MANSFIELD — As the Hooten’s 3A Game of the Week to kick off the 2025 football season, the Bismarck Lions roared on the road in a heartbreaking loss to the Mansfield Tigers 34-28 in overtime for a season-opener football Week 0 thriller.
Mansfield sought redemption from a close match-up last year in Bismarck. Unfortunately, the Lions came up short for the second go around to kick off the 2025 football season for their trip to Mansfield.
It was definitely a clash of two 3A top contenders Friday night. The first half was close as the Lions trailed Mansfield 14-13 at halftime. In the second half, the Lions and the Tigers both executed two trips into the end zone—which forced a 28-28 knot at the end of regulation.
In overtime, Mansfield managed to score the winning touchdown from the ground attack and sadly, the Lions suffered the heartbreak defeat.
Bismarck Lions football head coach Daniel Keithley knew coming into this match-up the Lions had a target on their back.
Read more story details in Saturday’s August 30 MDR newspaper edition.