FARGO — Fargo Shanley's football program has an extensive history of success in North Dakota, spanning 90 years.

However, if you ask this year's group of seniors, last year was well below expectations.

"There's no doubt that we're going into this season with a little bit of vengeance, and we're excited, we're ready to be back," said senior quarterback Jax Mattern.

The 2024 season saw the Deacons win just three of their ten games.

"Last year, it was an embarrassment," Mattern said. "There's really no sugar-coating it, it was an embarrassment. We didn't meet the standard, and that hurts," he added.

The lack of success hits harder for this group of seniors, who saw the program make consecutive Dakota Bowl games in 2022 and 2023, winning it all in 2022.

"Everyone was kind of bickering at each other, and we were just like, 'This is done. This is over. We're putting this behind us,'" recalled senior Landon Mitchell.

Within weeks of Shanley's 42-7 playoff loss to Bismarck, the returning seniors got together for a private meeting, challenging themselves to raise the bar for their last year.

"Every time you walk into that weight room, you feel the pain that we lost last year, and let that motivate you, because we have a standard higher than that," Mitchell recalled.

The Deacons bring back 18 seniors to the field this year, which includes Mattern, fresh off a verbal commitment to Concordia this summer.

"I think the biggest thing that I've grown from is my mental game right now," Mattern said, who has earned playing time since his freshman year. "Especially because last year, the difficult season, I was challenged, there's no doubt about it," he added.

One thing that has not changed is his commitment to the program.

"From day one, since my dad came in as a sixth grader, it's really meant everything to me," Mattern said.

Several top skill players an defensive leaders are also set to return, with physicality remaining a top emphasis within the program.

"We've just got to bring that physicality back. North Dakota football, it's not weak," Mitchell said. "People love to run the ball, they like to run it down your throat if they can, and we've got to stop that," he added.

"We're just going to play fast, we're going to play physical, and we don't care who lines up against us, we're just ready to go," Mattern said.

Shanley opens its season against Bismarck Century at home August 29.