Titans turn doubt into playoff season

COOPERSTOWN, N.D. — Griggs-Midkota entered the 2026 season with low expectations from outside sources. In the polls, the Titans were projected to finish sixth in Region 1 after a 3-5 season in 2025. Instead, they opened 5-0, earned the region s No. 3 seed and returned to the playoffs for the second time in three years. Head coach Ryan Dockter said the season became another step toward changing what is expected from the program. When I look back at the season, we were projected to take sixth, Dockter said. Whether it s the media or the coaches in our region, we weren t getting any respect. Griggs-Midkota finished 6-4, with its season ending in a 62-6 first-round playoff loss to Cavalier. The ending didn't erase what Dockter saw in a group that spent the year leaning on two themes he introduced before the season: commitment and heart. We preached all year long when it came to heart that heart was going to get us where we wanted to be, Dockter said. We didn