VALLEY CITY, ND  (NewsDakota.com)  After the Hi-Liners piled up rushing yards against their opposition all year, it was the running game that ultimately ended their season in opening round of the playoffs.

Fargo North runningback Peder Haugo rushed for 137 yards, scored on the opening drive of the game, then scored three times in succession in the second half, reversing an 11-point Hi-Liner lead and running the Spartans past Valley City 30-28 at Hanna Field Friday night.

Valley City scored on a 13-yard physical run by Zach Sykora to cap their opening drive of the second half, taking a 21-10 lead early in the third.  Haugo’s run began on the next drive with a nine-yard touchdown run with 2:44 left of the third quarter.

Haugo scored again on an 11-yard run after a three-and-out by Valley City, taking the clock to four seconds left of the third, and his 28-yard scoring run with 3:56 left of the fourth proved decisive, giving the Spartans a 30-21 edge.

Hi-Liner runningback Gavin Gerhardt dashed in from five yards out with 1:25 left, closing the gap to 30-28.  The Spartans recovered the ensuing onside kick, and Valley City, with only one timeout remaining, was powerless to stop the clock.

Gerhardt finished the night with 46 yards on the ground and 95 more on five catches, including a 55-yard touchdown catch that delivered the Hi-Liners first lead in the second quarter.  Quarterback Bryson Heck finished with 163 yards and two touchdown passes, one on on the opening drive to Aiden Jacobson, an athletic, over-the-shoulder snag and slide by the senior receiver that tied the game early.

Sykora led the rushing effort for the Hi-Liners with 91 yards and a score.  Heck was named Ivy Real Estate Group Player of the Game.

North receiver Jeremiah Sem proved a factor, grabbing five balls for 95 yards, extending key drives for the Spartans throughout the game.

The Hi-Liners season ends at 7-3.  North moves to 6-4 and advances to a semi-final contest at rival Fargo South next week.