Jamestown hits the road, beats Williston

Jamestown High School senior Thomas Mortenson came up big on Friday night.

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound lineman sacked Williston quarterback Marcus Noeske on fourth down and 4 in Williston territory with 3 minutes remaining to help the Blue Jays secure a 28-18 West Region win in Williston.

The victory is Jamestown’s second of the season, improving the Blue Jays’ record to 2-3 in the West and and 2-6 overall.

Mortenson’s big play gave the Blue Jays the ball with a 21-18 lead inside Williston’s 30-yard line. Though there were still a few minutes remaining, Jamestown steadily moved the ball and quarterback Matt Grounds put the game on ice with a 35-yard touchdown run with 16 seconds remaining.

Williston got an interception from Isaac Erickson to breathe new life, trailing 21-18 until Mortenson’s stop. It was another rough day in regard to turnovers for the Blue Jays. They had four more against Williston after six in a loss to Grand Forks Central.

It almost looked like the Central game at one point.

The Blue Jays staked an 18-12 lead after Jordan Weil recovered a Noeske fumble in the end zone midway through the third quarter. However, Noeske rallied on the next possession with a 38-yard touchdown run.

Grounds followed that with a 28-yard field goal, but Paul Michaelson scored his second touchdown of the game with a 3-yard run midway through the fourth to get the Coyotes within three.

It certainly started off on the right foot for the Blue Jays, who saw Grounds take the third-play from scrimmage to the house for a 41-yard touchdown. However, Michaelson took the Coyotes’ third play 55 yards for a touchdown to even it up.

C.J. Soulis provided the Blue Jays with a lead in the second quarter, thanks to a big touchdown catch through Williston defenders. The pass from Grounds was for 26 yards.

The Blue Jays, who also beat Mandan this season, have yet to be eliminated from playoff contention going into the final week. A win over Minot — which starts at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Ernie Gates Field — along with a Dickinson loss to Mandan would actually clinch the No. 3 seed in the West for the Blue Jays. Jamestown coach Tim Fletcher was unreachable by phone for comment.

Jamestown 28, Williston 18

Jamestown 6 6 9 7 — 28

Williston 6 0 6 6 — 18

First quarter

J — Matt Grounds 41 run (run failed), 10:53.

W — Paul Michaelson 55 run (pass failed), 9:19.

Second quarter

J — C.J. Soulis 26 pass from Grounds (pass failed), 5:07.

Third quarter

J — Jordan Weil 0 fumble recovery (pass failed), 7:19.

W —Markus Noeske 38 run (conversion failed), 6:12

J — Grounds 28 field goal, 0:23

Fourth quarter

W — Michaelson 3 run (pass failed), 7:54

J — Grounds 35 run (Grounds kick), 0:16

Note: Stats were not available

Sun sports writer Chris Aarhus can be reached at (701) 952-8462 or by email at caarhus@jamestownsun.com

Tags: sports, jays, football