VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – On the first play of the game, the Hi-Liners fumbled the football. Central Cass recovered and would eventually score. That would be the theme to the game as the Squirrels turned four Hi-Liner turnovers into points in the first half on the way to a 43-16 win Saturday afternoon at Hanna Field.

Quarterback Jonah Leitz would get Central Cass on the board first with a one yard quarterback sneak four plays after the Squirrels recovered a Corey Nelson fumble at the Hi-Liner 24 yard line. Valley City would block the extra point attempt making 6-0 Central Cass 1:42 into the game.

After the Hi-Liners went three and out on the ensuing drive, Central Cass went 37 yards on six plays capped off by a Leitz to Braeden Knudson touchdown pass from five yards out. The conversion was no good and with 5:14 to go in the first quarter, the Squirrels led 12-0. On the Hi-Liners next possession, Tate Sufficool was pressured as the Squirrels brought the blitz and his pass was intercepted by Cade Merrigan who would rumble 50 yards for the touchdown. After Rafeal Buccini’s extra point, Central Cass led 19-0 with 2:33 to in the first quarter. It would only take the Squirrels one play and nine seconds to score again.

After forcing a Hi-Liner punt, Central Cass started at the Hi-Liner 41. On the first play of the drive. Leitz hit Jacob Havlverson in the end zone and a 25-0 Squirrel lead with :48 to go in the first quarter.

Central Cass’s pressure on quarterback Tate Sufficool caused another turnover, this time a sack and fumble that was recovered by the Squirrels. After a 24 yard completion to Knudson, Andrew Volk would score on a three yard run making it 31-0 Central Cass with 4:28 remaining in the quarter. The Squirrels would cause another Sufficool fumble on a quarterback draw play and ended that 23 yard drive with a ten yard touchdown pass from Leitz to Andrew Volk. Another missed conversion made it 37-0 Central Cass with :54 to go in the half.

That would be the score at halftime. Central Cass had six drives in the half with five starting in Hi-Liner territory. And the turned four turnovers in 25 points. Valley City would get on the scoreboard with 3:46 to go in the third quarter when a screen pass by Leitz to was ruled a lateral and Chris Haynes picked up the loose ball and raced 55 yards for the score. Sufficool hit Beierle with the two-point conversion making it 37-8 Squirrels. Central Cass would get that score back on their ensuing drive.

Braeden Knudson would cap a 67 yard drive with a three yard touchdown run. Another missed conversion would make it 43-8 Squirrels with 1:29 remaining in the third quarter.

Valley City would round out the scoring when Sufficool hit Avery Bennefeld with a perfect pass in stride for a 30 yard touchdown with 5:18 to go in the game. Chris Haynes caught the conversion making the final score 43-16.

Sufficool ended the game 8 for 27 for 100 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions. Bennefeld had 61 yards on five grabs and the touchdown. Corey Nelson led the ground game with 18 yards on seven carries.

For Central Cass, Leitz was 16 of 25 for 194 yards and three touchdowns. Jacob Halverson had six receptions for 103 yards and one score. Braeden Knudson added 45 yards on four catches and a a score. He also added 53 yards rushing on seven carries.

Valley City’s season ends with a 4-5 record. Central Cass improves to 7-2 and will host Turtle Mountain in the first round on the Class AA playoffs next Saturday afternoon at 2pm in Casselton