After a challenging 1–8 season last year, the Middle Park Football team has taken a new direction for the 2025 season. Since Aug., the “transitional” team has earned two wins and set the foundation for the future.

Due to a small roster with many younger players, the team has competed at a junior varsity level this year, rather than fielding a varsity team. While the step back from varsity initially concerned several players — with some choosing to join alternative options, such as playing for West Grand High School in Kremmling — this change has also allowed many new athletes to join the program.

Over the course of the season, students have proven the Middle Park football team is not to be overlooked.

New head coach, Sam Campfield, had a multi-phased plan to rebuild the program at the start of the season: keep grades up, build up strength in the weight room and learn to practice with discipline. As the season progresses, this plan has been put to the test.

“‘Everybody’s got a plan until you get hit in the face,’ like Mike Tyson said,” Campfield quoted. “It has its ups and downs.”

Unlike past years, ineligibility has not been a problem for the Panthers, with students consistently keeping grades solid. In the future, Campfield has highlighted that building strength needs to be a priority for the players, especially with how physical football can be.

The team has also been practicing with a strict regimen that covers both basics and higher level football tactics. “Reteach, reteach, reteach” has been the mantra of most drills. 

This training has improved the team both on the field and in the locker room. Despite only three seniors playing on the roster, strong leadership from students has paid off. 

“Being a leader in a veteran role, you really just got to encourage them and build up their confidence,” senior Kasen Moon said. “When we play, we have to play as a team. But they’re getting confident. Yeah, they’re getting there.” 

Their efforts have already paid off. The Panthers took their first win on Sept. 29 against Lincoln High School, with Moon scoring the final touchdown. Since then, they’ve added another victory with their first shutout since 2023 against Battle Mountain on Oct. 9. 

Several games are left, with the season finishing off on a home matchup against Battle Mountain on Oct. 27 and an away game at Wellington. Players have already begun to turn their attention to what the next few years will bring. 

With many freshmen on the team and a large eighth grade class entering the rankings, the program will only grow in numbers. Campfield also plans to work with the youth league to continue bringing in athletes. After this year, the transitional JV team will be a thing of the past.

“We will be a 1A varsity team next year,” Campfield said.  “You look at these classifications, and I’ve coached 6 man, I’ve coached 5A ball, I’ve been across the state at different levels. There’s good football at every classification.”

Students are excited for the return to an official varsity lineup in the future.

“Our best hope is, yeah, we will be a varsity team next year,” junior Liam Gray said. “And win every game! We’re going to go undefeated. I think maybe in two years, we’re going to have a really scary program.”

Despite the challenges of having a young and more inexperienced roster, Middle Park football has begun to rebuild and thrive. Both the community and players credit the success to their hard work and the dedication.

“Coach Campfield’s a really good coach,” freshman Wyatt Smith said. “I think he’s helped all of us. Not just playing, but to kind of come together as a team.”

The Panthers face Brush High School this Wednesday, Oct. 15.