'Fueled by success': Brandon Valley football’s run game wears down Roosevelt at Presidents Bowl

Second-ranked Brandon Valley used its run game to wear out the Roosevelt Rough Riders en route to a 12-7 victory at the final game of the Presidents Bowl.

It was a game of little offense and a lot of patience for Brandon Valley Interim Head Coach Matt Christensen. He said Saturday's game was a good opportunity for his team to learn to overcome adversity.

Brandon Valley junior quarterback Lucas Slack threw two interceptions in the first half, forcing the Lynx to rely on their run game and clock management.

"They're fueled by success, by the blocking, the support they receive. They understand how important ball security and control of the clock is," Christensen said.

Brandon Valley went into the game with a heavily favored offense that scored 47 points in their first two games of the season. The Roosevelt Rough Riders, on the other hand, went into the game looking for their first win of the season.

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Although Brandon Valley got on the scoreboard first, by working their way up the field with quick runs by junior running back Peyton Egan, they did so by a field goal.

Right after the first field goal in the first quarter, the Rough Riders were dealt a quick turnover and Brandon Valley got back on the ball looking to do damage.

The game momentum shifted shortly afterward when Slack threw his first interception of the game for an 78-yard touchdown return courtesy of Roosevelt's senior linebacker Matthew Goehring.

With the extra point good, and after another Brandon Valley field goal, the Rough Riders led 7-6 until the fourth quarter.

However, by the fourth quarter, the Rough Rider defensive line had begun falling apart. Constant runs by Egan and senior running back Jordan Johnson, who rushed for 144 and 111 yards respectfully, tired out the Rough Rider defense.

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Egan said it was all clock play after the Lynx came back from halftime.

"Working the clock was key, but you have to hold onto the football," Egan said. "For us to drive like that in the fourth quarter, with that type of energy, was amazing."

Johnson for his part scored the game winning touchdown in the fourth after some short carries between him and Egan got the Lynx up the field.

"The pain is the fuel, I just kept carrying the ball because I knew my team needed points on the board and we wanted to make it out of the no-passing struggle," Johnson said.

The Lynx made it up the field one more time before taking a knee to close out the game in the dying seconds of the fourth.

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Kim Nelson, Rough Rider head coach, in his postgame interview admitted his team struggled offensively. They only managed 98 yards of offense the entire game, but on the other hand, he said they did manage to keep Brandon Valley out of the end zone for three quarters.

"I'm really proud of our defense for holding them to 12 points. We had to make some turnovers and some big plays on third down," Nelson said.

Roosevelt fell to 0-3 and will next play Rapid City Central. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. Saturday.

Brandon Valley, now 3-0, plays O'Gorman next with a kickoff time of 5 p.m. Saturday.