Forged Through Youth: Hi-Liners Ready to Begin a New Chapter
The 2026 Valley City Hi-Liners will enter the season with a young and unproven roster—but head coach Chad Smith refuses to treat youth as an excuse.
After finishing 3–6 during Smith’s first season, Valley City returns just two seniors from a team that showed considerable improvement down the stretch. The Hi-Liners defeated Oakes at Hanna Field before entering their season finale against Northern Cass with a playoff berth on the line.
Valley City ultimately fell short, but the late-season push helped establish the foundation Smith believes the program can now build upon.
“I thought our guys competed really well and did a good job of establishing what our culture and identity will be going forward,” Smith said. “Now, going into Year 2, we have to improve our attention to detail and better understand our philosophy in every down-and-distance situation.”
Hi-Liners New Look
Youth Brings Opportunity
The Hi-Liners graduated 12 seniors from last year’s team and currently have 27 players on their varsity roster. Just two of them—Andrew Sykora and Hunter Undem—are seniors.
That lack of experience will create challenges, but it also gives Valley City’s younger players an opportunity to grow together.
“Young is exciting for us because we get to foster, mature and grow together as a program,” Smith said. “We can establish the fundamentals we want now, continue improving throughout this season and springboard that growth as a program.”
Sykora returns at safety and wide receiver after producing a strong junior season in Valley City’s secondary.
“I thought Andrew had a great season at strong safety,” Smith said. “He has the ability to compete for all-region and possibly even all-state honors. That is one of his personal goals, and I’m excited to watch him pursue it.”
Undem is expected to take over the Will linebacker position while also contributing to the running back rotation.
“Hunter will give us a lot of fire and determination,” Smith said. “He is a hard runner, and we’re excited to watch him get downhill.”
Junior lineman Owen Hunt will be another centerpiece of the team. At 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds, Hunt already holds an offer from the University of North Dakota and has drawn interest from several other college programs.
“We’re excited about his continued growth and maturity,” Smith said. “He has the opportunity to dominate the line of scrimmage for us on both sides of the football.”
Juniors Tye Cordie and Chase Coghlan are expected to contribute at cornerback and wide receiver, while Leighton Hendrickson will look to carry the momentum from a successful American Legion baseball season onto the football field.
Quarterback Hudson Kriewald also returns for his junior season after being forced into action because of an injury last fall.
Smith has already noticed a more comfortable and confident quarterback during fall camp.
“He is becoming more controlled in the pocket and has a better understanding of his reads,” Smith said. “The ball is coming out faster because he understands safety rotations and where we want to attack defenses on the perimeter.”
Physicality Comes First
Valley City expects to establish a physical, downhill rushing attack while using the passing game to take advantage of what opposing defenses surrender.
“We’re going to rely heavily on a running back crew and skill-position group that I believe is pretty talented,” Smith said. “I’m excited about what we can do in the running game and with our receivers on the perimeter.”
The same physical approach will define the Hi-Liners defensively.
Smith believes Valley City played solid defense for stretches last season, but missed tackles and explosive plays on early downs frequently left the unit facing difficult third-and-short situations.
“Physicality will always be number one for us,” Smith said. “We have to tackle better on first and second down and eliminate explosive plays. We want to be fundamentally sound, tackle the football and pursue with great effort.”
Hunt will anchor a young defensive line, while Undem will help lead an inexperienced linebacker group. Experience returns in the secondary, however, where the Hi-Liners bring back four players with starting experience between cornerback and safety.
“They understand our coverages and what we are trying to do to attack offenses,” Smith said. “I’m excited to see their continued growth.”
Forged. Earned. Never Given.
Valley City’s offseason emphasized more than simply lifting weights. Beginning in June, players participated in position-specific drills designed to develop their footwork, hand placement, tackling technique and understanding of the team’s offensive and defensive systems.
A dedicated group remained involved throughout June and July, with many of the program’s younger players taking advantage of those opportunities.
“That helped them tremendously,” Smith said. “They were able to learn the correct footwork, how to properly use their hands, where they need to be to make tackles and the basics of our offensive schemes.”
The program’s 2026 motto—“Forged. Earned. Never Given.”—reflects what Smith wants his players to embrace.
“We have to learn how to be forged in difficult situations,” he said. “We have to earn everything we receive because nothing is given to us from one week to the next. Every day presents another challenge that we have to attack.”
Participation remains a long-term priority for the program. While the varsity roster currently stands at 27 players, Valley City with Barnes County North have 38 players participating at the junior-high level.
Smith believes retaining those younger athletes and giving them a positive, competitive football experience will be essential to the program’s future.
An Immediate Test
The young Hi-Liners will not have time to ease into the season.
Valley City opens at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, against Velva at Hanna Field. The Aggies won a state championship two seasons ago and remain one of North Dakota’s premier programs.
One week later, the Hi-Liners travel to face defending state champion Langdon Area/Edmore/Munich.
“We get two of the best programs in the state in Week 1 and Week 2,” Smith said. “We’ll find out how we match up physically, and we’ll get an immediate barometer of where we are.”
Valley City begins Region 1 competition Sept. 4 at Sargent Central. The Hi-Liners will later host Lisbon, Hillsboro/Central Valley, Edgeley/Kulm and Northern Cass while traveling to May-Port CG and Oakes.
Smith believes Valley City can compete within the region, but success will not be measured solely by its final record.
“I want to see physicality, development and an understanding of what we want to accomplish philosophically,” he said. “The price of winning changes every day, but we have to continue investing in that cost. We don’t get to choose what that cost looks like.”
That means showing up ready to work regardless of the previous result, the opponent or the adversity placed in front of the team.
“Football is an amazing team game,” Smith said. “If we continue learning how to play together instead of as individuals, we will keep growing, and this program will springboard forward.”
A New Era at Hanna Field
Photos from Jensen Air LLC
The 2026 season will also begin a new chapter for football in Valley City.
The Hi-Liners will play on the newly installed turf at Hanna Field while wearing new uniforms provided by the Valley City High School Booster Board. Construction of the new high school beyond the north end zone adds to the sense of change surrounding the program.
Smith hopes the community will fill Hanna Field when Valley City opens the season against Velva.
“It is an exciting time for Valley City and Barnes County North,” Smith said. “We get to open a beautiful new turf field, wear new uniforms and represent our community against one of the premier programs in the state.”
The coach also has one request for the home crowd.
“We need them to be loud, especially on third and fourth downs,” Smith said. “Come support these young men who have the opportunity to wear the Hi-Liner colors and represent what this community stands for—a group of hardworking people who continue pressing forward, no matter the situation.”
2026 Valley City Hi-Liners Roster
2026 Hi-Liners
2026 Roster
2026 Varsity Schedule
Aug. 21 — vs. Velva
Aug. 28 — at Langdon Area/Edmore/Munich
Sept. 4 — at Sargent Central
Sept. 11 — vs. Lisbon
Sept. 18 — at May-Port CG
Sept. 25 — vs. Hillsboro/Central Valley (Homecoming)
Oct. 2 — vs. Edgeley/Kulm
Oct. 9 — at Oakes
Oct. 16 — vs. Northern Cass
