Central stuns No. 1 Valley City in double overtime
Oct. 15—GRAND FORKS — For most of the season, Grand Forks Central managed to lead its opponent at some point. But the Knights couldn't hold most of those leads. The result was a 2-5 record heading into Friday night's game against No. 1-ranked and undefeated Valley City.
Central, however, broke that trend.
Central stunned Valley City 24-21 in double overtime at Cushman Field — the Knights' biggest win in a long time and one that has them on the cusp of reaching the upcoming North Dakota Class A football playoffs.
Central's Dylan LaMont hit Leo Strandell in the corner of the end zone, a play that capped a wildly entertaining night of high school football.
For Central, it was somewhat of a statement win for a program that has struggled in recent years.
"When Leo caught that ball, it was like a monkey was off our back," said Central first-year coach Jake Schauer. "We've had a lot of things go against us this year and tonight things went our way."
Central led a good chunk of the game before Valley City's ground game dominated in the fourth quarter.
The Hi-Liners took a15-9 lead on Gavin Gerhardt's 7-yard touchdown run with 2:15 to play.
But it was not another heartbreaker for the Knights. Central rallied and tied the game on LaMont's 1-yard run with 32 seconds to go. However, the point-after kick was blocked and it was on to overtime.
Bryson Heck and Ross Wilber traded field goals in the first overtime before Bryson put the Hi-Liners up 21-18 in the second overtime.
LaMont then hit Strandell for the game-winner on Central's first play in the second overtime.
Strandell came up with the game-winner but LaMont and Jack Simmers teamed up to keep the Knights moving all night. The two combined for 154 passing yards, with Simmers scoring Central's first TD on a 40-yard connection from LaMont in the first quarter.
It was Central's pass game against Valley City's ground game. This time, the air game prevailed.
"Our kids have a lot of confidence in throwing the ball," said Schauer. "We throw the ball before practice and after practice."
After Strandell, fought off a Valley City defender for the game-winning catch, the celebration was on for the Knights, who gathered in the end zone to sing the school song.
Central's goal is the upcoming Class A playoffs. They entered the weekend as the No. 8 team in the QRF, which sets the eight-team postseason.
The Knights will at least hold on to the No. 8 ranking with the regular-season finale next Friday at Devils Lake.
The win will pump more energy in the Central program.
Late season games now have become meaningful.
"Our coaches and players live for football," said Schauer. "We're trying to make this a football town again."
Friday's win was a great start.
"We're not guaranteed anything yet," said the Central coach. "We've got to go and beat Devils Lake and see what happens."
