From Jimmie Athletics
YANKTON, S.D. (jimmiepride.com)– Chris Sayler (JR/Jamestown, N.D.)’s 38-yard touchdown run brought the University of Jamestown football team back from a 20-16 deficit, and the Jimmies closed out the season with a 23-20 win over Mount Marty University.
The Jimmies led 16-7 at halftime but two third-quarter touchdowns put Mount Marty back in the lead entering the fourth quarter.
Following a Lancer punt with 10:16 remaining, UJ took over at its own 38-yard line. On the first play, Cade Torgerson (SR/Billings, Mont.) completed an 11-yard pass to Micah Madyun (JR/Ramsey, Minn.), but Joshua Pickthor forced a fumble. Fortunately for Jamestown, Javon Bowie-Monteiro (SR/Sacramento, Calif.) recovered at the Lancers’ 40. After a two-yard gain by Sayler got the ball down to the 38-yard line, Sayler broke free and found the end zone, and Aanon Peterson (FR/Andover, Minn.)’s extra point made it 23-20 with 9:02 to play.
Mount Marty’s following three drives ended in a punt, a turnover on downs, and an interception by Aaron Mack (SR/Jamestown, N.D.) near midfield that was returned to the Lancer 5-yard line.
Both teams scored on their opening drive of the game, with UJ taking the lead on an 18-yard pass from Torgerson to Steve Justice (SR/Henderson, Nev.). Peterson’s point-after attempt was blocked, and Mount Marty would take the lead on a Ken Gay to Rex Ryken 4-yard pass with 7:54 left in the first.
Torgerson threw his second touchdown of the half, a 19-yarder to Carlos Julian (JR/North Las Vegas, Nev.), to give UJ a 13-7 lead at the 11:34 mark of the second. The Jimmies added three more points on Peterson’s 26-yard field goal with 34 seconds in the half.
Jamestown’s defense held the Lancers to 4 of 13 third-down conversions and 1 of 4 fourth-down conversions. Isaac Thompson (SR/Mesa, Ariz.) and Paul Vandal (JR/Jamestown, N.D.) led the way with six total tackles. Vandal added two more sacks to his total, giving him 12 for the year. Parker Chaffee (SO/Phelan, Calif.) also had an interception.
UJ finished with 210 yards rushing, led by Zach Hammett (FR/Mohave Valley, Ariz.)’s 79 yards on 10 carries. Sayler carried six times for 57 yards, and Julian had 10 carries for 52 yards.
Torgerson completed 17 of 31 passes for 134 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Justice and Bowie-Monteiro both caught four passes.
Jamestown finishes the year at 4-7, its most wins since 2015 (4-6).