(KWAD) – The Minnesota State High School League has released the 2026 football schedule, setting the stage for another competitive season in Section 5 9-Player football.
Bertha-Hewitt (2025 record: 9-2)
A thrilling come-from-behind victory against Ogilvie in the 2025 playoffs sent the Bertha-Hewitt Bears to their first Section Championship game in two decades, falling short against Cromwell-Wright Area. This season, the Bears are looking to take the next step, opening the season Sept. 3 at home against Blackduck before beginning conference play with a trip to Ogilvie for a rematch with the Lions. Bertha-Hewitt also hosts Verndale, Sebeka and McGregor while traveling to Cromwell-Wright Area and Mille Lacs. The Bears’ lone Section 7 crossover comes Sept. 25 at Carlton/Wrenshall.
Cromwell-Wright Area (2025 record: 9-2)
The Cardinals kick off the season against Littlefork-Big Falls before opening conference action at Sebeka. Cromwell-Wright Area hosts Mille Lacs, McGregor and Bertha-Hewitt before closing the regular season at Verndale. A crossover trip to Carlton/Wrenshall on Oct. 14 provides the team’s lone conference break.
McGregor (2025 record: 2-7)
McGregor begins the year at home against North Woods before traveling to Mille Lacs in its conference opener. The Mercuries also host Sebeka, Ogilvie and Carlton/Wrenshall while making key road trips to Cromwell-Wright Area, Verndale and Bertha-Hewitt.
Mille Lacs (2025 record: 7-3)
After opening the season at Bigfork, the Raiders begin conference play by hosting McGregor. Mille Lacs also faces Cromwell-Wright Area, Sebeka, Ogilvie and Bertha-Hewitt during conference action, with a lone crossover against Carlton/Wrenshall on Oct. 2.
Ogilvie (2025 record: 7-3)
The Lions travel to Silver Bay in Week 1 before opening Section 5 play at home against Bertha-Hewitt. Ogilvie’s conference schedule also includes Verndale, Cromwell-Wright Area, McGregor, Mille Lacs and Sebeka, with a Sept. 18 crossover at Carlton/Wrenshall.
Sebeka (2025 record: 4-5)
The Trojans open the season at Kelliher/Northome before beginning conference play against Cromwell-Wright Area. Sebeka later faces McGregor, Mille Lacs, Bertha-Hewitt, Verndale and Ogilvie, while hosting Carlton/Wrenshall in its only Section 7 crossover.
Verndale (2025 record: 3-6)
The Pirates begin the season at South Ridge before hosting Carlton/Wrenshall in Week 2. Conference play includes games against Bertha-Hewitt, Ogilvie, McGregor, Mille Lacs, Sebeka and Cromwell-Wright Area, with five of those six contests coming after the midway point of the season.
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2026 High School Football
Section 5 9-Player Schedule Release
Complete regular-season schedules for Bertha-Hewitt, Cromwell-Wright Area, McGregor, Mille Lacs, Ogilvie, Sebeka and Verndale.
5 9-PlayerHighlighted rows are Section 5 matchups.
Bertha-Hewitt Bears
| Date |
Opponent |
Section |
Time |
Location |
| Thu, Sept. 3 |
vs. Blackduck |
6 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Bertha-Hewitt |
| Fri, Sept. 11 |
at Ogilvie |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Stritesky Field, Ogilvie |
| Fri, Sept. 18 |
vs. Verndale |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Bertha-Hewitt |
| Fri, Sept. 25 |
at Carlton/Wrenshall |
7 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Carlton |
| Fri, Oct. 2 |
vs. Sebeka |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Bertha-Hewitt |
| Fri, Oct. 9 |
at Cromwell-Wright Area |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Cromwell |
| Wed, Oct. 14 |
vs. McGregor |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Bertha-Hewitt |
| Wed, Oct. 21 |
at Mille Lacs |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Onamia |
Cromwell-Wright Area Cardinals
| Date |
Opponent |
Section |
Time |
Location |
| Thu, Sept. 3 |
vs. Littlefork-Big Falls |
7 9-Player |
6:00 PM |
Cromwell |
| Fri, Sept. 11 |
at Sebeka |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Sebeka |
| Fri, Sept. 18 |
vs. Mille Lacs |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Cromwell |
| Fri, Sept. 25 |
vs. McGregor |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Cromwell |
| Fri, Oct. 2 |
at Ogilvie |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Stritesky Field, Ogilvie |
| Fri, Oct. 9 |
vs. Bertha-Hewitt |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Cromwell |
| Wed, Oct. 14 |
at Carlton/Wrenshall |
7 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Carlton |
| Wed, Oct. 21 |
at Verndale |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Mahlen Field, Verndale |
McGregor Mercuries
| Date |
Opponent |
Section |
Time |
Location |
| Thu, Sept. 3 |
vs. North Woods |
7 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Iverson Field, McGregor |
| Fri, Sept. 11 |
at Mille Lacs |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Onamia |
| Fri, Sept. 18 |
vs. Sebeka |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Iverson Field, McGregor |
| Fri, Sept. 25 |
at Cromwell-Wright Area |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Cromwell |
| Fri, Oct. 2 |
at Verndale |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Mahlen Field, Verndale |
| Fri, Oct. 9 |
vs. Ogilvie |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Iverson Field, McGregor |
| Wed, Oct. 14 |
at Bertha-Hewitt |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Bertha-Hewitt |
| Wed, Oct. 21 |
vs. Carlton/Wrenshall |
7 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Iverson Field, McGregor |
Mille Lacs Raiders
| Date |
Opponent |
Section |
Time |
Location |
| Fri, Sept. 4 |
at Bigfork |
7 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Bigfork |
| Fri, Sept. 11 |
vs. McGregor |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Onamia |
| Fri, Sept. 18 |
at Cromwell-Wright Area |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Cromwell |
| Fri, Sept. 25 |
at Sebeka |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Sebeka |
| Fri, Oct. 2 |
vs. Carlton/Wrenshall |
7 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Isle |
| Fri, Oct. 9 |
at Verndale |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Mahlen Field, Verndale |
| Wed, Oct. 14 |
vs. Ogilvie |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Isle |
| Wed, Oct. 21 |
vs. Bertha-Hewitt |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Onamia |
Ogilvie Lions
| Date |
Opponent |
Section |
Time |
Location |
| Thu, Sept. 3 |
at Silver Bay |
7 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Silver Bay (William Kelley) |
| Fri, Sept. 11 |
vs. Bertha-Hewitt |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Stritesky Field, Ogilvie |
| Fri, Sept. 18 |
at Carlton/Wrenshall |
7 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Carlton |
| Fri, Sept. 25 |
vs. Verndale |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Stritesky Field, Ogilvie |
| Fri, Oct. 2 |
vs. Cromwell-Wright Area |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Stritesky Field, Ogilvie |
| Fri, Oct. 9 |
at McGregor |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Iverson Field, McGregor |
| Wed, Oct. 14 |
at Mille Lacs |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Isle |
| Wed, Oct. 21 |
vs. Sebeka |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Stritesky Field, Ogilvie |
Sebeka Trojans
| Date |
Opponent |
Section |
Time |
Location |
| Thu, Sept. 3 |
at Kelliher/Northome |
6 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Kelliher |
| Fri, Sept. 11 |
vs. Cromwell-Wright Area |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Sebeka |
| Fri, Sept. 18 |
at McGregor |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Iverson Field, McGregor |
| Fri, Sept. 25 |
vs. Mille Lacs |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Sebeka |
| Fri, Oct. 2 |
at Bertha-Hewitt |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Bertha-Hewitt |
| Fri, Oct. 9 |
vs. Carlton/Wrenshall |
7 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Sebeka |
| Wed, Oct. 14 |
vs. Verndale |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Sebeka |
| Wed, Oct. 21 |
at Ogilvie |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Stritesky Field, Ogilvie |
Verndale Pirates
| Date |
Opponent |
Section |
Time |
Location |
| Fri, Sept. 4 |
at South Ridge |
7 9-Player |
5:30 PM |
South Ridge School |
| Fri, Sept. 11 |
vs. Carlton/Wrenshall |
7 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Mahlen Field, Verndale |
| Fri, Sept. 18 |
at Bertha-Hewitt |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Bertha-Hewitt |
| Fri, Sept. 25 |
at Ogilvie |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Stritesky Field, Ogilvie |
| Fri, Oct. 2 |
vs. McGregor |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Mahlen Field, Verndale |
| Fri, Oct. 9 |
vs. Mille Lacs |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Mahlen Field, Verndale |
| Wed, Oct. 14 |
at Sebeka |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Sebeka |
| Wed, Oct. 21 |
vs. Cromwell-Wright Area |
5 9-Player |
7:00 PM |
Mahlen Field, Verndale |
Schedules are subject to change. Confirm dates, times and locations with the participating schools.
