Step by Step

Also the name of a great TV show in the 90s, the New Kids on the Block song "Step by Step" is a good fit for this week.

First it could explain the approach taken by several of the teams I cover. Many of them are youthful and inexperienced and are indeed taking things step by step this season.

I am also slowly awaiting the upcoming NFL season and the beginning of the fantasy football season, so that is just steps away.

With that in mind, this week I'm going to enlighten the readers with my playoff picks for the NFL this season:
NFC
Rd. 1
6. Tampa Bay
3. Philadelphia
4. Detroit
5. San Francisco
Rd. 2
1. Atlanta
5. San Francisco
2. Seattle
3. Philadelphia
NFC Champ.
2. Seattle
5. San Francisco

AFC
Rd. 1
6. San Diego
3. Pittsburgh
5. Houston
4. New England
Rd. 2
1. Indianapolis
6. San Diego
2. Kansas City
4. New England
AFC Champ.
1. Indianapolis
2. Kansas City

Super Bowl: Seattle over Indianapolis

Also I have several pictures to share from Bottineau Braves football, DCB volleyball and BHS volleyball practice:

Bottineau senior Harrison Aide makes a tackle last Tuesday in the home and season opener against North Prairie.

Braves quarterback Andrew "White Shoes" Hill scampers for a first down.

Aide loses control of the ball as he crosses the goal line for a touchdown.

Senior John Gohman heads upfield.

Gohman evades defenders in route to a touchdown.

Senior lineman Cody Bedlion tries to drag down the big Cougar back.

Aide is chased down by two North Prairie defenders.

Hill delivers a pass.

No pass interference called on this incompletion to Parker Engelhard.

Dakota College at Bottineau sophomore Leah Parizek pushes the ball over the net.

Parizek digs out a Mystics hit last Wednesday.

Krissi Lesmann hits a pass.

Tessa Walters receives a Mystics serve.

Bottineau senior Danielle McDonald delivers a big hit.

Junior Stephanie Brenden leaps to hit a shot last Thursday evening at practice.

Senior Rachael Fix receives a serve.

From left: Courtney Gallagher, Brenden and Karlee McCloud enjoy themselves while waiting for a serve.