One that got away
Momentum is loyal to no team. The Jamestown High School and Grand Forks Central football teams went through a tortuous example on Friday night.By: By Chris Aarhus, The Jamestown Sun, The Jamestown Sun
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Momentum is loyal to no team.
The Jamestown High School and Grand Forks Central football teams went through a tortuous example on Friday night.
Jamestown scored a safety and an offensive touchdown in the span of nine seconds to go up by two touchdowns, but gave up two scores in just a minute’s time — all in the third quarter — as Grand Forks Central escaped the Buffalo City with its first win of the year in a 16-14 victory in Class AAA action at Ernie Gates Field.
“Things just didn’t fall into place,” Jamestown junior Tyler Ukestad said. “We’re gonna have to figure it out.”
Leading 6-0 at halftime, the Blue Jays (1-6) came out in the second half and backed up Grand Forks Central deep in its own territory to force a punt. A snap over the punter’s head — he recovered it in the end zone but the Jays blocked it — gave Jamestown an eight-point lead.
Taylor Orr took the ensuing free kick back 57 yards for a touchdown to stake the Jays to a 16-0 lead with 9 minutes, 10 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
“After that safety and touchdown, they definitely had momentum,” GFC coach Bill Lorenz said. “I’m so proud of the way the kids didn’t give up.”
Late in the third, Jamestown forced the Knights to turn it over on downs. On their own 36-yard line, Jamestown quarterback Matt Grounds threw his third interception of the game, and Central’s Carrington Adams took it to the house from 45 yards out to put the Knights on the board.
“We just lost (momentum), and we needed to find a way to get it back,” Ukestad said. “
Grounds, who finished with five picks, sat down in favor of sophomore Ross Monson, who fumbled the ball away on the second play of the next drive at Jamestown’s 27-yard line.
The Knights took advantage of the short field position on the first play, as quarterback Rylie Devier found wide receiver Dustin Marynik over the middle for a 27-yard touchdown pass with 2:34 remaining in the third. Devier was successful on both two-point conversion runs.
Despite Jamestown — which had six total turnovers — getting three possessions in the final 8 minutes of the game, the score held firm. Grand Forks Central had four turnovers, including three fumbles.
“We made plays and got back into it,” said Lorenz, whose team entered 0-6. “(Getting a win) is a big weight off our back. The kids put in so much work and effort. I’m proud of the way they battled tonight.”
Devier was the workhorse in the option offense, often keeping it himself most of the time. He had 26 carries for 94 yards and was 3-of-6 passing for 31 yards.
“He’s a hard runner; he’s tough to bring down,” Lorenz said of the 6-foot-2, 200-pound senior. “He always keeps his feet moving.”
Jamestown’s offense looked primed for a big night on the game’s opening possession. The Blue Jays embarked on a 9-play, 79-yard drive that culminated in a 36-yard touchdown catch by Ukestad from Grounds.
But offense was hard to come by the rest of the night. The Knights had 166 total yards with 135 coming on the ground, while Jamestown ended with 154 including 91 yards rushing. Jamestown senior Anthony Cook was the Jays’ leading rushing with 21 carries for 55 yards.
The Blue Jays are back in action on Friday, when they travel to Williston.
Grand Forks Central 16, Jamestown 14
GF Central 0 0 14 0 — 16
Jamestown 6 0 8 0 — 14
Scoring
First quarter
J—Tyler Ukestad 36 pass from Matt Grounds (kick blocked), 7:06.
Second quarter
No scoring
Third quarter
J—Safety, 9:19
J—Taylor Orr 57 punt return (run failed), 9:10.
GFC—Carrington Adams 45 interception return (Rylie Devier run), 3:34.
GFC—Dustin Marynik 27 pass from Devier (Devier run), 2:34.
Fourth quarter
No scoring
Statistics GFC JHS
Rushing 135 91
Passing 31 63
Total yards 166 154
Rushing: GFC, Devier 26-94, Taner Bender 8-38, Joe Martin 1-4, Zane Reller 1-(-1). J, Anthony Cook 21-55, Grounds 5-20, Eathan Gumke 3-9, Taylor Orr 6-7, Ross Monson 1-0.
Passing: GFC, Devier 3-6-0 31, Martin 0-2-1 0. J, Grounds 4-14-5 63, Monson 0-0-0 0.
Receiving: GFC, Marynik 1-27, Zane Reller 1-2, Casey Aarvig 1-2. J, Ukestad 2-44, Marc Wagner 1-83, C.J. Soulis 1-8.
Turnovers: GFC 4 (3 fumbles, interception), JHS 6 (5 interceptions, fumble).
Sun sports writer Chris Aarhus can be reached at (701) 952-8462 or by email at caarhus@jamestownsun.com
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