Minot beats Jays

MINOT — In a matter of just over a minute, the Minot High football team turned the table on Jamestown.

Four plays late in the third quarter caused a 14-point swing for the Magicians, who went on to defeat the Blue Jays 23-14 in a Class AAA playoff game Tuesday at Duane Carlson Stadium.

Minot will move on to play two-time defending state champion and East No. 1 seed Fargo South Saturday in Fargo.

With 3:44 remaining in the third quarter, Minot took its first lead of the game on a Spencer Bickel 2-yard run. On the ensuing kick, Jamestown’s Ryan Hendrickson caught the kickoff just past the goal line, but fumbled into the end zone. After running a few yards out of the end zone, he fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Minot’s Wyatt Grindy.

Two plays later, MHS quarterback Derek Somerville found the end zone against from a yard out for a 23-14 Magicians’ lead.

“That was the difference,” Blue Jays head coach Bill Cahill said. “They made plays and we didn’t.”

Trailing 14-9 at halftime, Minot forced a three-and-out on Jamestown’s first possession of the third quarter.

The Magicians got the ball in good position at the Blue Jays 36 and took a 16-14 lead six plays later.

“We were really pleased with how our defense came out in the second half and stopped them,” MHS head coach Barry Holmen said. “We have a good kicker who gets it deep. They didn’t handle it and our special teams came up big. It was very key to get it to nine (points). Eight is a whole different deal.”

Field position was key in the second half, as Minot’s two scoring drives came on short fields. Jamestown, conversely, operated from deep in its own end for much of the half.

“We didn’t get field position,” Cahill said. “When they got up two scores, we were scrambling to try to get something to work.”

The Magicians played most of the game without injured LB/FB Kalvin Larson. Bickel said Minot had to get contributions from other players with its top linebacker sidelined.

“The first half we didn’t have Kalvin in there much,” he said. “We came out in the third quarter with a new game plan.”

Holmen said a number of Minot players including Larson’s fullback replacement Jace Olander, did that in the second half.

“Jace played the best game he’s ever played,” Holmen said. “We had numerous kids, especially on defense, that haven’t played a lot before tonight. We had 6-8 role players I’m really proud of who stepped up and made plays.”

Jamestown (4-6) struck early in the first quarter, recovering the opening kick following a short kickoff.

Sophomore quarterback Jordan Lynch, replacing ailing starter Mike Bangs, scored from 9 yards out at 9:51 of the first quarter.

Lynch scored another touchdown in the second quarter, giving the Blue Jays a 14-6 lead.

Bangs returned in the second half, and junior wideout Jordan Piatz even took a turn under center for Jamestown for a possession.

Minot (6-3) fumbled the ball seven times, losing two of the fumbles.

West Region play-in game

Minot High 23, Jamestown 14

First quarter

Jamestown — Jordan Lynch 9 run (Tim Smith kick), 9:51.

Second quarter

Minot — Spencer Bickel 3 run (run failed), 9:15.

Jamestown — Lynch 4 run (Smith kick), 5:00.

Minot — Zach Pulkinen 22 field goal, :22.

Third quarter

Minot — Bickel 2 run (Pulkinen kick), 3:44.

Minot — Derek Somerville 2 run (Pulkinen kick), 2:57.

Fourth quarter

No scoring

Team statistics

Jamestown Minot

First downs 10 13

Rushes-yards 36-183 48-181

Passing yards 9 64

Comp.-att.-int. 1-8-1 3-7-0

Punts-avg. 6-25.3 4-23.5

Penalties-yards 6-40 6-55

Fumbles-lost 1-1 7-2

Individual statistics

Rushing — Jamestown: Kyle Walden 12-56, Dakotah Walker 4-27, Andy Lillijord 6-30, Mike Bangs 3-24, Jordan Lynch 5-24, Jordan Piatz 5-15, Charles Regan 1-7; Minot: Spencer Bickel 25-96, Donte Smart 12-69, Derek Somerville 8-15, Jace Olander 2-6, Jonas Tengesdal 1-(-5).

Passing — Jamestown: Jordan Lynch 1-3-0 — 9, Mike Bangs 0-4-0 — 0, Andy Lillijord 0-1-0 — 0; Minot: Somerville 3-7-0 — 64.

Receiving — Jamestown: Piatz 1-9; Minot: Alex Nelson 1-34, Jarid Hoffman 1-20, Matthew Kuske 1-10.

Tags: jamestown high school, jhs, bluejays, football, minot, playoffs