WATFORD CITY – For a time, another tough start looked like it might lead to another tough night for Jamestown Blue Jays Football. But this time, Jamestown turned the game around and went into the playoffs with a win.
Kelan Harstad rushed for two touchdowns and Ryan Kallenbach passed for two scores Friday as Jamestown rallied from a 16-0 deficit to defeat Watford City 34-16 at Fridley Field.
The run game with their unique “bunched” offense worked well early for Watford City (1-8, 0-5 AA West). Quarterback Paco Baldenegro ended a 10-play, 80-yard opening drive with a four-yard touchdown run, followed by a two-point conversion run and the Wolves led 8-0 4:27 into the game.
Will Langford intercepted a Kallenbach pass to end the first possession for Jamestown (5-4, 3-2) and the Wolves scored again after a 10-play drive, with Josh Chavez running in the last two yards for a touchdown followed by a Carter Breitbach two -point run. Watford City led 16-0 after one quarter.
Jamestown then rallied. Liam Frey broke two tackles and scampered for a 67-yard touchdown run with 3:46 left in the first half and cut Watford City’s lead to 16-7.
The Wolves took a chance and went for a first down on fourth-and-five at the Jamestown 47 and Wyatt Boekelman threw an incompletion to give the ball back to Jamestown with 1:24 left in the first half. Kallenbach hit Cephy Sayler with a 32-yard completion to put the Blue Jays at the WC 7 and Kallenbach hit a wide-open Max Rittenbach in the end zone for a three-yard touchdown with seven seconds left in the first half and Jamestown was down only 16-14.
Just before halftime, the Blue Jays nearly scored again. Gradin Thorlakson intercepted a Boekelman pass and returned it from the Watford City 42 before being forced out of bounds at the two as the first half ended.
However, Jamestown did score to start the second half. Caleb Schiele ran back the opening kickoff 45 yards to the Wolves’ 44. The ensuing six-play drive ended with a 14-yard TD run by Harstad and the Blue Jays led for keeps, 20-16.
Taking a chance again, Watford City came up short again on a fourth-down run by Chavez at their own 38. Jamestown then scored in seven plays, the last being Harstad running in a one-yard touchdown. With 4:54 left in the third quarter, Jamestown led 27-16.
Another fourth-down gamble then failed for Watford City and Jamestown set up at the Wolves’ 35. A four-play drive ended with a Kallenbach touchdown pass to Sayler, his first touchdown reception, and the Blue Jays led 34-16 in the last minute of the third quarter.
Jamestown rushed for 201 yards, including 90 by Frey on just six carries and 84 by Harstad. Kallenbach was 10-of-17 for 102 yards. Sayler had three catches for 59 yards.
On Friday, Jamestown will play at Horace in the first round of the AA playoffs. On September 6 at Hansen Stadium, Kallenbach threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Jackson Jarrett with 37 seconds left to give the Blue Jays a 14-12 win over the Hawks. Coverage of Friday’s game will begin at 5:30 PM on The Voice of the Blue Jays, Jamestown 107.1.