In a game that came down to the last play the Hi-Liners Defense and Special Teams paved the way for a 14-13 win over the West Fargo Horace Hawks to put the Hi-Liners at 4-1 on the year.
The game started out with the Hawks receiving the opening kick-off and after an initial first down it looked like Horace would continue their momentum after they put up over 400yds of offense against Wahpeton last week. But Hi-Liner Senior Ethan Miller would dash those thoughts as he jumped in front of a pass to give Valley City great field position for their opening drive. The Hi-Liners would quickly pay off Miller INT with a touchdown as Bryson Heck and Dylan Hunt connected for a near 30yd score to put Valley City up 7-0.
The remainder of the first quarter would be played out in a scoreless draw before early on in the second quarter Valley City was faced with a 4th and long at their own 25. Valley City would elect for a fake punt that would fail and would set up a Hawks drive that would meticulously be punched in for the tying score. Both defenses would hold as the halftime score would be knotted up at 7-7.
The third quarter would fly by in a storm of good defense and missed opportunities for both sides. Miller would strike again in the fourth as his punt return would give Valley City another drive inside of Horace territory. Caden Amman would break free for a 33yd touchdown run to put the Hi-Liners in front 14-7. The reemergence of the running game was critical for Valley City who was held to -24 yards last time out against Dickinson.
Horace though would march right down the field after a Hi-Liner penalty on the kickoff gave the Hawks a drive that started inside Hi-Liner territory. Another methodical drive would see the Hawks punch in the score after Hawks TE Mason Johnson went airborne to seemingly tie the game barring any drama with the PAT.
But drama would be had as a low snap resulted in a low trajectory kick that the Hi-Liners were easily able to swat down to preserve a slim one point 14-13 lead with two minutes to play. The hands team would recover the ensuing onside kick for Valley City before three run plays would result in a punt that would give Horace the ball deep in their own territory with under a minute to play. A costly reception by Horace in the middle of the field plus a Hawks holding penalty would grind the game down to one final play just past the Hawks 20 yard line.
The desperation heave didn’t have a chance to cause any drama as it would be knocked down to seal the Hi-Liners fourth win of the season. Next game for the Hi-Liners will be next Friday as they’ll be traveling to Wahpeton to take on the Huskies who will be coming in after a lopsided loss to Jamestown.