Another tough test: Jimmies host Cobbers in home opener

Talk about it

After a tough season opener, there is no let up in the degree of difficulty in the first home game of the season for the Jimmies.

Jamestown College welcomes in Concordia College today at 1 p.m., in what will be just the second meeting between the schools since 1947.

There is not a cupcake on the first half of the Jimmies’ schedule.

The Cobbers went 6-4 last season, but were 6-2 before finishing with two losses.

Concordia, which plays in the always difficult MIAC in NCAA Division III, is 73-41 in coach Terry Moran’s 11 seasons.

“We respect what they stand for as a program,” JC head coach Shawn Frank. “They play a disciplined, physical brand of football and we desire to play the same way.

“They do what they do and aren’t going to deviate from that. It’s going to be a great challenge for our football team.”

The Jimmies are coming off a 38-19 loss to Rocky Mountain College (Mont.) in Miles City. It was 31-7 at halftime, but the Jimmies did outscore the Battlin’ Bears 12-7 in the second half.

“I was proud of the way the kids hung in there, but we can’t be putting ourselves in such a deep hole,” Frank said. “We have to come out of the gates a lot better Saturday.”

Home cooking

The Jimmies had to travel 370 miles last week. A big crowd is expected today on both sides of Greeno Field — Cobber supporters travel well.

“Playing at home is something you always look forward to. … Our players are exited. Our alumni base is certainly excited. It’s going to be a great atmosphere,” Frank said.

Numbers deceiving

The 38 points RMC scored against the JC ‘D’ last week was a bit skewed. The struggles and turnovers of the Jimmie offense put the defense in poor field position most of the first half. The Jimmies created four turnovers — C.J. Costello had two picks. The senior safety also had a team-high seven tackles. Garrett Tenney and Jarelle Miller had sacks.

Cobber quick facts

This is Concordia’s first game of 2012. They have eight new starters, including sophomore quarterback Griffin Neal, who was a 2-year starter at the position for Fargo South. … The Cobbers have 12 players on their 2-deep roster from Fargo and Moorhead. … Concordia runs the flex-bone offense, which features a heavy dose of option football. Defensively, they run a 3-4. The Jimmies faced a no-huddle spread attack from RMC last week.

Head-to-head

The Jimmies and Cobbers have played just once since 1947 with Concordia winning that game. Prior to that, the teams met 10 times between 1920 and 1947 with the Cobbers winning six of the nine games, details which unearthed by JC booster club executive director and head golf coach Dustin Jensen. The next meeting will come much sooner. The Jimmies will travel to Moorhead next year to play at Jake Christensen Stadium.

Sun sports editor Dave Selvig can be reached at (701) 952-8460 or by e-mail at dselvig@jamestownsun.com

Tags: sports, jimmies, football