For one small-town school, a recent $5,000 award could be the start of something much bigger for the athletes and community who come together around its football field each fall.

Hardin-Central High School was selected as a $5,000 winner through T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights competition and remains in the running for additional awards, including a $1 million football field upgrade.

Now in its third season, Friday Night 5G Lights is open to high schools in U.S. towns with populations under 150,000. More than $8.4 million in prizes are available through this year’s competition, and more than 750 schools have earned prizes since the program launched.

Hardin-Central was among 24 Missouri schools selected when T-Mobile announced the award, bringing the statewide total to $125,000. Nationwide, 1,000 schools will receive funding through the competition’s $5K Fridays sweepstakes.

A panel will select 40 finalists — 10 each from the West, East, Midwest and South divisions — based on community im…