GRAND FORKS – In a game they had targeted since last fall, the Jamestown Blue Jays were well in control.

Kelan Harstad rushed for three touchdowns and the JHS defense held their opponent to under 150 yards of offense in a 34-9 season-opening win over Grand Forks Central Friday at Cushman Field.

Jamestown avenged a 14-13 home loss to Central in the 2023 AA semifinal.

The Blue Jays had the ball for nearly six and a half minutes and for 17 plays on the game’s first possession, but the Knights’ Brody Melicher stopped Harstad on a fourth-down run.

On Central’s second offensive play, Logan Vorhies fumbled, with Harstad recovering at the Central 17.  Harstad ran the ball into the end zone for an apparent touchdown, but an inadvertent whistle left the ball at the Knights’ five yard line.

Ryan Kallenbach hit Nate Walz for a five-yard touchdown on the next play and Jamestown led 7-0 with 4:49 left in the first quarter.

Just over two minutes into the second quarter, Central scored a safety when a snap sailed over the head of Jamestown punter Gradin Thorlakson and out of the end zone.  Brooklan Bruce ran back the free kick to the Blue Jays’ 43 and Naz Fisher completed a seven-play with a one-yard touchdown run to give Central a 9-7 lead with 5:25 remaining in the first half.

Jamestown responded with the deciding possession.  The Blue Jays drove for 70 yards, 48 of which were compiled rushing by Liam Frey, who ended the drive with a one-yard score.  Jamestown led 14-9 with 2:35 left.

The second half began for Central with a 36-yard run by Fisher, but the Knights were stopped on fourth down when Caleb Schiele stopped Fisher behind the line of scrimmage.  Jamestown then drove 85 yards, culminating in Harstad’s first touchdown on a 14-yard run.  Kallenbach hit Max Rittenbach with a 45-yard pass during the drive.  The Blue Jays took a 21-9 advantage with 7:34 to go in the third quarter.

Jamestown then engineered a 15-play, 73-yard, six minute and 16 second drive, finishing with a five-yard scoring run by Harstad with 9:58 left and Jamestown led 27-9.

After Central was again stopped on fourth down, Jamestown scored in 10 plays, all on the ground.  Four rushes by Frey were followed by six from Harstad, who capped the drive with a 2-yard run to the end zone.

Harstad rushed for 133 yards, and Frey dashed for 86.  Kallenbach was 12-of-22 for 124 yards.  Walz made five receptions.

Jamestown will play its home opener Friday against West Fargo Horace at Rollie Greeno Field at Charlotte and Gordon Hansen Stadium.  Coverage will begin at 6:30 Friday on The Voice of the Blue Jays, Jamestown 107.1.

Jamestown	7	7	7	13	34
GF Central	0	9	0	0	9

FIRST QUARTER
Jamestown – Ryan Kallenbach 5-yard TD pass to Nate Walz (Chase Traut XP) 4:49 – 7-0 Jamestown – 1 play, 5 yds, 0:07

SECOND QUARTER
GF Central – SAFETY; ball snapped out of end zone 9:12 – 7-2 Jamestown
GF Central – Naz Fisher 1-yard TD run (Talan Lunski XP) 5:25 – 9-7 GF Central – 7 plays, 43 yds, 3:47
Jamestown – Liam Frey 1-yard TD run (Traut XP) 2:35 – 14-9 Jamestown – 8 plays, 70 yds, 2:50

THIRD QUARTER
Jamestown – Kelan Harstad 14-yard TD run (Traut XP) 7:34 – 21-9 Jamestown – 7 plays, 85 yds, 1:42

FOURTH QUARTER
Jamestown – Harstad 5-yard TD run (XP blocked) 9:58 – 27-9 Jamestown – 15 plays, 73 yds, 6:16
Jamestown – Harstad 2-yard TD run (Traut XP) 2:51 – 34-9 Jamestown – 10 plays, 62 yds, 5:39

Individual Statistics

RUSHING
Jamestown – Harstad 24-133-3 TD, Frey 14-86-1 TD, Kallenbach 6-16, Walz 1-4, Gradin Thorlakson 2-(-7)
GF Central – Fisher 10-67-1 TD, John Shereck 5-16, Logan Vorhies 10-13, Noah Lease 5-(-14)

PASSING
Jamestown – Kallenbach 12-22-124-1 TD
GF Central – Lease 6-12-49

RECEIVING
Jamestown – Walz 5-22-1 TD, Max Rittenbach 3-77, Caleb Schiele 2-12, Jackson Jarrett 1-7, Frey 1-6
GF Central – Vorhies 4-42, Brayden Dirckx 1-6, Quantae Henry 1-1

	Jamestown	GF Central
First Downs	21	7
Rushing	47/232	30/82
Passing	124	49
Total Yds	356	131
Att/Comp/Int	12/22/0	6/12/0
Punts/avg	0/0.0	4/29.3
Fumbles/lost	1/0	2/1
Penalties/Yds	10/90	10/74
Time of possession	26:17	21:43