MOORHEAD -- Not just one, but two high school football programs in Moorhead jumped up a level in competition for the 2025 season.
The Moorhead Spuds went from Class 5A to 6A in Minnesota, while the Park Christian Falcons went from 9-player to 11-player, and now Friday night lights have never been bigger at the school.
On Friday, October 3, Park Christian held its homecoming football game for the first time under the new label, winning 54-22 over Nevis.
"We've known for a couple years now that we would be 11-man this year because of the numbers in the high school seeing tremendous growth in general, record numbers every year," said football head coach Matt Baasch, also citing a growth in graduation class size in recent years.
The Falcons were required by the Minnesota State High School League to compete at the 11-player level based on anticipated roster numbers and are competing in Class A, Section 8.
As part of the school's transition, the move up meant their field did not meet 11-player standards, as those fields are more than 13 yards wider than 9-player fields.
Further, as part of a wider facilities project at the school, the field itself also needed to move.
"As the school got added on to, the new gymnasium came to be, the field moved east as well...what used to be the sidelines or the coaches' box, those things became actual playing field," Baasch said, adding the press box and bleachers also needed to be moved.
Perhaps the biggest addition to the game day experience at the school's field is permanent light fixtures, as the school would previously rent lights for night games on their field.
"It's been a lot of work by a lot of people. We're really blessed to have people that believe in the mission over here," Baasch said.
Park Christian played its first "home" game of the season September 12 at Concordia College, initially setting the stage for the revamped field's debut for September 26, but their opponent, Cass Lake-Bena forfeited the game, leading to the school rescheduling homecoming festivities for October 3.
Friday's win puts the Falcons at 5-1 on the season, and Baasch says this year's group has exhibited the character they're looking to build their program and school atmosphere around.
"They don't care who scores the touchdowns and there's some kids who are great at football and some kids on this team who aren't great at football,and we love them all the same. If we can have a program that's built around those things,I think that's just different," Baasch said.
Park Christian will travel to Red Lake County for its next game Friday, October 10.