Homecoming brought a week of school spirit, activities and anticipation to Minot North, but when Friday night arrived, the Sentinels had one thing on their minds: football. Minot North faced St. Mary’s on Sept. 25 in its Homecoming game, battling throughout the night in a matchup that came down to the final points. Despite the effort, the Sentinels fell just short, losing 20-22.

For junior football player Parker Roberts, the key to navigating a busy Homecoming week was keeping the team focused on what mattered most. Rather than letting the excitement surrounding the week become a distraction, the team stayed focused on preparing for its next opponent.

“During Homecoming week we just focus on our preparation for the next game, taking things day by day and ignoring all the extra stuff that comes with Homecoming week,” he said.

For Roberts, however, this season has been about more than wins and losses. Football has become an experience that has taught him how to push through difficult situations and appreciate the opportunities he has while he has them. Playing at the varsity level has also given him a different perspective on how quickly high school football can pass.

“Playing football at Minot North has taught me how to persevere through tough times and the coaches have taught me some extremely valuable lessons that I will continue to use all throughout my life,” he said. “I’ve learned from playing football at the varsity level that you shouldn’t take it for granted. Playing football at the varsity level is the most fun way to play football but it goes by extremely quickly so make sure to take it all in whether you enjoy it or not.”

That appreciation is especially meaningful after Roberts faced a difficult decision over the summer. He quit football and believed he was finished with the sport, but his coaches continued to check on him even when he was no longer playing. Their support eventually helped bring him back to the team.

“The biggest challenge I’ve faced this year is definitely quitting football,” he said. “I quit over the summer and I swore there wasn’t a thing that would get me to join back.”

Returning to the team gave Roberts another opportunity to compete alongside his teammates and continue developing as a player. He credits his coaches for giving him that opportunity and for continuing to support him when he was away from the program.

“I’m extremely thankful for my coaches for checking up with me over the summer even though I wasn’t playing for them and I’m thankful for them giving me the opportunity to come back and play for this amazing team,” he said.

With the current season continuing, Roberts is also beginning to look toward what comes next. With seniors graduating, he knows younger players will look to returning players for leadership. Two seniors in particular, Will Hannon and Cameron Jesz, have already given him an example to follow. Whether he has questions about offense or defense, he knows he can turn to them for advice.

Looking toward the offseason, Roberts plans to focus on becoming a stronger and faster player. His goal is to put himself in the best position possible to contribute next season, both on offense and defense. “Next season I hope to personally start on offense and defense and as a team I hope we can win WDA and make the playoffs,” he said.
The 20-22 loss to St. Mary’s may not have ended the way the Sentinels wanted, but the close game was another opportunity for a young team to grow. For Roberts, the experience is part of a larger lesson: football does not last forever, making every practice, game and moment with the team worth remembering.