HIGH SCHOOL NOTEBOOK: Big win for No. 3 Oakes

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The Tornadoes haven’t blown anybody out in getting to 2-0 on the young season, but they’re not about to give those wins back, either.

Third-ranked Oakes topped Britton-Hecla (S.D.) 20-9 in its season-opening game, but collected a signature win with a 19-6 victory over perennial power Linton-Hazelton-Moffit-Braddock Friday.

“They’ve kind of been a thorn in our side,” Dobitz said. “I think we rushed for 160 yards against Linton, and that just doesn’t happen very often. I’m pretty happy with the way things went there.”

Sophomore quarterback Bryce Meehl made his presence known, opening scoring with a 37-yard run and finding teammate Cole Ehrlin on an 18-yard touchdown run to give Oakes a 13-0 lead at halftime. Meehl added an 8-yard TD run in the fourth quarter.

Meehl was the team’s backup last year and regularly played at wide receiver for quarterback Trent Ptacek, who has moved to receiver to make way for Meehl.

“The writing was on the wall; (Bryce) wasn’t ready last year,” Dobitz said. “(Bryce) is an athletic kid and we think we can run the ball a little bit with him. Linton wasn’t really prepared for that. … He can make plays when they break down. His one big touchdown run (37 yards), that was a play-action pass and he was able to break it for almost 40 yards.”

Dobitz said he enjoys being ranked in the poll, but fears the overconfidence that can often accompany it.

“It’s a double-edged sword,” he said. “You like that people outside your town are starting to notice your program. Makes you feel like things are going in the right direction.

“But you don’t want your boys getting their heads so big, they can’t get out the door. After our film session (Tuesday), we made sure we popped those balloons.”

The Tornadoes travel to Fargo Oak Grove (0-2) on Friday.

Big game for NR-S

The New Rockford-Sheyenne football team is off to a 2-0 start with a 38-22 win over Finley-Sharon-Hope-Page and a 56-18 thrashing of North Border.

Friday, however, could tell the Rockets a whole lot about their season, as they visit Lakota-Adams-Edmore in a Region 2 battle.

Lakota-A-E has proven to be a tough hurdle over the past few years for many Region 2 teams, and if the Rockets pull off a victory, it could go a long way in eventually securing a playoff spot and possibly a first-round home playoff game. Lakota-A-E was picked second in the preseason coaches poll, while NR-S was third.

Cavalier, ranked fourth in the 9-man state poll, has looked every bit like the team picked to win the region, earning relatively easy wins over North Border and Lakota-Adams-Edmore.

Midkota vs. H-WC

The Midkota volleyball team is going to Harvey-Wells County for a District 7 match today. Midkota, Region 4’s defending champion, finished runner-up at the Lakota Invite two weeks ago. During the same weekend, Harvey-Wells County won the Bottineau Invite.

Winning the Lakota Invite was Carrington, which hosts Jamestown’s JV today.

VB tournies on tap

Saturday will be a busy day for many area volleyball teams.

Barnes County North, Lisbon, Litchville-Marion-Montpelier and Oakes will compete in the Volley in the Valley in Casselton.

Central Prairie, Edgeley-Kulm, Kidder County and South Border will go to a tournament in Napoleon, while Finley-Sharon-Hope-Page, Hatton-Northwood and Linton-Hazelton-Moffit-Braddock are scheduled to be in a Northern Cass tournament.

Blue Jay bits

The JHS swimming and diving team goes to Fargo North for a dual at 5:30 p.m. today and caps its week at the Minot Invite, which begins at 11 a.m Saturday. It also visits Minot Tuesday for a dual. … The volleyball team will look to improve on its 9-0 mark when it goes to Marshall, Minn., for an invitational Friday and Saturday. Following that, it welcomes in West Region powerhouse Bismarck Century for a conference match on Tuesday, set for 7 p.m. … JHS tennis will take a week off from regular matches after today’s dual against Fargo Shanley. … The Blue Jays girls golf team makes the trip to Dickinson’s Heart River Golf Course today. Heart River, one of the longest courses in the state, could be a great fit for Jamestown standout Sierra Bennion, known as a long-ball hitter. … JHS cross country will also head to Dickinson, but not until Saturday for a 9 a.m. invitational. … The soccer team is in action tonight when it visits Bismarck St. Mary’s at 7:30 followed by a 7 p.m. start at home vs. Minot on Friday. The Blue Jays host Bismarck High on Tuesday.

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

Tags: class b, sports, football