BISMARCK – While the Jamestown Jimmies’ defense played consistently, a poor start by UJ’s offense led to a season-opening football loss.
Justus Breston returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the first half Thursday as the University of Mary dropped Jamestown 23-6 at the MDU Resources Community Bowl.
UMary and Jamestown again will be conference foes in 2025 when UJ joins the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and NCAA Division II.
The rough start for the Jimmies’ offense began immediately, with a delay of game penalty before the first play from scrimmage and a punt.
UMary’s Kevin Powell missed a 25-yard field goal with just over six minutes left in the first quarter, after which the teams exchanged punts.
With 1:49 left, a snap from UJ center Braedyn Vildibill sailed over the head of quarterback John Grann and out of the end zone for a safety and a 2-0 lead for the Marauders.
After UMary punted, Grann passed on the final play of the quarter and Breston, jumping the route on the sideline in front of the Marauder bench, scored on a 25-yard interception return and UMary led 9-0 after one quarter.
Following a Jamestown punt, the Jimmies held UMary on fourth down. But on UJ’s next possession, Nick Martinez was picked off, again by Breston. The junior college transfer, making his Marauder debut, returned the interception 47 yards and UMary led 16-0, which was the home team’s halftime lead.
UMary essentially sealed the game on the opening possession of the second half. Senior quarterback Sofian Massoud found Karsyn Jablonski on a go route down the right hash marks for a 68-yard touchdown 1:36 into the third quarter and the Marauder lead improved to 23-0.
Jamestown averted a shutout in the fourth quarter. Grann completed a 50-yard pass to Ethan Hoffman to the UMary 5 one play before Gavin Blomdahl gave the Jimmies their first points of the new season with a five-yard touchdown run. The extra point attempt was blocked.
An onside kickoff recovery gave the Jimmies another possession, but UJ failed on fourth down.
Grann threw for 213 yards, but was intercepted twice and sacked three times. Zach Hammett led the Jimmies with 25 yards rushing. Massoud was 21-of-25 for 178 yards for UMary.
Jamestown will again play an NCAA Division II opponent on the road Thursday in the Jimmies’ first football meeting with Chadron State in Chadron, Nebraska. Coverage will begin Thursday at 6:30 on The Voice of the Jimmies, Jamestown 107.1.
| UJ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| UMary | 9 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 23 |
FIRST QUARTER
UMary – SAFETY; ball snapped out of end zone 1:49 – 2-0 UMary
UMary – Justus Breston 25-yard interception return 0:00 (Kevin Powell XP) – 9-0 UMary
SECOND QUARTER
UMary – Justus Breston 47-yard interception return 7:17 (Kevin Powell XP) – 16-0 UMary
THIRD QUARTER
UMary – Sofian Massoud 68-yard TD pass to Karsyn Jablonski 13:24 (Kevin Powell XP) – 23-0 UMary – 3 plays, 70 yds, 1:36
FOURTH QUARTER
UJ – Gavin Blomdahl 5-yard TD run 5:54 (XP blocked) – 23-6 UMary – 7 plays, 85 yds, 2:43
Individual Statistics
RUSHING
UJ – Zach Hammett 8-25, Nick Martinez 3-23, Carlos Julian 3-21, Blomdahl 2-8-TD, Dawson Schmidt 1-3, Cody Pellaton 1-2, John Grann 6-1, Braedyn Vildibill 1-(-8)
UMary – Amir Bankhead 11-34, Andrew Trandahl 8-27, Massoud 6-9, Lucky Avinger 2-1, Tuakoi Mahe 1-(-1)
PASSING
UJ – Grann 15-32-213-2 INT, Martinez 5-10-29-1 INT
UMary – Massoud 21-25-178-1 TD-1 INT
RECEIVING
UJ – Colton Schumacher 3-61, Ethan Hoffman 1-50, Isaiah Roebuck 3-33, Erasmus Antsino 1-33, Julian 3-22, Pellaton 4-14, Hammett 2-14, Blomdahl 2-11, Schmidt 1-4
UMary – Jablonski 1-68-TD, Bankhead 4-43, Mujeeb Rufai 4-30, Trandahl 6-29, Maxwell Larson 1-6, Jaxon Young 2-5, Kelani Washington 3-(-3)
| UJ | UMary | |
| First Downs | 15 | 10 |
| Rushing | 25-75 | 30-68 |
| Passing | 242 | 178 |
| Total Yds | 317 | 246 |
| Att/Comp/Int | 20/42/3 | 21/25/1 |
| Punts/avg | 5/28.4 | 6/36.3 |
| Fumbles/lost | 2/0 | 0/0 |
| Penalties/Yds | 7/40 | 3/35 |
| Time of possession | 26:53 | 33:07 |