The Hi-Liners could not crack the Grand Forks Central defense on Friday as the Knights rolled to a 22-0 shutout win as both teams now sit at 4-4 going into the final week of the regular season.

The Knights grinded their way to an opening drive touchdown to taking eight minutes and a half minutes off the clock, with the only thing going wrong being a botched two-point conversion attempt. Down 6-0 Valley City would drive into Knights territory as the first quarter came to an end.

At the start of the second Hi-Liners Quarterback Bryson Heck watched from the sidelines as Valley City ran three straight plays for negative yards forcing a Hi-Liner punt that pinned the Knights inside their own 10. After a couple penalties wiped away a pair of big runs for Central, Valley City would get the ball back near midfield.

The Hi-Liner drive would once again stall this time with a turnover on downs handing the ball back to the Knights who would chew up most of the clock and kick a field goal with 34 seconds to play in the second quarter to make it 9-0. A late hit out of bounds would knock Heck out of the game before the end of the half as the Hi-Liners uphill task became even steeper.

After a promising start to the opening second half drive the Hi-Liners would have their punt blocked setting up another Central touchdown. Central would capitalize once more late in the game to make it 22-0 as Knights QB Jack Simmers finished with three total touchdowns on the day.

Valley City playoff hopes will come down to the wire as their next game will be on the road against the Fargo South Bruins who are coming in off a win against the Wahpeton Huskies.