Oct. 16—JAMESTOWN — Jamestown High School football fans left Charlotte and Gordon Hansen Stadium stunned Friday night.
A game that started with a 26-0 advantage for the Blue Jays ended with a 34-26 victory in Minot North's favor. The loss puts the Jays at 2-6 on the year. Jamestown's last chance at a regular-season win is set to come on Thursday, Oct. 22 at Bismarck St. Mary's. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Early in the first quarter, the Blue Jays took advantage of a Minot North turnover and proceeded to string together a 10 play, 54 yard drive that ended with quarterback Brady Nenow's first-career rushing touchdown to put the Jays up 6-0 over the visitors.
The momentum carried into another prime opportunity for the home team. Nenow anchored the Blue Jay offense and completed a 14 play, 82 yard scoring drive that was capped off with a four yard pass by Nenow to senior receiver Kale Verke with 4:52 left to play in the first half.
Things only got better as the half went on — for the home team.
Minot North got one play off before the Blue Jay defense recovered a fumble inside the Sentinel red zone. Three plays and 15 yards later, Nenow and the rest of the Blue Jays were dancing in celebration of Edison Walters's seventh receiving touchdown of the season.
The home team struck one more time before time expired in the first half.
Jamison Kleinjan made a spectacular diving catch on the third play of the Jays final scoring drive of the half. Kleinjan's reception got the Jays within the five yard line. Aiden Skari ran it in from the three yard line to make it 25-0 with 40 seconds left to play. Chase Traut drilled his second PAT of the evening to make it 26-0 at the end of the first half.
That was the last time Blue Jay players were seen celebrating.
Minot North took the first eight minutes of the second half to cut Jamestown's lead to 13 points. The Sentinels then outscored the Jays 21-0 in the fourth quarter to seal the deal at 34-26. Unofficially, the Sentinels put up 307 yards of total offense compared to 280 for the Blue Jays. Minot North quarterback Henry Woodbeck was 10-of-16 for 178 yards passing and one touchdown pass. Cameron Jesz was the Sentinels top receiver with six receptions for 132 yards.
Unofficially Nenow's stat line read 17-of-27 for 189 yards passing and two touchdowns. Walters hauled in six catches for 55 yards. Verke made four receptions for 22 yards and a score while Kleinjan was responsible for two catches and 42 yards receiving.
Skari led the Blue Jay attempts on the ground with 15 carries for 53 yards rushing and a touchdown. Braden Hemminger notched nine carries for 10 yards.
Minot North clinched a Class AA playoff spot with its win over the Blue Jays. While the loss made things a little bit more tricky for the Jays, Jamestown is not eliminated from postseason play.
Minot North 34, Jamestown 26
MIN-N 0 0 13 21 — 34
JHS 6 20 0 0 — 26
Scoring
First quarter
JHS: 1 yard run by Brady Nenow (Chase Traut kick failed), 3:59
Second quarter
JHS: 4 yard pass by Brady Nenow to Kale Verke (two-point conversion failed), 4:52
JHS: 7 yard pass by Nenow to Edison Walters (kick good), 4:00
JHS: 3 yard run by Aiden Skari (kick good), 0:40
Third quarter
MIN-N: 13 yard pass by Henry Woodbeck to Cameron Jesz (kick good), 6:16
MIN-N: 2 yard run by Cian Hannon (kick failed), 4:43
Fourth quarter
MIN-N: 4 yard run by Davyion Clemons (kick good), 11:15
MIN-N: 7 yard run by Cooper Chick (kick good), 6:53
MIN-N: 1 yard run by Chick (kick good), 1:00