Small-town Minnesota high school football game hosts NFL-honored officials
Posted: Thursday, September 11, 2025 - 11:11 AM
Dennis Harris, Pete Cheeley, Pat Bergquist, MJ Wagenson and Kevin Britt, the NFL/NFHS Crew of the Year.
Editor's note: This article was initially published in The League Journal, the Minnesota State High School League's weekly newsletter. Sign up to receive it in your inbox at mshsl.org/newsletter.
Drenched from a Thursday evening downpour, a team jogged off the Goodhue football field smiling, heads held high. They called each other in for hugs in the parking lot as “Celebration” by Kool & The Gang blared over the speakers.
“That was so much fun,” Pat Bergquist said, as he and his team began the two-block postgame walk to the locker room.
This wasn’t the winning team on the scoreboard on Sept. 4, 2025. This team wasn’t on the scoreboard at all.
No, this team wore black and white stripes. This team is the reigning National High School Officiating Crew of the Year, recognized by the NFL and NFHS.
“Exceptional people before exceptional refs,” Bergquist said. “That’s what I appreciate about them.”
Referee Bergquist, back judge Kevin Britt, down judge Pete Cheeley, umpire Dennis Harris and line judge MJ Wagenson were designated Minnesota’s Crew of the Year in 2024 and were surprised last winter with the national honor. Combined, they have 144 years of MSHSL officiating experience.
The NFL brought all five to the 2025 Pro Bowl Games in Florida, where they spent a week bonding and enjoying the February sunshine.
After officiating the Skills Challenge and meeting NFL stars, there still was one more thing Bergquist wanted to do. He brought it up when leaving the hotel: “Let’s get together and work a game next year.”
Wagenson, from nearby Pine Island, arranged with Goodhue to schedule the assignment for its game against Randolph.
“They were like, absolutely, let’s make it happen,” Wagenson said. “These are both great programs.”
The weather didn’t cooperate, but the crew’s positive attitude shined through a cloudy night.
One member (who we won’t publicly embarrass) forgot his bag at home and borrowed backup equipment from the other officials. They were still joking about it after the game. Goodhue’s impressive grass field with neatly mowed and painted lines was a pregame talking point. And they laughed off a first-half downpour that was followed by a strong, cold second-half wind befitting November.
Officials complimented the players and coaches of both teams, who were respectful and helpful in their communication. The Wildcats, Class A state quarterfinalists last season, improved to 2-0 with a competitive 20-0 victory over Randolph.
Flags were minimal — “a perfect game,” Bergquist called it.
“It was a fun game to work,” Wagenson said. “It was a clean game to work. That makes our job a lot easier.”
Bergquist, from Gilbert, made a 250-mile drive for this game. He was on his way to Duluth for the night, then would return south on Friday to work a game in the Twin Cities metro.
“The game, it’s great doing it, but I guarantee you the ride home is going to be better,” Bergquist said. “We’ll probably call each other. That’s what I do it for.
“I just think there is so much camaraderie and life experiences that I wouldn’t have had if I didn’t ref.”
