HANCOCK — It would have been a tossup to see who was more exhausted after Saturday’s Lewis-Clark Valley-Finlandia University football game.

In the end, it might have been the scorekeeper at McAfee Field, as the Lions scored a 54-44 win.

“I don’t know that either team let their foot off the gas pedal today,” Lions coach Tim Driscoll said after the record-setting afternoon. “I know that our kids hung in there, made some adjustments and ended up winning a game.”

The passing of Loggers quarterback Rob Roth left the locals hanging on for a long time.

Roth put up 40 passes on the afternoon and completed 22 for 468 yards and four scores.

“That team (L-C Valley) is very explosive, and the quarterback has a great arm,” Driscoll said. “He’s able to make plays with his running ability and he can throw the ball 60 or 70 yards.”

Fortunately for the Lions, they also had a multi-talented player at QB in freshman De’Llontae Johnson.

Johnson scored three times on the day and accounted for 107 yards passing and 152 yards running.

“He (Johnson) kept plays alive with his athletic ability,” Driscoll noted. “He made big plays.”

The win, Finlandia’s first this season, got off to a shaky start.

After taking a quick 7-0 lead on a short run by Justin Woolever, the locals watched as Roth led the Idaho team to a 16-7 advantage after one period.

“We knew we had to make defensive adjustments,” Driscoll said. “He (Roth) was moving the ball at will in the first quarter.”

Johnson scored twice in the second frame on short runs, while Bryce Beauchaine caught a 10-yard TD option pass from Jacob Price in the final seconds of the half.

That ignited a 20-0 quarter and a 27-16 halftime lead.

That lead grew to 40-16 in the third period as Johnson scampered in from 35 yards away and Woolever had a 28-yard scoring rum.

But the Loggers weren’t about to call it a day.

A short scoring run by Roth later in the quarter was answered when Johnson hit Dillon Hueckstadt (Baraga) with an 8-yard TD toss before the quarter ended.

The Lions’ Josh Eve scored on a 15-yard pass from Johnson early in the final quarter to up it to 54-29.

Lewis-Clark tallied twice after that to make it close, but the Lions were able to gain control.

Woolever rushed for 103 yards for the winners.

Hueckstaedt led the Lions defense with 11 tackles, while Taylor Bonetti intercepted two passes. Caleb Scroggs (L’Anse) also played well in the interior.

Raheem Harvey caught nine passes for a whopping 241 yards to spark the visitors offense.

Now 1-2 on the season, Finlandia hosts Robert Morris-Peoria on Saturday.

Lewis-Clark 16 0 12 15 – 44

Finlandia 7 20 20 7 – 54

First quarter

FU – Justin Woolever 2 run (Avery Huigbretsge kick)

LC – Triplett 14 pass from Roth (Triplett pass from Roth)

LC – Triplett 15 pass from Roth (Pass good)

Second quarter

FU – De’Llontae Johnson 1 run (kick good)

FU – Johnson 5 run (kick good)

FU – Bryce Beauchaine 15 pass from Jacob Price (kick good)

Third quarter

FU – Johnson 35 run (kick failed)

FU – Woolever 28 run (kick good)

LC – Roth 3 run (run failed)

Fourth quarter

FU – Eves 15 pass from Johnson (kick good)

LC – Raheem Harvey 4 pass from Roth (run failed)

LC – Levi Irish 1 run (pass failed)