Hi-Liner Football Releases 2026 Schedule

VALLEY CITY, N.D. — Valley City Hi-Liners Football has released its 2026 regular season schedule, a nine-game slate designed to test a young program against legitimate competition and build toward a playoff run.

The Hi-Liners open at home Friday, August 21 against Velva, a former state champion and one of the toughest early-season matchups in the state. Valley City played Velva tough last year in a 14-0 loss and is looking to carry that same intensity into this season's home opener.

Week two takes the Hi-Liners to Langdon on August 28 to face the defending state champions — a barometer matchup that will tell Valley City exactly where it stands against the best in the state. "That Langdon game is huge for us," said Head Coach Chad Smith. "We'll find out right away how we compete with the defending state champs and where we need to be as a program."

The schedule mirrors last year's slate, with road trips to Langdon, Sargent Central, May-Port CG, and Oakes. Valley City will defend Hanna Field with home games against Velva, Lisbon, Hillsboro (homecoming), EEK, and the season finale versus Northern Cass.

Defending Hanna Field

With five home games on the schedule, the math is simple: win at Hanna, and Valley City sits at five wins — legitimate playoff positioning. "We always talk about defending Hanna Field," Smith said. "Our home crowd needs to be loud and proud. If we take care of business at home, we put ourselves in position to compete for the playoffs."

The Lisbon rivalry game on September 11 carries particular weight. Valley City lost to Lisbon by twenty points last year in a physical battle, and the "Sandbag Trophy" — the prize for this rivalry — hasn't changed hands in recent memory. The Hi-Liners are hungry to reclaim it. "Lisbon was more physical than we were last season," Smith said. "That's a matchup we're looking forward to. We need to match their physicality and take care of that rivalry."

A Young Team, Forged Not Born

Valley City enters 2026 with just three seniors on the roster — Andrew Sykora, Hunter Undem, and Aaden Stanton Ring. Despite the youth, the Hi-Liners have more athletes out for football this fall than last season — a program built through summer work and consistent standards, not inherited talent. "Our mentality this year is working as a young team and driving forward," Smith said. "We talk about being 'Forged, Not Born' in our expectations. We forge ourselves through hard work and continue to raise the standards we want to be known for."

The program's identity is clear: Valley City should be known as a tough, hard-nosed team — a team that shows up every Friday night ready for a sixty-minute war. "We want to lace up our cleats, put on our shoulder pads, strap up our helmets, and know that we're going to battle," Smith said. "That's who we are. That's who we need to be."

Region One Outlook

Class A - Region One is balanced again this season in Coach Smith's opinion. EEK enters as the team to beat based on last year's performance, but Hillsboro, Oakes, Northern Cass, and Valley City are all capable of mixing it up for conference positioning. "If you look at Region One, everyone sits in the same area," Smith said. "It could be any of us depending on who shows up consistent and makes the most plays week to week."

A New Look in 2026

The Hi-Liners have plenty to be excited about beyond the schedule. New uniforms will debut this season, with the official unveiling coming in the next few weeks — follow Valley City Hi-Liners Football on Facebook and Instagram for the release.

Hanna Field itself will also take on a different feel this fall. With the groundbreaking approaching of the new Valley City High School on the north end of the field, the gameday atmosphere will have a fresh backdrop — though the iconic view of the Hi-Line Bridge remains unchanged. New uniforms, a changing skyline, and a young team ready to forge its identity. It's a new chapter for Hi-Liners football.

2026 VALLEY CITY HI-LINERS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Fri, Aug. 21 — Velva — Home

Fri, Aug. 28 — Langdon (Defending State Champions) — Away

Fri, Sep. 4 — Sargent Central — Away

Fri, Sep. 11 — Lisbon (Rivalry / Sandbag Trophy) — Home

Fri, Sep. 18 — May-Port CG — Away

Fri, Sep. 25 — Hillsboro (Homecoming) — Home

Fri, Oct. 2 — Eek —Home

Fri, Oct. 9 — Oakes — Away

Fri, Oct. 16 — Northern Cass — Home

Game times to be announced. Follow Valley City Hi-Liners Football on Facebook and Instagram for updates, gameday information, and schedule changes.