Jimmies struggle with turnovers in 23-15 loss at Valley City
Aug. 24—VALLEY CITY, N.D. — The University of Jamestown was hurt by turnovers and penalties in a 23-15 loss to Valley City State University on Thursday, Aug. 24, at the Vikings' Lokken Stadium.
"There's good because I felt like we left a lot out there and there's bad because you lost," Jimmies head coach Brian Mistro said. "So, the emotions run hand in hand there when you know you could've had a better chance to win a football game but you shoot yourself in the foot and you make some mistakes and you do things that are out of the ordinary and out of character but ultimately I think this group is a phenomenal group of guys that I love coaching."
The Jimmies offense struggled with three turnovers in the loss, while quarterback Nick Martinez was sacked four times. The Jimmies had seven penalties for 55 yards.
Martinez struggled passing the ball, going 8-for-24 for 126 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Despite Martinez's struggles, Mistro said he did not think about changing quarterbacks at any point.
The Vikings (1-0) had a chance to score early in the game, but the Jimmies blocked a field goal attempt to keep the game scoreless. Later in the first quarter, the Jimmies (0-1) opened the scoring when Martinez found Isaiah Roebuck on a crossing route who took it to the end zone from 53 yards out to make it 6-0. The Jimmies then converted a 2-point conversion to take an 8-0 lead.
The Vikings had a chance to turn the tide of the game after forcing a fumble deep in their own territory. The Jimmies linebacker Ezra Belingheri was ejected for a personal foul. However, the Jimmies' defense stood tall forcing a punt.
Late in the second quarter, the Vikings made the Jimmies pay for another penalty and punched it in with 57 seconds left in the first half to cut the deficit to 8-7.
"That was huge for us to go in have a score at halftime," Vikings head coach Dennis McCulloch said. "(It) lifted a weight off a guy's shoulders so that was a huge piece for us, no question."
The Vikings took all the momentum into the second half and scored two touchdowns in the third quarter to take a 20-8 lead.
The Jimmies responded early in the fourth quarter when Carlos Julian scored a 21-yard rushing touchdown to make it 20-15.
The Jimmies had a chance to tie the game on their final drive. Martinez aired it out to Roebuck who had the sure touchdown hit his hands and fall to the turf. The drive ended when the Vikings' Riley Gerhardt sacked Martinez on a fourth-and-14 play.
"It was unreal," Gerhardt said. "It's a dream come true. It's like how you dream of it when you're a kid in the backyard playing and you're playing against your dad or your brother and you go out and you get that game-ending sack or interception. It's just a great feeling."
The Jimmies are back in action at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, when they go to Midland.
UJ 15, VCSU 23
UJ: 8 0 0 7 — 15
VCSU: 0 7 13 3 — 23
Scoring plays:
First quarter:
UJ: Nick Martinez 53-yard pass to Isaiah Roebuck (two-point conversion is good)
Second quarter:
VCSU: Avery Thorsgard 14-yard pass to Austin Young (kick is good)
Third quarter:
VCSU: Justice Bice 12-yard run (kick is no good)
VCSU: Thorsgard 20-yard pass to Trent Finey (kick is good)
Fourth quarter:
UJ: Carlos Julian 21-yard run (kick is good)
VCSU: Nielsen 31-yard field goal
