BISMARCK — If you want to be one of the best, you have to beat one of the best.
For just second time in the past 15 years and the first time since 2018, the Oakwood Comets defeated the Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin Blue Devils in a Vermilion Valley Conference football game.
Junior Kyler Johnson rushed for a game-high 177 yards and two scores as Oakwood finished the regular season with a 21-13 triumph over Bis-Henn/Ross-Al at Peyton-Moss Field.
“There are certain hurdles in this conference you have to get over — there is a hierarchy,’’ said Oakwood coach Cameron Lee. “If you have been around long enough, you know it. Tonight, wasn’t just about winning the football game. It was facing a good team, a good program with experience and discipline who has been there before and figuring out a way to win in extremely tough circumstances.
“This means more to me than putting up 60 points on a team that we are supposed to beat. Finding a way to win these type of games against a quality opponent is a testament to this program.’’
And the Comets took every punch from the Blue Devils and just kept fighting.
Bis-Henn/Ross-Al tied the game at 7-7 late in the third quarter on a 3-yard touchdown run by Liam Parish, but Oakwood answered with a 59-yard scoring run by Johnson to take a 14-7 lead.
“It was very important to get the momentum back on our side,’’ Johnson said.
Then in the fourth quarter, the Blue Devils pulled within 14-13 on a 6-yard run by Isaac Cahill.
After an penalty on the extra point, Bis-Henn/Ross-Al went for the 2-point conversion, trying to take the lead, but a fumbled snap and a big defensive play allowed Oakwood (7-2 overall) to maintain the lead.
“If we just would have tied it or taken the lead, that changes everything,’’ Bis-Henn/Ross-Al coach Mark Dodd said.
The Blue Devils (6-3 overall) remain aggressive, recovering the ensuing onside kickoff. But, the Comets came up with a big fourth down stop as Jaethan Perez and Cale Thomas stopped BHRA’s Liam Parish.
“We have been preaching a no-flinch mentality,’’ Lee said. “We just had to be tough and stay in the fight. That is where we have made the biggest strides in this program, and it’s not just as football players but as young men.
“We know that with our abilities, we can overcome anything. We just have to stay the course and stay in the fight.’’
It’s something that Dodd noticed from the opposing sideline.
“Oakwood beat us at our own game,’’ he said. “They were the more physical team. They deserve to win.’’
With the victory, Oakwood earned itself a first-round home playoff game this Saturday against the Carrollton Hawks (6-3).
“When you have a home playoff game on the line, you have to show out for our fans,’’ said Johnson after the game and before the pairings were announced Saturday night. “It means a lot. We have a chance to make Oakwood football history.’’
The Comets have only four playoff wins in school history and just one in the past 35 years.
Kickoff this Saturday is set for 2 p.m. at Marty McFarland Field.
Bis-Henn/Ross-Al, who reached the state quarterfinals last season, will travel to Pana for a 1 p.m. game this Saturday against the Panthers (8-1).
At Peyton-Moss Field, Bismarck
Oakwood 21, Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin 13
Oakwood 7 0 7 7 — 21
BHRA 0 0 7 6 — 13
First quarter
Oakwood — Jaethan Perez 59-yard pass from Alex Wallace (Trevor McCall kick), 0:59.
Third quarter
BHRA — Liam Parish 3-yard run (Jadyn Peters kick), 1:06.
Oakwood — Kyler Johnson 59-yard run (McCall kick), 0:54.
Fourth quarter
BHRA — Isaac Cahill 6-yard run (run failed), 10:53.
Oakwood — Johnson 1-yard run (McCall kick), 2:25.