FARGO -- It's no secret that the West Region has dominated the Class A boys cross country scene. Fargo South was the last East Region squad to win the team title in 2003.
The last two team titles have gone to Bismarck, but Fargo Davies head coach Jason Holland has his team believing they can give the Demons a run for their money at the North Dakota Class A meet Saturday in Jamestown.
"We know Bismarck High is really good," Holland said. "They've got some seniors up front that are really strong and we're going to have to race really well to give ourselves a chance. These boys have worked really hard to give ourselves a chance."
The Eagles are ranked No. 2 in the Class A boys state coaches poll and are fresh off of their first East Region crown since 2016, accumulating 28 points for the team title at Lincoln Park in Grand Forks on Oct. 11.
"Our whole team worked really hard for that," Eagles sophomore Keagan Thomson said. "I think we're all very happy that we succeeded and all of that work that we've put in helped us get there."
Davies sophomore Luka Rout led the efforts at the East Region meet, finishing first with a time of 15 minutes, 28.3 seconds to edge Fargo Shanley's Ethan Erickson by more than 35 seconds.
"My eyes were set on the (East Region) championship title," Rout said. "Especially after getting second place last year and knowing that I worked hard for this. That's what I went into the meet to get."
Rout's PR remains a 15:06.2 set at the Dragon Twilight Invitational, good for the boys school record and the No. 2 time in the state.
"(Rout's) physical development is a big part to his success," Holland said. "I think the extra training that he's put in and the willingness to go that extra mile has really set himself apart from last year."
The Eagles recorded six all-conference finishes at the East Region meet with four PRs set in the process. Led by Rout, Davies placed six runners in the top 11 at the competition and claimed the team title over Shanley with 28 points.
Junior Kaj Naujokas finished the meet in fourth place with a season-best 16:27.1 while sophomore teammate Chance Johnson was approximately two seconds behind in fifth place with a PR of his own.
Thomson's 16:38.2 was good for eighth at East Region while senior Kasen Currence finished 10th with a 16:51 to complete Davies' team score.
Eighth-grader Jack Anderson came home 11th at the conference meet, setting a new PR of 16:51.6 while rounding out all-conference nods for the Eagles.
"The kids keep surprising me," Holland said. "The work ethic that they have is unmatched. They want to get better, that's the biggest thing about this group."
Thomson said when practice begins, the full focus becomes running.
"We go to practice and we give all of our effort," Thomson said. "We don't really mess around. Once we want to do our workouts, we lock in, get them done and do it to Holland's standards."
The Demons have won six team titles this season and are paced by senior Owen Hintz, who holds the state's best time with a 14:49.7.
Hintz will be Rout's toughest competition.
"Just sticking to my game plan and to our team's game plan," Rout said. "Just go after those Bismarck High jerseys throughout the race. Just give ourselves a shot and sort of set ourselves up."
Holland said the key to a successful weekend will be confidence among a varsity squad that will have six underclassmen competing on Saturday.
"Sticking to race plans and having confidence with these young guys," Holland said. "Even though they're young, they've been there before. They've run that course several times and we just know that they're going to go onto that course and execute their race plan."
Although it will be a challenge, the Eagles know the team title will be within reach.
"I feel like we definitely have a shot for the state title," Rout said. "It's just going to be pulling it together for that last meet and giving it everything we've got. We've stayed consistent throughout practice, we've all worked hard and I think we can pull something special at that last meet."