Cavalier cruises past Griggs-Midkota in playoff opener behind Jack Gunderson's 5 TDs

CAVALIER, N.D. — Cavalier head coach Brady Laxdal wanted to set the tone for the Tornadoes in the team s playoff opener on Saturday. After a disappointing season last year, his squad kicked off the postseason about as strong as it could have. In a 62-6 win over Griggs-Midkota at Rod Oksendahl Field, the Tornadoes dominated in the running game, led by Jack Gunderson's 228 rushing yards and five touchdowns. We wanted a home playoff game," Laxdal said. "That was our goal all year, and we got it. We started pretty fast. Our defense played well and we spread the ball around a little bit. Our home run hitters hit some home runs but ultimately it was a good team effort. Cavalier senior Jack Gunderson slips through the Griggs-Midkota defense in a North Dakota 9-man state playoff game on Oct. 24, 2026, in Cavalier, N.D. Nicki Smith / Grand Forks Herald Sixth-seeded Cavalier, now 9-1 on the season, was the first team outside the latest 9-man poll and is