Going into the fall of 1998, expectations were not particularly high for our team. With a 3-5 season the year prior and lacking considerable size on our offensive line, many predicted we'd be successful with a 4-4 season.

Fortunately, few of us who played, were satisfied with such predictions. It wasn't until we rolled off four convincing wins, that we started to get attention. We continued to climb in the polls as we clipped off consecutive wins.

After giving rival Freeman (ranked #1 in 9A) all they could handle, we were set to make a run in the playoffs.

With crushing wins over Colome and Bonestell-Fairfax, we welcomed the defending State Champion Tripp-Delmont Wildcats and ended their hopes for a repeat.

The 400+ mile trip to Bison proved to be worthwhile as we knocked off the #1 rated team in 9B for a birth in the State Championship.

Marion earned its first and only trip (to date) to the DakotaDome for the State Football Championship and the Bears' 1998 record of 11-2 marks the most successful season in school history.

In days to come, more will be written about the '98 season as we look back and celebrate the memories of that fantastic season.