West Fargo advances to Dakota Bowl for first time since 2021

Lexi Hills / The Forum By Andrew Haugland November 06, 2026 at 10:21 PM Listen Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? WEST FARGO — Chants of “Wiggy” broke out midway late in the second quarter Friday, it was the West Fargo faithful’s response to senior running back Ashton Wigestrand’s 99-yard scoring dash. The long TD run marked score No. 2 of three on the day for Wigestrand, who powered the East No. 2 Packers to a 49-26 victory over East No. 4 Fargo Davies in the North Dakota Division 3A semifinals Friday at Essentia Health Packer Stadium. ADVERTISEMENT Wigestrand admitted he didn’t hear his name being chanted. He was too busy taking in the moment. “(I was thinking) just don’t get caught,” said Wigestrand of the 99-yard score, surrounded by a legion of his classmates chanting MVP. “I saw a guy off to my right (and) Cruz Mahar blocked him off.” Wigestrand, who finished with 252 rushing yards on 17 carries, also adding TD runs of 12 and 4 yards. All of which came in the second quarter and fueled the Packers’ 42-17 halftime lead. Lexi Hills / The Forum West Fargo (8-3) plays West No. 2 Bismarck Legacy in the Dakota Bowl championship at 6:40 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, at the Fargodome. “We have a bunch of leaders,” said first-year West Fargo head coach Eric Peterson, “a bunch of guys that just want to continue to get better. The season didn’t start the way we wanted to, but we just kept running. We just kept believing.” The Packers advanced to the Dakota Bowl for the first time since 2021 West Fargo quarterback Ryan Camarillo had two touchdown passes in the first quarter. His first was a 10-yard score to receiver Wyatt Knudsen down the left sideline to make it 7-0 with 3:43 left in the first. The second was a 4-yard screen to Joaquin Valdez to make it 14-7 with 1:22 remaining in the opening quarter. ADVERTISEMENT Wigestrand’s 12-yard TD and a Camarillo 4-yard sneak made it 28-10 with 3:01 remaining in the second quarter. Davies running back Gabe Melland rushed for a 17-yard TD and kicker Colby Nelson hit a 37-yard field goal in the first quarter. Running back Talen Tuchscherer added a 20-yard scoring pass from quarterback Tucker Kosen in the second. “It didn’t go our way tonight, but they did everything we asked,” said Eagles head coach Wayne Werremeyer. Knudsen scored on a 25-yard scoop-and-score with 9:59 to play in the third quarter to make it 49-17. Davies running back Henry Hart rushed for TD in the final seconds of the fourth quarter. The Packers, who defeated Mandan in the quarterfinals, are vying for their first state title since 2017. “(We need) a hard week of practice,” said West Fargo defensive back Ronnie Acevedo, who had an interception in the third quarter. ADVERTISEMENT Lexi Hills / The Forum Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? Tags Tags PREP SPORTS FOOTBALL WEST FARGO PACKERS FARGO DAVIES EAGLES By Andrew Haugland After graduating from North Dakota State University, Haugland joined the Forum in January of 2023. Readers can reach him at 701-241-5508 or by emailing [email protected] Twitter Listen to this article Conversation ADVERTISEMENT What To Read Next Prep Live at 1 p.m.: Linton H-M-B vs. LaMoure-Litchville-Marion in Division 9-Man football playoffs 1h ago · By WDAY News Prep Charles Steer rushes Hawley to state for first time since 2014 12h ago · By Rob Beer Prep FIRST DOWN FRIDAY: Playoff football on both sides of the river 13h ago · By Riley Swenson ADVERTISEMENT Get Local Must Reads Moorhead How will vacant Moorhead City Council, Moorhead School Board seats be filled? 6h ago · By Ingrid Harbo North Dakota Driver charged in fatal Cass County crash settles Grand Forks cases 18h ago · By Matt Henson Business Sisters developing Kindro app to help users find their chosen family 6h ago · By Stephanie Dickerson Lifestyle What if this winter’s forecast holds true? 5h ago · By Don Kinzler