By Jaxson Miller

There’s two things every athlete feels in sports based on the outcome of their games. The thrill of victory, or the agony of defeat.

However, it is all about how athletes respond to the wins or to the losses. More importantly, the losses.

Maybe more specifically, when expectations are not met, how should athletes react to the unexpected? Change or the unexpected is hard and challenging.

And yet, in that change, in the unexpected, there’s more to learn, more to achieve, more to reflect upon, more to look forward to. This may be the case for the 2022 Sheyenne Mustangs’ football squad.

West Fargo Sheyenne went into the first round of the NDHSAA (North Dakota High School Activities Association) Class 11AA playoffs with a seven-game winning streak and as the number one seed.

The Mustangs were coming off a 28-17 victory against the #2 Mandan Braves in the regular season finale. Sheyenne finished the regular season at 8-1.

The Mustangs faced off against the Bismarck Century Patiots, the number eight seed.

Bismarck Century was most dominant program of the 2010s and the team who defeated West Fargo Sheyenne in back-to-back Dakota Bowls in 2019 and 2020.

However, the Patriots finished the 2022 regular season with a losing record of 3-6, which is something that fans are not used to seeing.
West Fargo Sheyenne defeated Bismarck Century in week 3 of the regular season, 41-14.

The Mustangs looked to begin another playoff run against the Patriots in order to reach their fourth straight Dakota Bowl and have a shot at winning their second straight state title.

Bismarck Century began to hit their stride going into the quarterfinal round against West Fargo Sheyenne. Century started 0-5 before winning three of their last four regular season games.

The Patriots came out firing on all cylinders against the Mustangs and were able to pull off a 27-8 upset victory at Essentia Health Mustang Stadium on Friday, October 28.

And just like that, the season was over for the Mustangs. There would be no back-to-back champion.

The Mustang faithful was stunned at what just happened. The fans were wondering how could this have happened?

The Mustangs turned the ball over a whopping six times.

Sheyenne fumbled on their second drive of the game.

Century capitalized with a touchdown reception by William Ware, a Minot State basketball commit.

For the majority of the first half, the Sheyenne defense was able to keep Century at seven points. The Mustang offense on the other hand, could not get anything going.

Century’s quarterback, Kyan Barth, connected with wide receiver Ryan Brynjolfson for a 44-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter, after Sheyenne fumbled again.

Century led 14-0 at halftime.

The Patriots got the ball to start the second half.

Century faced a third down and needed eight yards to get a first down. Kyan Barth threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to running back Peyton Arndt.

Century took a 20-0 lead.

Sheyenne answered by driving down the field easily on their next drive, which was capped off with a rushing touchdown by Kaden Rahr.

The Mustangs were able to convert on the two-point conversion to make it a 20-8 game, with 4:34 to go in the third quarter.

Sheyenne’s defense came up with big stops on the next two Century drives. One of those defensive stops included a top-ten play.

Marcus Johnson intercepted Kyan Barth on 3rd and 23, with 11:04 to go in the fourth quarter.

Unfourtunately, Sheyenne failed to score on their final three drives.
Bismarck Century scored one last touchdown with 1:42 to go in the game, right after they recovered a muffed punt.

The 27-8 first round loss to Bismarck Century will arguably go down as the most heartbreaking loss in Sheyenne’s football history. Sheyenne finished the 2022 season 8-2.

Bismarck Century was able to defeat Fargo Davies in the semifinals, 12-0, to punch their ticket to another Dakota Bowl.

The Shanley Deacons blew the Bismarck Century Patriots out of the water in the Dakota Bowl. It was a 48-7 victory for the Deacons and they captured their first state title since 2018 and their 17th overall.

This was also Shanley’s 10th state title in the modern era, which began in 1975, and the first time Shanley won the state title in the highest division since 1983.

The 2022 Mustangs featured another great squad that was full of well-rounded athletes. They looked very solid throughout their seven-game winning streak.

The seven-game winning streak started after Sheyenne lost to Fargo Davies, 35-6, in week 2.

Starting quarterback Caleb Duerr finished his first season as a starter with 90 carries, 585 rushing yards, and 9 rushing touchdowns. He was 50/116 through the air and had 839 passing yards, 11 passing touchdowns, and finished with 5 interceptions thrown.

Race Wilson was the leading rusher and receiver on this Mustang football squad this season.

Wilson had 115 carries, 639 rushing yards, and punched in 4 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 21 passes from Caleb Duerr, had 222 receiving yards, and had 2 receiving touchdowns.

Senior fullback Issac Kanega, who can squat 515lbs, ran 123 times, gained a total of 505 yards, and had 7 rushing touchdowns.

Senior slot back Kaden Rahr, ran for 336 yards on 83 carries, and had 4 rushing touchdowns as well. Barieyedum Kpeenu had 48 carries, 331 yards, and 2 rushing touchdowns.

Wide receiver Dylan Beyl finished his senior season with 10 receptions, 194 receiving yards, and 2 receiving touchdowns.

Aiden Knodel, another senior wide receiver, caught 8 passes, had 151 receiving yards, and 1 touchdown.

Defensive end Karter Menz, the University of Minnesota commit, led the EDC AA in sacks for the second straight year, with 10.

The Mustangs defense will also miss the contributions from Nic Renner, Marcus Johnson, Ross Olson, and Ty Schlichting.

Marcus Johnson had four interceptions this season. One of them was a pick-six, which occurred against West Fargo High in week 7.

Sheyenne is going to the miss the seniors that are graduating this year, but they also had a few juniors such as Caleb Duerr, Race Wilson, and Barieyedium Kpeenu, who will return next year.

The Mustangs will look to bounce back in 2023 and try to make another run to the Dakota Bowl and capture another state title.

Sheyenne’s football program has grown so much since their inaugural season that took place back in 2014, and will be a team that will continue to be fun to watch in the years to come.