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N.D. (NewsDakota.com)-The Central Cass Squirrels used a strong running game to win the 2017 season finale on Saturday. Central Cass rushed for a season-high 213 yards in a 27-6 win over Valley City.

After the Squirrels forced a Valley City punt on the game’s opening series, Central Cass scored on its first play from scrimmage. Braeden Knutson sprinted 76 yards for a touchdown with 9:34 in the 1st to make it 7-0.

The Hi-Liners controlled the first-half clock, as they held the ball for nearly eighteen minutes. However, a Valley City drive ended inside the Squirrels’ 20 as they gave the ball up on downs. Central Cass responded with an 85-yard drive as Knutson scored again from 14 yards to make it 15-0 midway through the second quarter.

Valley City answered back on a 67-yard, 5:25 drive as Tate Sufficool found Luther Zeltinger for a 24-yard touchdown catch with :58 left in the half to make it 15-6. It was only the Hi-Liners’ second TD catch of the season.

The Squirrels scored to begin the second half on an eight-play, 66-yard march. Linemen Carson Rieniets scored from a yard out to make it 21-6.

A Jonah Lietz 5-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Halverson with 9:01 left in the game ended the scoring at 27-6. Valley City had one final chance to score in the 4th. After a muffed punt backed up the Hi-Liners to its’ 1-yard line. the Hi-Liners marched down to the Central Cass 1, but were stopped on downs.

Zeltinger led Valley City (0-9) with five receptions,100 yards and a TD, plus 19 carries for 68 yards. Knutson led Central Cass (3-6) with 135 yards on eight carries, plus 2 TD’s. Lietz was 12-17 passing for 109 yards.