JAMESTOWN, N.D. (JimmieAthletics.com) – The University of Jamestown football team had the numbers advantage Saturday afternoon in all categories except the most important one–the final score.
Concordia (Neb.) University was outgained 347-144 in total yards and lost the time of possession 40:53-19:07, but managed to come away with a 16-13 victory at Rollie Greeno Field.
Ryan Durdon’s 14-yard touchdown run 48 seconds into the fourth quarter proved to be the difference as the Bulldogs improved to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference.
Durdon’s go-ahead score came one play after Jamestown botched a snap on a fourth down punt. The snap to Isaak Myles (FR/Las Vegas, Nev.) from the UJ 42 went awry, causing the Jimmie punter to fall on the ball at the UJ 14 for a 28-yard loss.
UJ scored the game’s first touchdown with 2:33 left in the first quarter. Jordan Mann (JR/Bismarck, N.D.) found James Hagen (SO/Henderson, Nev.) from eight yards out and following Kai Madela (FR/Henderson, Nev.)’s extra point, Jamestown led 7-0.
Concordia got on the board with 25 seconds remaining in the quarter. A bad snap to Myles on fourth down resulted in a safety, cutting the Jimmie lead to 7-2.
Durdon gave the Bulldogs a 9-7 lead with his first touchdown of the day, a two-yard run with 12:25 left in the first half.
Madela connected on a 33-yard field goal to put UJ back in front, 10-9, with 6:20 before halftime.
Another Madela field goal, this time from 32 yards out, extended the lead to 13-9 with 4:27 to play in the third.
Jordan Mann completed 21-of-33 passes for 196 yards in the losing effort. Jimmy Hatch (JR/Sacramento, Calif.) carried 16 times for 60 yards, while Allen Jevning (SO/Brainerd, Minn.) gained 58 yards on 10 carries. Garrett Mitchell (FR/Shakopee, Minn.) caught four passes for 66 yards and Barry Williams Jr. (FR/Las Vegas, Nev.) caught five balls for 26 yards.
Defensively, Caleb Ellingson (SR/Jamestown, N.D.) led the way for UJ with 12 tackles, including a sack. The Jimmies held Durdon to 53 yards rushing after he gained 250 in Concordia’s win over Buena Vista.
Jake Kemp completed 5-of-9 passes for 58 yards, with Vincent Beasley catching three of those for 46 yards. Lane Napier finished with 18 total tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss.
Next up for the Jimmies (1-3, 0-2 GPAC) is trip to Doane (Neb.) next Saturday, with the kickoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m.