GRAND FORKS — In a two-year span, Grand Forks Central's football program went from making a championship game to winning just one game.

"Last year, it left a little bit of a bitter taste in our mouth, I don't think we want that to happen again," said senior Eli Thompson.

The Knights finished 1-8 in 2024, a season after making their first Dakota Bowl appearance since consecutive trips in the mid-2000's.

The 2023 season saw Grand Forks Central start 2-4 before winning four in a row to make the Division 2A Dakota Bowl against Fargo North, which included a dramatic 14-13 win in the state semifinal against Jamestown. The Spartans won that game 31-6.

"A lot of our guys, we're working hard: we want to win this year," Thompson said.

Thompson is one of 25 seniors on this year's group, many of

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