Cougars’ season ends in Playoff battle at Bottineau
The Central McLean Cougars’ season came to a close oct. 25 as they fell 24-8 on the road to the sixth-seeded Bottineau Braves in the opening round of the Class B playoffs.
Despite the loss, the Cougars capped off a strong and competitive 2025 campaign that saw steady improvement across both sides of the ball and a consistent team effort each week.
Playing in front of a spirited home crowd at Bottineau High School, the Braves struck first, using a combination of power running and quick passing to move the chains early.
Central McLean’s offensive line found renewed push up front, setting up several positive runs and a sustained drive midway through the third quarter..
Bottineau, however, answered quickly with a methodical drive of its own, capitalizing on field position and adding another touchdown to stretch the lead.
Central McLean’s defense continued to fight, holding strong against multiple red-zone threats. But a late Bottineau score in the final minutes sealed the game and the Cougars’ season.
Head Coach Grant Singer reflected on his team’s performance and the year as a whole, emphasizing pride in his players’ resilience and growth.