A lot can happen in 120 years, especially for a football program. For the Two Harbors Agates, while their success may have fluctuated, it’s the core values that have remained the same until present day.

“Many teams like to say that they are family,” said Noah Heller, a senior lineman. “I really truly believe that this is a family. Everyone’s so united, everyone’s so together, there’s not a man out there who I wouldn’t fight for every day of my life.”

For 120 years, the Agates have fielded a football team, with varying results.

The school, founded in 1902, has had their fair share of ups and downs on the gridiron. State champions in 1917, and state tournament appearances in 1977 and 2018 are the memories on the field that stick out.

For the Agates though, whether that’s the community or the players, it’s not all about what’s happened on the field. In fact, it boils down to one word.

“Early 2000s we kind of adopted that that model, you know family. Forget about me, I love you,” said head coach Tom Nelson. “I know it’s very popular now, you know, colleges, high school, pro teams use it a ton. We invested it because you know, the program was struggling when we took it over years ago and and you know, we did a lot of research and as people know, kids want to be a part of something. People want to be as part of something.”

The Two Harbors community too has adopted the family mantra.

“We’re really fortunate to have a community that backs this program and all our sports programs and you can’t tell by the crowd size on a Friday night if we’re having winning season losing season, it doesn’t matter,” said Scott Ross, the athletic director.

Two Harbors has extended their family in recent years, taking on players from Lakeview Christian Academy, Silver Bay, and Duluth Marshall.

The composition of the team doesn’t change the comradery of the players. even in the classroom.

“I feel like I could ask anyone a question in class or work with them in a project and I feel like I’d be supported,” said Heller. “I feel like I could work together with anyone.”

While coaches, players, and playbooks come and go, Two Harbors football is a constant in many lives.

“I played here, my son played here, my wife’s a cheer coach, my daughter is a cheerleader here. I coached here, it feels like I’ve been here 120 years, but it’s great and it’s fun, the coaching staff is fun to be around. Yeah, I think we got a good thing going here with everything,” concluded Ross.