Photo via Jimmie Athletics

SIOUX CITY, IA. (NewsDakota.com) – The University of Jamestown football team suffered its first loss of the year in heartbreaking fashion on Saturday as UJ fell 31-25 at Briar Cliff.

The Jimmies took a 10-7 lead into the halftime break after Zach Hammett found the endzone with less than three minutes to go in the second quarter. Hammett has now scored in all three of his collegiate games.

In the second half, Briar Cliff tied the game with a field goal after the Jimmies fumbled inside their own territory. Late in the third, Cade Torgerson connected with Steve Justice on a screen and Justice took the ball 28-yards for a score to give Jamestown a 17-10 advantage at the end of the quarter.

With 11:42 to play, Briar Cliff capped a 10-play, 67-yard drive with a touchdown pass from Luke Davies to Steven Whiting to tie the game up at 17. Less than five minutes later, Davies connected with Spencer George for a 38-yard touchdown pass, putting the Chargers ahead 24-17.

Jamestown marched down the field on the next drive, going 90-yards in 15 plays and 6:26. Torgerson had a six-yard rushing touchdown to bring the Jimmies within one point. UJ elected to roll the dice on the road and went for the two-point conversion, where Torgerson connected with Ryan Collins.

It took Briar Cliff just 67 seconds to go 82 yards for the game-winning touchdown in the final minute of the fourth quarter. The two teams combined for 327 yards of penalties on the day.

Torgerson went 30-51 through the air with 326 yards and two total touchdowns. Steve Justice was the leading receiver, finishing with eight catches and 77 yards. Justice also had the lone receiving touchdown on the day for Jamestown.

The Jimmies, now 2-1 overall and 1-1 in the GPAC, host #3 Northwestern next Saturday at 1:00 PM. Full coverage from Hansen Stadium can be heard on Jamestown 107.1/1400AM, online at newsdakota.com, or on the Jamestown 107.1 app.