FARGO, N.D. – A picture of praying high school football players posted to Facebook recently sparked controversy about prayer during the state’s playoff season, and prompted North Dakota’s athletic association to decree it’s unconstitutional.

But officials at the Catholic Shanley High School are challenging the rule as a violation of free speech and religious rights, and are calling on the North Dakota High School Activities Association to reconsider its stance, Minnesota Public Radio reports.

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Last week, a Facebook user posted an image of players praying before a game between St. Mary’s and Kindred high school football teams, along with comments alleging the NDHSAA “said no public prayers before the game,” according to ABC 6.

The image was shared more than 2,000 times, according to the Associated Press.

NDHSAA officials clarified the “no prayer” rule has applied to playoff games for 15 years – including games hosted at religious, private schools – because the NDHSAA is a public entity and the officials sponsor of the state playoffs.

“It’s played at their facility, but it is a postseason game,” NDHSAA assistant director Justin Fletschock told the news site. “The postseason contests are controlled by high school activities association.”

The NDHSAA further clarified that the ban on prayer also only applies to publicly announced prayers over the loudspeaker.

The situation didn’t sit well with officials at Shanley High School, who wanted to hold a prayer over the intercom before last Saturday’s game against Central Call High School and sent a letter to the NDHSAA about the issue with the help of the Thomas More Society, a religious liberty law firm.

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Attorneys Peter Breen and Jocelyn Floyd argue the NDHSAA’s playoff “sponsorship” argument for banning prayer doesn’t hold water, and demanded the association rescind the rule.

“This ‘sponsorship’ is illusionary; in all material respects, Shanley will be hosting the game exactly as it does in the regular season – it will, for example, run ticket sales, organize and sell concessions, provide an announcer to announce the game, and provide down markers,” the letter read, according to ABC 6.

The letter states it’s unlikely that spectators will misconstrue the prayer as a NDHSAA endorsement of religion, especially since the school touts “a massive Christian cross … emblazoned in the center of the field.”

“In short, no one attending a football game at this proudly Catholic high school will mistake it for a courthouse, city hall, or public high school,” the letter states.

NDHSAA officials told the media they forwarded the letter to the association’s attorneys for review, and declined to discuss the issue beyond a prepared statement.

“Because this request involves an issue of constitutional law, it has been forwarded to NDHSAA Legal Counsel for review,” NDHSAA executive director Matthew J. Fetsch wrote in a statement to MPR. “The NDHSAA is taking the request seriously and anticipates a response as soon as possible.”

That decision doesn’t appear to have come before Saturday’s game, when Shanley officials opted to abide by the NDHSAA rule.

“I think it’s silly, since we’re a catholic school you’re going to have prayer and the school should be able to do what the school would like,” parent Mark McAllister told Valley News Live.

“Others echoed the same thing, but didn’t feel comfortable saying it on camera,” according to the news site.