New football season means new classes for some Minnesota schools

by Tom Weber, Minnesota Public Radio

St. Paul, Minn. — Nearly three dozen high school football teams across Minnesota will play in new classes this season because of changes in those schools' enrollments.

High school football teams are split into six classes - based on enrollment. The smallest schools, in fact, only field nine players at a time.

And new data from the Minnesota State High School League reflects the trend being seen across most of the state, where enrollments are falling.

Twenty-eight schools will play in smaller classes this year than last year, compared to only seven that are moving up.

Those moving to smaller classes include MACCRAY, Pine River-Backus, and Warroad. Osakis and Lewiston-Altura are among the few moving up.

The changes can also cause a school to overhaul its schedule, and in sometimes creates a need for even a storied rivalry to be ended.

Thursday, meanwhile, marks the start of the high school football season across Minnesota.

Many eyes will be on Glencoe-Silver Lake - to see if the Panthers can win a fourth straight Class AAA state championship this year. Caledonia - in southeast Minnesota - will vie for a third straight title in AA.

The football state championships will happen the weekend after Thanksgiving, at the Metrodome.

Moving to bigger class	Previous class	New class
Lewiston-Altura High School	A	AA
Norwood-Young America High School	AA	AAA
Osakis High School	A	AA
Providence Academy	AA	AAA
Red Lake High School	A	AA
St. Paul Harding High School	AAA	AAAA
Westbrook-Walnut Grove High School	9-man	A

Moving to smaller class	Previous class	New class
Alexandria High School	AAAAA	AAAA
Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City High School	AA	A
Barnesville High School*	AA	A
Bemidji High School	AAAAA	AAAA
Columbia Heights High School	AAAA	AAA
Crosby-Ironton High School	AAA	AA
Esko High School	AAA	AA
Eveleth-Gilbert High School	AAA	AA
MACCRAY High School	AA	A
Maple River High School	AAA	AA
Mesabi East High School	AA	A
Minneapolis North Community High School	AAAA	AAA
Minneapolis Washburn High School	AAAA	AAA
Minnewaska Area High School	AAA	AA
Nashwauk-Keewatin High School	A	9-man
Onamia High School	A	9-man
Park Center High School	AAAAA	AAAA
Pine River-Backus High School	AA	A
Rothsay High School*	AA	9-man
Saint Clair High School	2A	9-man
St. Louis Park High School	AAAAA	AAAA
St. Paul Academy & Summit/Mound	AAAA	AAA
St. Paul Arlington High School	AAAA	AAA
St. Paul Central High School	AAAAA	AAAA
St. Paul Highland Park High School	AAAA	AAA
St. Paul Humboldt High School	AAA	AA
St. Paul Johnson High School	AAAA	AAA
Warroad High School	AAA	AA

* Barnesville and Rothsay had a combined team last year, and each school is fielding its own team this year.

New schools (or existing schools with new football program)
Chanhassen High school	AAAA
East Ridge High School	AAAA
Lion's Gate Christian Academy	9-man
Spectrum High School	A