The Vikings will step onto their new field for the first time in nearly two years when they go up against the Falcons of West Hills College at 7 p.m. tomorrow.

Replacing the field and other improvements cost more than $1 million and forced the football team to play their home games at Las Lomas High School in Walnut Creek following the end of the fall 2006 football season.

“The old style Astroturf was so worn thin it was basically tackling people on asphalt,” Athletics Director Steve Ward said.

While the asphalt base still remains, the field now has a new-style field turf that is much softer.

Coach Mike Darr said the new Astroturf is “field turf,” which is much softer and more suited to football than the old, carpet-like Astroturf. He called its effect on the team “huge.”

 “It’s going to be a big night on the 26th,”Darr said. “We are looking forward to it.”

During the closure of the football field, the football teams and several physical education classes were moved to the soccer field. That heavy use left the soccer field soggy and tough on all the players, said football player, Don Miguel Tutass.

“We had five or six guys with MCL sprains, which was totally disproportionate to what you typically see,” Darr said. “I attribute a lot of that to the field we were playing on.”

The track, which is also undergoing renovation, is scheduled for completion Oct. 22. Distances are being converted from yards to meters.

Other changes include wheelchair- accessible bathrooms, with a wheelchair accessible stall in each one.