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Mark McKenzie(NewsDakota.com)…D-III Wisconsin Stout spoiled the Jimmie football home opener on Saturday, as the Blue Devils pulled out a 20-17 victory at Greeno Field.
Mistakes cost the Jimmies early. Senior QB Brad Lint was picked off on Jamestown’s first possession of the game, as Senior LB Ryan Pearcy stepped in front of a throw on the sidelines, and returned it to the Jimmie 20. Five plays later, the Blue Devils were in the endzone on a one yard touchdown pass from Senior QB Ross Carey to FB David Goebel on a fourth and goal with 10:15 remaining in the first quarter.
Stout bumped the lead to 14-0 in the second quarter. Jamestown was forced to punt out of it’s own endzone, and the Devils took over in Jimmie territory at the 45. Five plays later it was Goebel again, finding pay dirt on a 24 yard sprint on a trap play.
The Jimmies put together a drive late in the first half, but wasted a first and goal at the three, and settled for a 21 yard field goal by Sophomore Kicker Ryan Benke. Jamestown received the ball to start the second half, but after a three and out, Junior Punter Craig Anderson had his punt blocked, and the Devils took over at the Jimmie 13. Jamestown held Stout to a 24 yard field goal by Richard Marteney, and the hole was 17-3 with 10:00 minutes to go in the third.
Jamestown cut the deficit to 17-10 with 3:30 left in the third when Junior RB Lance Johanson took a stretch play for a 77 yard touchdown run. Junior DB A.J. Downs came up with a pick on the Devils next play, and the Jimmies were in position to tie the game. A third and two pass fell incomplete, and Benke trotted on the field for a 30 yard field goal. attempt. The kick was wide right, and a golden chance had gone by the boards a minute into the fourth quarter.
Stout appeared to put the game out of reach when they marched to the Jimmie 16, and got a 33 yard field goal from Marteney to bump the lead to 20-10 with 4:15 remaining. Jamestown needed to respond quickly, and that is exactly what happend. Lint hooked up with Junior wide out Matt Wilson on a 69 yard touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage following the Devils kickoff. With four minutes left in regulation, the Jimmies had pulled to with-in 20-17.
Stout was forced to punt with two minutes to go, and Jamestown took over at it’s own 15. Lint engineered a great drive, including a huge fourth down completion to Senior receiver Josh Ewalt for 22 that took the Jimmies to the Stout 27 with a half minute to go. Lint hit Ewalt underneath for seven with :13 second to go, but Ewalt was hurt on the play, and had to be helped off the field. Jamestown was out of time outs, and the clock started as soon as Ewalt was taken to the sideline. Instead of spiking the ball to stop the clock and set up a 37 yard field goal attempt, Lint threw for the endzone, and the ball was picked off by Damian Guggenbuehl to end the game.
Jamestown outgained the Devils with 365 yards of offense to 330 for Stout. The Jimmies passed for 238 yards, but Lint was picked off three times. Johansen ended up with 112 yards on only 11 carries.
Blue Devils Senior linebacker Ryan Pearcy had a monster game, with 20 tackles, a pick, and a forced fumble. Jimmie Junior DB A.J.Downs was impressive in his first game at Greeno Field with nine tackles, a pick, and two pass break-ups.
Jimmie head coach Bud Etzold said the early miscues were costly “In the first half, it looked like we hadn’t evened practiced. We had major break downs. The interceptions, and blocked punt led to 13 of their 20 points. We have 19 Seniors, so we can’t do this. Take nothing away from them(Stout), they are a darn good football team. Despite all that, we still put ourselves in position to win the game.”
Next up for Jamestown, 1-1, is it’s conference opener versus Dickinson State Saturday, September 17th at Greeno Field. The Hawks are 0-3 after blowing a second half lead, and lost to Valley City State 28-26 in Dickinson on Saturday.