Linton/H-M-B Lions motivated to win the state title

Aug. 20—LINTON, N.D. — The Linton/Hazelton-Moffit-Braddock football team heads into the 2025 season playing with a heavy heart as they look to go on a championship run.

On June 4, former Lions assistant coach Tim Dockter passed away after a battle with cancer, according to his obituary.

"The story of our season really is taking things for what it is. He was part of our coaching staff for well over 30-plus years," Lions head coach Kurtis Walls said. "... It meant a lot so this season is dedicated to him. He's got a lot of brothers that coach around the state and things like that. He comes from a very very massive football family and that's who our season is dedicated to. The wins and the losses, they're all important and that's what everybody remembers, but for us this season, we're going out there and we're playing for a vital member of our community and for our program that meant everything to our team."

Walls said his team's motto this season will be "Do it for Dock." He said his team will be wearing a memorial patch on their home maroon jerseys for the former assistant.

Walls said his expectations for this season are to start quickly with an experienced roster while they take it one week at a time. Lions senior running back and cornerback Levi Keeney said his expectations for this season are to get as far as they can and make it to the Dakota Bowl. Keeney's teammate and senior, tight end and defensive lineman, Isaac Silvernagel, said he also expects to go on a run this year.

"We all have aspirations and goals of the Fargodome, but at the end of the day only two teams make it there so it's really just winning week one, practicing, preparing for week two and just taking it one week at a time," Walls said. "... We have a lot of new guys that'll have to step up and play at some different places and things like that. Last year's success, as nice as it was it, is over. I tell those kids, 'It feels good, enjoy it, have fun, but once this year starts there's not a single team across the state that cares about what you did last year.' So it's getting those kids prepared just to play some football that haven't played a lot of varsity reps and getting some of those guys that have played a lot of varsity reps to be prepared to be some leaders."

The Lions open their season on Friday, Aug. 22, when they take on Hettinger/Scranton. Since 2019, the Lions and Black Devils have played three times with the Lions winning all three games.

"They're very physical, they're a very, very physical ball club. They like to run the ball and they're not gonna do anything too fancy in the pass that's gonna try to trick you," Walls said. "They're gonna line up and tell you where they're coming and just be ready to stop it. We're gonna have to front and then on the interior make sure our front six or so are just ready to go, ready to be be physical, ready to tackle because if we're not we can have a very, very long day with Hettinger/Scranton."

Walls said he expects the toughest teams they face this season to be Grant County/Flasher, Kidder County and Hettinger County.

One player who the Lions will need to replace from last year's roster is quarterback Gentry Richter. During his senior season, Richter completed 63% of his passes for 1,492 yards, 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Walls said while it is impossible to replace Richter, tight end Kashton Moser and the four other seniors from last year's squad, he just needs the kids to just be themselves. Walls said he expects Justin Bosch to be the starting quarterback, while he looks for Jacob Ohlhauser to slot in at starting linebacker and Michael Bosch to start on the offensive line.

One of the Lions' most important returners will be Keeney, who will be the team's lead running back. Last year, Keeney had 144 carries for 1,031 yards with eight touchdowns and 13 receptions for 121 yards.

"We lost some of our line so the biggest thing for us we all gotta be on the same page all the time. We say one percent better every practice and you have to be. You all gotta be moving at the same speed, mentally, no plays off," Keeney said about his team's recipe for success.

Last season, the Lions went 10-1, losing to LaMoure/Litchville-Marion 52-16 in the state semifinals. Walls said heading into this campaign, his team is very driven by that loss.

"I'm pretty motivated. I'm kind of fired up about it," Silvernagel said. "I didn't like losing like that. I know my teammates, especially the ones in my class that are going to be seniors, they're pretty fired up about it too. I know we don't like losing by 40 in the semifinals but it is what it is. But we want to take that back, we're all pretty excited for this next season to start."

In the lead up to this season, Walls said his team has been working out together.

"They're working their tails off in the offseason," Walls said. "They were in the weight room like no other. We actually just got done with a camp not too long ago .... From seven through 12, I'd say for athletes, we had about 58 Linton High School athletes out there. It was really good to see some of our younger kids even buy in. Our program's going, the kids are excited, they're amped up, they're ready to go."

The Lions are looking to win their first state title since 2020 and the fifth title in program history.

"It would mean everything, you work all year round for those 10, 12 games every season and to go out with a state title, bring one back to Linton, that would mean everything," Keeney said.