have the talents of senior QB Cole Carlson. Areas to Improve / Show Progress: Overcoming early-season depth issues due to injuries, tightening defensive consistency, and boosting 3rd-down efficiency. Mandan faces early adversity under center after sustaining setbacks at the quarterback position, making fast development, signal-caller depth, and offensive scheme adaptability essential early in the year. On defense, the Braves must focus on eliminating explosive plays and improving their ability to get off the field in critical 3rd-down situations. Minot High Magicians Key Returners: Ryder Sutton, Jr., QB/WR/DB (All-WDA) ; Tariq Bell, Sr., WR/DB (All-WDA) ; Logan Ludwig, Sr., WR/DB; James Pallotta, Sr., WR/DB (All-WDA) ; Jalen Gunville, Sr., RB/LB; Kale Risbrudt, Jr., OL/DL. Team Strengths: Skill position depth, roster hunger, and player development. Minot returns a deep cast of perimeter athletes on both offense and defense, featuring veteran two-way contributors Tariq Bell, Logan Ludwig, James Pallotta, and Jalen Gunville. The Magicians enter the fall hungry, with Ryder Sutton positioned for a major step forward after putting in extensive offseason work with his teammates. Areas to Improve / Show Progress: Line-of-scrimmage depth against a grueling schedule. Minot’s biggest test will be building physical, durable depth along both the offensive and defensive lines. With junior Kale Risbrudt leading the front, developing reliable rotational pieces will be essential to withstand the week-in, week-out physical grind of the conference slate. Williston Coyotes Key Returners: Noah Rath, Jr., QB; Leo Kendor, Jr., WR (All-WDA); Dylan Ekblad, Sr., RB-LB (All-WDA); Anthony Naea, Sr, OL-DL Team Strengths: Athletic offensive backfield, quarterback leadership, and two-way physicality. The Coyotes bring back a balanced mix of speed and power. Quarterback Noah Rath provides a high football IQ, strong arm, and steady leadership, forming a dangerous deep-threat connection with lightning-fast receiver Leo Kendor. Dylan Ekblad brings a hard-nosed rushing style and physical inside linebacker play, while two-way lineman Anthony Naea provides exceptional strength, leverage, and soft hands that make him difficult to block on the line of scrimmage. Defensively, an aggressive secondary and sturdy front give Williston the ability to contest passes and swarm to the football. Areas to Improve / Show Progress: Discipline, penalty reduction, and turnover margin. Williston’s primary focus is executing the fundamentals consistently on every snap. Limiting mental miscues, cutting down on flags, protecting the football, and creating takeaways will be pivotal in translating competitive quarters into conference wins.