GRAND FORKS, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Valley City traveled to Grand Forks to take on the Red River Rough Riders in a win and you’re in game. Unfortunately for the Hi-Liners this would not be their night, as the Rough Riders defend their home turf and win 21-0 and clinch the final playoff spot.
In the first quarter, the Rough Riders received the ball first and were picking up chunks of yardage on the ground. However, the Hi-Liners stripped the ball from the Red River running back and would recover at their own 11-yard line. Unfortunately for Valley City their first offensive possession would end in a punt. On the next offensive possession for the Rough Riders, once again they would move down the field with ease. For the second drive in a row, Grand Forks would fumble the ball in the Valley City red zone and the Hi-Liners would recover. However, once again the Hi-Liners couldn’t do much on the drive and would punt the ball away.
In the second quarter, the stalemate on the field continued. However, after a strong defensive stop from the Hi-Liner defense, Red River punted the ball away, but it was fumbled by the Hi-Liners and recovered by Logan Okstad of the Rough Riders. After taking over the ball at the Hi-Liners 20-yard line after the turnover, Red River drove the ball to the 2-yard line. That is where quarterback Gunnar Heuchert would cap off the drive with a 2-yard rushing touchdown, and with the PAT to give the Rough Riders the 7-0 lead with 5:10 remaining in the second quarter. The two teams would continue to play the field position game, and would see the Rough Riders take the 7-0 lead going into half time.
To start the second half, Red River decided to try and catch the Hi-Liners sleeping with an on-side kick, however the ball would go out of bounds. On the Hi-Liners first drive of the second half they would be stopped on fourth down and give the ball back to the Red River Rough Riders with 8:44 left in the third quarter. On the ensuing drive for Red River, they would be faced with a 4th and 4 situation at the Hi-Liner 28-yard line, and on the carry from Garrin Sattler the Valley City defense comes up huge once again to make the stop and give the Hi-Liners offense another shot on the field. With the offense on the field the Hi-Liners were looking to move the ball and tie up the game. The Rough Riders defense would have other ideas, as on a 2nd down and 1 play, Hi-Liners quarterback Gavin Gerhardt would try and rush for the first down and while making a spin move, would fumble the football, and Red River would recover the ball at the Hi-Liner 48-yard line. On this offensive drive for the Rough Riders, it would be the Gunnar Heuchert show. The Junior QB would single handedly take his team down to the 16-yard line by carrying the ball and making defenders miss. Heuchert would cap off the drive by rushing it in from 16-yards out, and with the PAT, extend the Rough Rider lead to 14-0 with 0:55 left in the third quarter.
Will Eggert would come in at the quarterback position for the Hi-Liners at the end of the third quarter. Valley City would punt the ball away early in the fourth quarter. Red River came into the quarter with the mindset of just running out the clock. On their offensive drive they would get production out of the running game from running backs Jaden Rustad and Garrin Sattler to drain the clock. Quarterback Gunner Heuchert would even get in on the fun by rushing and picking up a first down on a 4th and 1 situation. In the end, Red River would punt the ball away to Valley City. With Will Eggert still in at QB the Hi-Liners were looking to make a quick comeback. However, RR cornerback Brady McQuilan would intercept a pass that was intended for WR Austin Shape, to set up the Rough Rider offense in great field position at the Hi-Liner 25-yard line with 4:34 remaining. It took Red River two plays to go the 25-yards for the score. Running back Garrin Sattler capped off the drive from 16-yards out with the rushing touchdown, and with the extra point, Red River extended their lead to 21-0 with 4:00 remaining. The Grand Forks Red River Rough Riders go on to win the game 21-0 and claim the final playoff spot.
Coach Scott Roehrich had this to say after the game, “Our guys fought incredibly hard, but some breaks didn’t go our way. Red River was much more physical than us up front tonight and that was the big difference in the game. I am very proud of our team in how we competed very well all year long in this new restructured football plan. They displayed outstanding poise and class the entire year.”
With the loss, the Hi-Liners season comes to an end as they miss out on the final playoff spot. Valley City should be proud of the way they finished the season, winning 3 of their last 5 games. With a JV squad who went unbeaten this season, and a Freshman Kicker who seems to have a grasp on the kicking game, the Hi-Liners have a bright future ahead.