Moorhead’s home games this season are against Rogers, Wayzata, Maple Grove and St. Michael-Albertville. The Spuds will travel to Woodbury, Minnetonka, Eden Prairie and Edina.

“Traditionally, we’re going to St. Cloud, Sartell, Sauk Rapids and Brainerd,” Haugo said. “So our usual trip went from about 2 hours and 15 minutes to about three hours.”

Travel advantage?

Whenever the Spuds send a bus to the Twin Cities, it costs $2,200 to $2,500, depending on what part of the metro they’re heading to, Haugo said.

The football team sends 80-90 players, so it takes two buses and it’s double the cost.

But the Spuds are used to it. They travel to the Twin Cities repeatedly for several events. It’s a way of life, starting in youth sports.

“If you’re a kid that plays basketball and plays lacrosse, you stay at the Marriott West every time you go to the Twin Cities on a Spud bus,” Haugo said. “And they’re going to take care of us, right down to the breakfast. Each team does a smidge different, but for the most part, we travel in a very, very consistent manner.”