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MINNEOTA -- Minneota football enters the 2026 season with the same lofty expectations it has carried in recent years.
The Vikings are riding a 46-game winning streak and will begin their pursuit of a fifth consecutive state championship Sept. 3. Despite the success that has come before them, head coach Chad Johnston said his team is feeling good and ready to get the season underway.
"We got a chance to scrimmage last week and saw some really great things. We went into it and got some of our younger kids some experience to try and figure out who is going to step up and fill some supporting roles."
The scrimmage gave the coaching staff an opportunity to evaluate some of the younger players who could take on larger roles this season. Johnston said a number of players made strong impressions and showed they are capable of contributing.
Now, the Vikings will get their first real test when they take on Minnesota Valley Lutheran.
Johnston believes the season opener will provide a good early gauge for where his team stands, especially with MVL bringing a strong program and players capable of challenging the Vikings.
"We are expecting some pretty good things from MVL," he said. "They have an impressive running back that was only a sophomore last year, and we feel they are going to be a good enough team that we should get tested right off the bat."
Rather than viewing the opener simply as the first game on the schedule, Johnston sees it as an opportunity for Minneota to establish the level of play it wants to maintain throughout the season.
The Vikings will also look to show some added versatility on offense this season.
Johnston noted that Minneota will always be willing to lean on its running game, particularly with a strong offensive line, but the Vikings could put the ball in the air more often than they have in the past.
"When it comes down to it and we need to win football games, we are going to do what we need to do, and that can be running the ball thanks to our great offensive lines. This year, we have some returners with great size and hands and we might be throwing the ball a bit more this season."
That potential balance could give Minneota another weapon as it begins its attempt to extend its winning streak and add another state championship to an already impressive run.
Before any of that can happen, though, the Vikings have to take the field and see where they stand.
The first opportunity comes Sept. 3 against MVL with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.