Nordby at TE for Team N.D.

Tucker Nordby doesn’t seem to mind playing offense or defense for Team North Dakota in the Badlands Bowl. The former Harvey High School standout was a force at tight end and defensive end last fall.

“I was kind of indifferent about it,” said Nordby, a 6-foot-6, 235-pounder. “I like them both the same. It really doesn’t matter.”

Nordby went with tight end, the position he’ll be playing at the University of North Dakota in the fall.

“I thought it would be a great place for me,” he said. “(UND) has had a lot of good tight ends in the program. They’ve come out really good.”

For now, Nordby said he’s enjoying the experience of playing in the Badlands Bowl, the state’s annual all-star football game against Montana. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Badlands Activities Center in Dickinson.

“Everything’s coming together well,” Nordby said. “Everybody’s excited and ready to go. You get pretty pumped over this, being from North Dakota and everything.”

Nordby graduated in May after a successful two-year career at Harvey. He transferred from Elsinore High School (Calif.) after his sophomore season.

He helped top-ranked Harvey-Wells County run through the Class A ranks unbeaten until the Hornets were upended by Maple Valley-Enderlin in the opening round of the playoffs.

“I accomplished a few things, but I wish it would have turned out better,” Nordby said. “Stuff happens. You just go with the flow.”

Nordby, an all-state tight end, flourished with all-state quarterback M.J. Stumpf throwing to him. But Stumpf isn’t playing in the game, so Nordby is taking passes from unfamiliar signal-callers.

“It’s something to adjust to, (after) being used to the same quarterback,” he said. “From camps and stuff, I’ve known a few kids. Half of the kids are somewhat new.”

To help with the adjustment, the event’s committee puts together a variety of non-football activities for players and coaches. The added time together can form lasting bonds, Nordby said.

“I can already tell after a couple days, it’s definitely forming,” he said. “We’ve had about three practices a day with stuff planned in between, so it’s really busy.”

Sun sports writer Chris Aarhus can be reached at (701) 952-8462 or by email at caarhus@jamestownsun.com

Tags: high school, sports, football