LONG PRAIRIE, Minn. (KWAD) — The Long Prairie–Grey Eagle High School Activities Department announced Tuesday that the Thunder varsity football team will forfeit the remainder of its 2025 season, citing a wave of injuries and concerns for student-athlete safety.
The decision, effective October 7, 2025, means LPGE, 0-6 this season, will not compete in its remaining regular-season games or this year’s Section Playoffs. Instead, the team will play Benson’s JV squad on Wednesday, October 15 at 7 p.m. at Thunder Stadium, with a community tailgate starting at 6 p.m. and a performance by the JFK Dance Team at halftime.
According to Activities Director Kelsey Paurus, the choice was made after the roster dwindled to just 11 healthy players in grades 9–12—eight of whom are freshmen.
“This decision was not made lightly,” Paurus said. “Football is a demanding and physical game, and our first priority must always be the health and safety of our students. Asking ninth-grade players, some as young as 14, to compete against older, stronger, and more experienced athletes simply isn’t in their best interest.”
Paurus noted that the team began the season with a healthy roster, but a series of injuries left the program unable to safely continue at the varsity level.
Despite the difficult call, Paurus expressed optimism for the future, emphasizing that the program has a strong pipeline of underclassmen gaining valuable experience.
“We are optimistic about the future as we have strong numbers coming up,” she said. “Our younger players are committed, hardworking, and learning through every rep. This decision, as tough as it is, was made with the long-term health of the program in mind.”
Head Coach Datrick Mitchell praised his players for their grit and perseverance through a challenging season.
“We’re proud of our student-athletes,” Mitchell said. “They’ve shown resilience, great attitude, and teamwork through adversity. This isn’t how anyone wanted the season to end, especially for our seniors, but we’re confident this will help set the stage for a stronger, safer program moving forward.”
LPGE’s Activities Department said student-athletes and parents were informed of the decision during the week of September 29.