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– The October 2016 meeting of the North Dakota High School Activities Association Board of Directors on Wednesday, October 19 was highlighted by the formal approval of the NDHSAA Football Plan for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
Division AAA consists of 14 teams with two regions. The top four teams from each region (8 total teams) will qualify for the AAA state playoffs.
Division AA consists of 10 teams and will feature a statewide schedule. The top six teams in the statewide standings will qualify for the AA state playoffs.
Division A consists of 32 teams with four regions. The top four teams in each region (16 total teams) will qualify for the A state playoffs.
The 9-man division consists of 43 teams with six regions. The top four teams in each region (24 total teams) will qualify for the 9-man state playoffs.
Division and region alignments for the 2017 and 2018 seasons are as follows:
Division AAA (14 teams)
Region 1 (East Region): West Fargo, Fargo Davies, West Fargo Sheyenne, Grand Forks Red River, Fargo South, Grand Forks Central, Fargo North.
Region 2 (West Region): Minot, Bismarck Century, Bismarck Legacy, Bismarck High, Williston, Mandan, Dickinson.
Division AA (10 teams)
Statewide: Jamestown, Devils Lake, Bismarck St. Mary’s, Fargo Shanley, Watford City, Turtle Mountain, Wahpeton, Grafton, Valley City, Central Cass.
Division A (32 teams)
Region 1: Fargo Oak Grove, Hillsboro/Central Valley, Kindred, Milnor/North Sargent/Sargent Central, Ellendale/Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier, Lisbon, Northern Cass, Enderlin/Maple Valley
Region 2: Park River-Fordville-Lankin/Valley-Edinburg, Barnes County North/Griggs County Central/Midkota, Langdon/Munich/Edmore, Carrington/Pingree-Buchanan, Bottineau, Harvey/Fessenden-Bowden, Rugby, Westhope/Newburg/Glenburn
Region 3: New Town, Stanley, Lewis & Clark Berthold/North Shore/Minot Our Redeemer’s, Des Lacs-Burlington, Velva/Sawyer, Kenmare/Bowbells/Burke Central, Minot Bishop Ryan, Nedrose
Region 4: Beulah, Washburn/Wilton/Wing, Dickinson Trinity, Hazen, Garrison/Max Belfield/South Heart, Bowman County, Killdeer/Halliday
9-man (43 teams)
Region 1: Thompson, May-Port/CG, Northwood/Hatton, Wyndmere/Lidgerwood, Hankinson, Richland, Hope-Page/Finley-Sharon
Region 2: Cavalier, Larimore-Emerado, Lakota/Dakota Prairie, Four Winds, North Border (Walhalla/Pembina), Midway/Minto, New Rockford-Sheyenne
Region 3: Oakes, Steele-Dawson/Tappen, Linton/HMB, Napoleon/Gackle-Streeter, LaMoure/Litchville-Marion, South Border (Wishek/Ashley), Strasburg/Zeeland
Region 4: Dunsieth, Rolla/Rolette/Wolford, Towner-Granville-Upham, Leeds/Maddock, North Star/Starweather, Drake-Anamoose, St. John
Region 5: Bismarck Shiloh Christian, Mott-Regent/New England, Underwood/Turtle Lake-Mercer/McClusky, New Salem/Glen Ullin, Richardton-Taylor/Hebron, Beach, Grant County/Carson/Flasher, Hettinger/Scanton
Region 6: Trenton/Williston Trinity Christian, Tioga, Ray/Powers Lake, Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood, Surrey, Divide County, Parshall/White Shield
Important dates for the 2017-2018 NDHSAA Football Plan
2017 Season
Opening Date 9-man: August 7
Opening Date 11-man: August 9
End of Regular season 9-man: October 7
First Round 9-man Playoffs: October 14
End of Regular Season Division A: Oct. 14
First Round Division A Playoffs: October 21
Second Round 9-man Playoffs: October 21
End of Regular Season Divisions AAA and AA: October 21
Quarterfinal Playoffs Division AAA: October 27
Quarterfinal Playoffs Divisions AA, A, 9-man: October 28
Semifinal Playoffs Division AAA: November 3
Semifinal Playoffs Divisions AA, A, 9-man: November 4
Dakota Bowl: November 10