The first quarter was a defensive chess match between the two sides as both Valley City and Jamestown exchanging quick drives to start out the game. The Hi-Liner defense was coming in off an impressive performance against Wahpeton holding the Huskies to under two yards a carry and continued it in the first blanking the defending state champs in the opening quarter.
The second quarter would open up with a punt from Valley City that would pin the Blue Jays inside their own five yard line. The Jays though would us a deep pass play to get them into Hi-Liner territory as they threatened the scoreboard for the first time in the game. The Hi-Liner defense though would hold as they forced another punt from Jamestown.
The standstill would continue until the Jamestown defense made a play on a 50/50 ball to bring down an interception in Valley City territory. The Jays would proceed to drive down to the Valley City goal line setting up a pivotal 4th and 1 before punching it in for a touchdown just before time expired in the first half to give them a 7-0 lead.
The Blue Jays would get the ball to begin the second half and would use a couple of big runs to move into Valley City territory. On third down and seven the Jays would link up for a touchdown to extend their lead 14-0 in the third quarter. The Hi-Liners would waste no time responding as Carter Borg would haul in a pass for a touchdown to once again chop the deficit down to a single score 14-7.
The Hi-Liner defense though would have to scramble though as the Jays would return the ensuing kickoff all the way down to the Hi-Liner 20-yard line. But the Valley City defense would buckle down and force an interception to snuff out the drive. The Hi-Liners would capitalize on the momentum as Caden Amann punched it in for a short score on the ground to tie the game at 14-14.
The defending state champions however would live up their reputation connecting for a touchdown on 4th and 9 in the fourth quarter to take a 2o-14 lead with 11 minutes to play after the blocked PAT. The ensuing drive for the Hi-Liners would go south quickly as an interception gave the Blue Jays an opportunity to put the game away. However, the Hi-Liner defense would once again rally to give their offense an opportunity at redemption.
A quick drive Valley City drive though would hand the ball back to Jamestown with just under six minutes to play. Jonah Harstad though would intercept a pass in the end zone to keep it a 20-14 affair. The next play though would continue the trend of Valley City turnovers as the ensuing snap and hand off was fumbled to give the Blue Jays another drive in Valley City territory.
The Hi-Liner defense would once again step up forcing a fumble of their own giving the ball back to Valley City. The Jamestown defense would rally to force a turnover on downs in Valley City territory with just over three minutes to play. After a trio of Jamestown runs and a delay of game penalty, Jamestown would connect on a touchdown on fourth down to make it 26-14.
Valley City would get one final drive. Unfortunately for Valley City the drive would end in another interception, this time being returned for a touchdown to make it 33-14 which would end up being the final score.
Next up for the now 4-3 Hi-Liners is a matchup with the Grand Forks Central Knights to close out their home schedule for the year.