For the Fargo North football team, this season means a new opportunity to build off of what they started last year. Coming off a 3-8 record in the 2017 season, the Spartans seek to improve this year despite the fact that they graduated 18 seniors, many of them key performers including four all-conference selections. North defeated Dickinson 32-7 in their season opener with a dominant performance in which North scored 24 points in the first half.

With 18 seniors graduated, one might think the Spartans lack leadership and experience on the football field. This is not the case as they return five juniors who started as sophomores in 2017.

Senior Jake Loberg says, “They were good leaders and any time you lose a group of seniors that big it’s going to be different the next year but I think we’re doing a good job of carrying the torch they passed us.”

This year more juniors are stepping up and filling roles left behind by last year’s graduating class. Caleb Fritel returns at quarterback where he started during the second half of last season. Peyton Fisher steps in at running back, a position vacated by Sean Swanson who was all-conference last year. Wide receiver Blayne Anderson and tight end Justin Milliard are ready to play a big part in the Spartans’ offense.

“We’ve been working hard all summer and all season we’ve been working hard. We look up to our seniors. They’ve always been a great example and they continue to do that,” Milliard said.

Fargo North’s seniors are equally ready to fill the roles of the 2018 graduates. Many of the positions up for grabs are on the offensive and defensive lines. The Spartans will also rely heavily on the leadership and experience of captains Brock Mjelstad and Peyton Amundsen to help ease the transition of their teammates into key roles.

Loberg stresses the importance of playing the game right and doing the little things needed for success. “We just need to stay disciplined because that has hurt us the past couple games with penalties and stuff like that.”

Although North started the season strong, injuries have plagued the Spartans recently. After traveling to take on Williston, multiple Fargo North starters were held out of the following week’s game against Davies. The battered Spartans struggled, losing 49-6. “Everybody’s just got to be healthy. We have to rally together and play as a team and make it happen,” said Amundsen.

The Spartans remain positive, however, as they continue their season against West Fargo High School on Sep. 28.