VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Hi-Liners made their 2021home debut at Hanna Field tonight looking to even up their record after a loss to open the season last week. Unfortunately for Valley City they would lost to Devils Lake 7 to 6.

Valley City would get the first points of tonight’s game in the first quarter.  After their defense makes a huge stop on 4th and 1 at their own 2 yard line, Gavin Gerhardt and the Hi-Liner offense had their best offensive drive of the season so far. After some undisciplined penalties from the Firebirds, Valley City was inside the 30 yard line of Devils Lake. That’s when Sophmore running back Ethan Miller received the handoff and took it 27 yards for the score to make it a 6 to 0 VC lead. However, the intending PAT was blocked, and that would be costly.

In the 2nd quarter, Firebird quarterback Ben Heilman tossed a 26 yard pass to a wide open Drew Hofstad who back trotted the extra yard to get into the end zone to knot the game up at 6. Kicker Gage Meier would make the PAT putting Devils Lake ahead 7 to 6.

In the second half Valley City had opportunities to take the lead in the game. Early in the 4th quarter the Hi-Liners went for it on 4th and 7 from the Devils Lake 10-yard line and were stopped. With 2:21 left in the game Ethan Miller scampered for a 32-yard rush that would set the Hi-Liners up inside the Firebird 30-yard line. However, on the next play Gerhardt’s pass would be tipped in the air and intercepted by Drew Hofstad to seal the 7-6 win for Devils Lake.

The Firebirds improve to 1-1 on the season, while Valley City drops to 0-2. The Hi-Liners will be back in action next Friday night at home once again to take on Fargo South. You can catch the call of that game on KOVC.