FARGO - It took the first overtime in Dakota Bowl history, but Fargo Shanley can count itself among the champions again in the North Dakota high school football world.

The Deacons got a touchdown run from quarterback Myles Montplaisir and an extra point from Dan Jordan on the first possession of overtime, and then held on for a 31-30 win over the Devils Lake Firebirds in the Class AA state title game Saturday afternoon at the Fargodome. The win gave Shanley its first football state championship since 1983.

Montplaisir scored from three yards out on third down to break a 24-24 tie, and Jordan followed with his fourth PAT of the game. The Firebirds responded with Beau Eriksson's 6-yard fourth-down TD toss to Brandon Myhre, who made the catch in the right corner of the end zone after the pass was tipped at the goal line. Surprisingly, Devils Lake went for two and the win, but Montplaisir and Addison Allex teamed up to stop the Firebirds' leading rusher, Ben Wolf, at the 2-yard line to seal the deal for the Deacons.

"We knew they were going to give the ball to Wolf. He's their playmaker," Montplaisir said. "In situations like that you just have to give it everything you've got. We went all out on that play."

Devils Lake coach Jay Schneider didn't waste much time deciding to go for two.

"We thought we would give it a shot," he said. "We liked our chances with Ben."

Shanley forced the overtime with a 14-yard TD pass from Montplaisir to Josh Rodenbiker with 8.5 seconds remaining. The Deacons drove 76 yards in 11 plays after the Firebirds went ahead 24-17 with two minutes left on Eriksson's 1-yard sneak and Joao Soares' PAT.

"We've had success with our two-minute offense before, so we were confident we could do it again," Montplaisir said. "We had a long way to go, but this is the state championship game. We didn't want to lose it."

The two teams traded shots several times after a scoreless first quarter. Both tallied in the second, with Devils Lake's Tyler Mertens striking paydirt on a 30-yard pass from Eriksson, and Shanley's Stefan Webber scoring from four yards out.

In the third quarter, Soares booted a 21-yard field goal with 6:35 left, and Jordan answered 2:51 later with a Dakota Bowl record 41-yarder.

A wild fourth quarter started with Wolf capping a 73-yard TD drive with a 1-yard run. Montplaisir's 24-yard keeper with 4:57 left evened the score at 17.

"This was a great game. Back and forth the whole way," Montplaisir said. "Both teams wanted this one bad, but we made the big plays in the end."

Montplaisir provided the Deacons with many a big play throughout the afternoon. The junior finished 12-for-18 passing for 110 yards. He also carried 17 times for 103 markers. Webber had a big day as well, rushing for 111 yards on 24 carries.

"Those two have been leading us all year," said Shanley coach Steve Laqua, who was named the Class AA coach of the year. "You expect your leaders to step up in big games."

Wolf led the Firebirds with 131 yards on 25 carries. He had 115 yards after halftime.

Shanley added another state title trophy to its huge collection. The school had won 15 previous state championship games.

"This was our chance to become part of that history," Montplaisir said. "It's an awesome feeling."

Wahpeton's Ryan Smith was named the Class AA senior athlete of the year.

Devils Lake 0 7 3 14 6 - 30

Shanley 0 7 3 14 7 - 31

First Quarter

No scoring

Second Quarter

DL - Tyler Mertens 30 pass from Beau Eriksson (Joao Soares kick), 8:44.

FS - Stefan Webber 4 run (Dan Jordan kick), 5:23.

Third Quarter

DL - Soares 21 field goal, 6:35.

FS - Jordan 41 field goal, 3:44.

Fourth Quarter

DL - Ben Wolf 1 run (Soares kick), 10:22.

FS - Myles Montplaisir 24 run (Jordan kick), 4:57.

DL - Eriksson 1 run (Soares kick), 2:00.

FS - Josh Rodenbiker 14 pass from Montplaisir (Jordan kick), :08.5.

Overtime

FS - Montplaisir 3 run (Jordan kick).

DL - Brandon Myhre 6 pass from Eriksson (run failed).

Team statistics

DL FS

First downs 16 20

Rushes-yards 43-160 44-218

Passing yards 171 110

Comp-Att-Int 7-11-0 12-18-0

Fumbles-lost 1-0 1-1

Penalties-yards 4-30 0-0

Individual statistics

RUSHING: DL - Ben Wolf 25-131, Jason Berg 7-26, Kole Jenson 4-13, Beau Eriksson 7-(-)10. S - Stefan Webber 24-111, Myles Montplaisir 17-103, Mike Jones 3-4.

PASSING: DL - Eriksson 7-11-0, 171 yards. S - Montplaisir 12-18-1, 110 yards.

RECEIVING: DL - Tyler Mertens 4-118, Jenson 1-25, Wolf 1-22, Brandon Myhre 1-6. S - Josh Rodenbiker 5-44, Dylan Dunn 2-31, Mike Jones 2-27, Brandon Nelson 1-10, Jordan Gefroh 1-0, Webber 1-(-)2.

INTERCEPTIONS: DL - Brock Davidson.

Records: Shanley 10-2, Devils Lake 10-2.