RIPON, Calif. (NBC) -- Construction on a California football field led to a special find: A high school football ring that was lost almost 40 years ago.

Tim Bunnell and Nancy Den Dulk were high school sweethearts who swapped class rings, but Bunnell lost his while playing football at Ripon High School.

"It wasn't good at all," Bunnell said. "Every time I would come out there, I would look, because I coached there."

Then, while crews were replacing sod on the field recently, a cheerleader spotted the ring.

It had the year on it -- 1974.

"I think it's great," Den Dulk said. "I was so surprised the ring was found with barely a scratch on it."

All these years later, Bunnell and Den Dulk are still sweethearts.

Den Dulk is able to wear her wedding ring and class ring together as a pair.

NBC