Valley City vs Northern Cass

Recap

Northern Cass 24, Valley City 13

For the first time since 2019, Northern Cass will be in the North Dakota High School Football playoffs.

The Jaguars advanced to the Class A playoffs with a 24-13 victory over Valley City Friday night at Northern Cass.

Quarterback Hudson Rietschel completed 12 of 18 passes for 177 yards and 2 touchdowns, while rushing 4 times for 79 yards and a touchdown as the Jaguars finish the regular season with a 6-3 overall record and 5-2 in Region 1A.

Brooks Crockett caught 3 passes for 66 yards and a Jaguars touchdown, rushed for a touchdown and intercepted a pass in the third quarter.  Chris Hoiland caught 2 passes for 28 yards and a touchdown and also picked off a pass in the fourth quarter with 5:19 to play to end Valley City’s last offensive series.

Northern Cass’ defense held Valley City to 42 yards and one first down in the second half, besides the 2 interceptions.

In the first quarter, the Jaguars’ Trever Lee blocked a punt that led to Rietschel’s 16 yard TD pass to Crockett.  The PAT failed, giving Northern Cass a 6-0 lead.

Following the kickoff, Valley City took the lead as Hudson Kriewald connected with Derek Shape on a 63 yard TD pass.  The Hi-Liners kicked the extra point for a 7-6 lead after one quarter.

Northern Cass regained the lead in the second quarter as Crockett scored on a 7 yard run.  The 2 point conversion failed, with the Jaguars in front 12-7 with 6:19 to go in the half.

Later in the quarter, Valley City’s Jack Dieterle intercepted a pass and returned it to the 50 yard line.  5 plays later, the Hi-Liners were back in the lead as Corbyn Powell scored on a one yard run, putting Valley City in front 13-12 with 1:18 to go in the half.

Northern Cass then drove 59 yards in 4 plays to re-take the lead  Hoiland caught a 13 yard scoring pass from Rietschel with 30 seconds to go in the half and the Jaguars led 18-13 at intermission.

The only scoring of the second half came early in the third quarter as Rietschel scored on a 61 yard gallop.  The PAT failed, making the score 24-13 for Northern Cass and that’s how the game ended.

Parker Zieske of Northern Cass rushed 24 times for 94 yards, Rietschel had 79 yards on 4 carries, Lee 29 yards on 9 carries and Crockett ran 3 times for 11 yards.  The Jaguars had 21 first downs, one lost fumble and one interception, plus 7 penalties for 31 yards.  Northern Cass with 213 yards rushing, 177 passing for 390 yards of total offense.

Valley City (3-6, 3-4) quarterback Hudson Kriewald completed 2 of 12 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown with 2 interceptions.  Shape caught the 63 yard TD pass, while Leighton Hendrickson caught a pass for 26 yards.  Kaleb McClaflin rushed 22 times for 145 yards for the Hi-Liners, who had 238 yards total offense—149 yards rushing and 89 passing.  Valley City had 6 first downs and 3 penalties for 25 yards.

Northern Cass will play next Saturday at top-ranked Langdon Area-Munich in the first round of the North Dakota Class A playoffs.