VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Hi-Liner football team held a 16-12 halftime lead, but could not hold off Grafton in the second half Friday night at Hanna Field.

Grafton scored the final 14 points Friday as the Spoilers rallied for a 26-16 victory over the Hi-Liners.

Valley City drops to 0-3 on the season. Grafton improves to 1-2.

The Spoilers struck first Friday, going 47 yards in five plays on the game’s opening drive, capping it with a 7-yard touchdown run by Marcus Niemann. The two-point conversion rush was no good, leaving the score at 6-0.

Valley City didn’t waste anytime responding as Luther Zeltinger returned the ensuing kickoff 83 yards for a score – his second touchdown return of the season. Tate Sufficool ran the two-point conversion in, giving the Hi-Liners an 8-6 lead.

The Spoilers regained the lead midway through the second quarter, capping off an impressive 85-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Dalton Albrecht to Saleem El-Saraaf. The Hi-Liner again stopped the two-point try, keeping it at a 12-8 game.

Valley City got another big kick return – this one 72 yards by Tate Sufficool – that set their offense up on the 13-yard line. Three plays later Sam Beierle scored from four yards out on a quarterback keeper. Beierle also ran in the two-point conversion for a 16-12 lead with 5:51 remaining in the first half.

That’s all the offense the Hi-Liners could muster on the night though as Grafton scored 14 unanswered points in the second half. Niemann ran one in from four yards out to make it 20-16 with 1:52 left in the third. The Spoilers put the game out of reach on their next drive as Albrecht hit Beau Feltman for a 5-yard touchdown pass and a 26-16 lead with 7:08 to go.

Zeltinger led the Hi-Liner offense with 41 yards on 14 carries. Beierle had three completions for 33 yards.

Niemann carried the ball 27 times for 158 yards and two touchdowns to lead Grafton’s offense.

Up next: Valley City (0-3) travels to Wahpeton on Friday, Sept. 15.