The Bismarck Demons stopped Century on a 4th down pass play on the final play of the game to hang on for a 21-16 win and a state championship at the Fargodome on Friday night.

The final play was reminiscent of the famous 'Philly Special' play ran in the last Super Bowl by the Philadelphia Eagles, but didn't get the same result as the BHS defense broke up the pass play in the end zone to capture the 3A state title.

The Demons earned an early 14-0 lead with touchdown scores on their first two possessions. The first came on a swing pass from quarterback Will Madler to Isaiah Olsen as he scampered 18 yards for the score. The second coming on a 34-yard touchdown pass from Madler to Joe Jahner that finished off a 99-yard drive.

The BHS defense kept the Patriots out of the end zone throughout the first half, surrendering only a 25-yard field goal late in the second quarter by Century kicker Austin Underhill that would make it 14-3 at the half.

Century would find the end zone in the third quarter when quarterback Cade Feeney scored on a run from 2 yards out to make it a 14-10 game. Then, late in the third quarter, Bismarck defensive back Matt Trolliey jumped a passing route from Feeney to Treyton Mattern and intercepted the thrown. Trolliey ran the interception back 30-yards for a touchdown to make it 21-10.

But the Patriots came right back down the field for another score as they racked up a 76-yard drive in just five plays. Feeney hit Mattern with a 37-yard pass to get to the Bismarck 5-yard line before Nathan Kraft ran it in on the next play for the score to make it 21-16. Century would try to get within a field goal with a two-point conversion, but the conversion failed and a scoreless fourth quarter for both teams ensued.

Madler completed 17 of 21 passes for 185 yards (126 in the first half) and two touchdowns for the Demons. For Century, Feeney was 8 of 13 for 150 yards passing and also added 87 rushing yards on 23 carries.

Congrats to both Bismarck and Century on their respective phenomenal seasons! And congrats again to the Bismarck Demons for winning the 3A state championship!

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