Mason Palmer (Photo by Noah Clooten)
Lake Region high schools got some recognition in the Grand Forks Herald’s players to watch this year.
The Herald selected 12 players from its North Dakota coverage area to keep an eye on this football season. The list included Devils Lake quarterback Mason Palmer, two from Four Winds and two from Langdon Area/Munich.
Palmer made the list ahead of his senior year. The three-sport star was an All-State Second Team selection in football last fall, despite missing three games with an arm fracture. He threw for 1,346 yards and rushed for 195 in the seven games he played.
Palmer, who’s also an all-state basketball player, has received multiple Division II baseball offers.
Four Winds, meanwhile, saw Marial Deng and Francis Bellile make the list.
Deng’s stock has only continued to rise after committing to UND and having a big game in the season opener last Friday. He’s the younger brother of Deng Deng, who’s now in his redshirt freshman season with the Fighting Hawks football team.
Deng is listed at 6-foot-5 and 180 pounds. He made all-region last year, and the coaches are looking at him to be more of a leader as he enters his senior season.
Bellile is another big part of that Four Winds team. He was an all-state pick last year. The senior leads a strong group of returning offensive linemen, which the team has pointed to as one of its most reliable assets. He’s listed at 6-foot-3 and 330 pounds.
Jax Johnson and Theo Romfo were also featured on the Herald’s list, coming from a strong LA/M team up north.
Johnson, the Cardinals’ quarterback, made the All-State Second Team in Division A last year. He threw for 2,013 yards and rushed for 771.
Romfo, also a baseball standout, was another Second Team selection last year. He’s primarily a defensive end but also contributed as a tight end.
LA/M enters the season ranked No. 2 in Division A by the NDAPSSA. Devils Lake and Four Winds are both unranked in their respective divisions (AA and nine-man).
Last year, the Herald selected Devils Lake wide receiver Oliver Wirth and LA/M wide receiver Cody Amble to this list. Both were all-state selections. Wirth now plays football for Dakota State University. Devils Lake went 5-5 after falling in the first round of the playoffs, while LA/M made it to the Division A semifinals. Four Winds went 5-3 and hosted a playoff game.
Devils Lake, along with the rest of Division AA, opens its season this Friday, Aug. 29. Division A and nine-man began last week. Four Winds and LA/M both got off to 1-0 starts.
