Loboes stun New Rockford in Dakota Bowl thriller

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

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FARGO — Trailing by as many as 22 points and turning the ball over six times, LaMoure-Litchville/Marion saw its state championship hopes fading away. From a 38-16 second-half deficit, the Loboes outscored the Rockets 30-8 to force overtime.

Leo Lahlum dropped New Rockford-Sheyenne/Maddock quarterback Jax Demester for a 12-yard loss on third-and-goal in overtime. A false start pushed the Rockets back another five yards, and on fourth-and-goal from the 23, Mason Warcken intercepted Demester's pass to end the game.

The Loboes defeated the Rockets 52-46 Friday, Nov. 13, at the Fargodome, winning the 2026 NDHSAA Division 9-man title after never leading in regulation.

“To not lead the entire regulation and to win a ball game, whether that's a state championship or not, that's just unheard of,” L-L/M head coach Andy DelaBarre said.

Lexi Hills / The Forum

New Rockford received the opening kickoff and marched downfield, with Layton Jacobson finishing the drive on a 1-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion put the Rockets ahead 8-0.

New Rockford punted on its next possession. Colby Thielges fumbled the return, and Kaleb Rodriguez recovered and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown, extending the Rockets' lead to 16-0.

Warcken found Joey Potts for a 15-yard touchdown pass in the final minute of the first quarter, putting the Loboes on the board for the first time.

The turnovers continued in the second quarter for the Loboes when Sawyer Huso picked off Warcken for the interception.

On the very next play, Logan Potts answered with an interception of his own, but a roughing-the-passer penalty from Preston Arndt wiped it out. Demester took advantage of the second chance with a 12-yard touchdown run to make it 24-6.

L-L/M drove to the Rockets' 1-yard line before Warcken fumbled a keeper with 9:25 remaining in the half. On the next snap, Demester was called for intentional grounding in the end zone, resulting in a safety.

Warcken found freshman Oliver Lesko for a 27-yard touchdown and completed the two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 24-16. Demester answered with a 37-yard touchdown pass to Koy Zieman, sending New Rockford into halftime ahead 32-16.

Five first-half turnovers put the Loboes playing from behind for the remainder of the game.

DelaBarre said the mistakes were costly, but the coaching staff believed the offense could move the ball if the players cleaned things up.

“That was a tough locker room to talk, just because we knew our mistakes were limiting us and put us in that position,” DelaBarre said.

Thomas Allmaras scored on an 18-yard run with 5:43 remaining in the third quarter, pushing the Rockets' lead to 38-16.

The Loboes responded nine seconds later with a touchdown reception by Thielges.

Warcken added an 8-yard touchdown run at the 2:47 mark in the third, and the team successfully converted a two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 38-30.

Demester hit Jaxon Simon for a 22-yard touchdown with 1:52 left in the third quarter, putting the Rockets back up by two scores.

Warcken responded, finding Lesko for a 23-yard score with 15 seconds remaining, and the two-point conversion made it 46-38 entering the fourth.

Still down eight, the Loboes took possession at New Rockford's 42 with 6:58 remaining. Warcken scored on a fourth-and-goal from the 5 for the touchdown with 3:15 left. The two-point conversion tied it at 46.

Regulation wasn’t enough time to decide the championship game, sending it into overtime with both undefeated teams still standing.

DelaBarre credited his senior quarterback Warcken with guiding an offense that had to adapt after the Rockets contained L-L/M's usual running attack.

“Mason, he defines leadership, senior leadership,” DelaBarre said.

In overtime, Warcken found Thielges over the middle for a 5-yard touchdown. The conversion failed, leaving L-L/M ahead 52-46 and needing one defensive stop.

Lahlum delivered the sack, and Warcken finished the job with his interception.

Warcken threw five touchdown passes and set Dakota Bowl records with 63 pass attempts and 678 offensive yards.

After the Rockets ended the Loboes' season the previous three seasons, including the last two Dakota Bowls, LaMoure finally got their revenge with a 52-46 victory.

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• Paul Garcia II

Paul Garcia II is a sports reporter for The Jamestown Sun. Paul is an Air Force veteran where he was stationed at Minot Air Force Base. After finishing his contract with the Air Force, Paul obtained a bachelor's degree in Communication and Media Studies at University California of San Diego, and a Master's in Sports Journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Arizona State University.

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