Jimmies' Ty Monson representing hometown as starting QB

Oct. 7—JAMESTOWN — Due to an injury, Jamestown native Ty Monson has been thrust into the starting quarterback job for the Jimmies.

During the Jimmies game against Midland University on Sept. 2, the team's starting quarterback Nick Martinez left with a knee injury, forcing Monson to step into the role for the rest of that game. As of Oct. 5, Monson has played in the Jimmies three ensuing games.

This season, the sophomore has completed 55.9% of his passes for 845 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions. Out of his 76 completions this year, he has found 11 different wide receivers.

Monson said he has done a good job this season of stepping up and being a leader. Through the first five games of the season, he said he has grown into a leadership role with his teammates.

"(I am) making sure when stuff gets out of control, it doesn't get out of control to where the whole team falls apart, and leading the guys and getting the ball to playmakers and seeing what they can do with it," Monson said.

Jimmies head coach Brian Mistro said he enjoys the way that Monson stays on an even keel emotionally. He said Monson has been able to get his teammates' trust and belief which he said is enjoyable to watch. He said Monson has grown into a more vocal leader since being thrust into the starting job.

"He's been great, from a leadership standpoint, from a swagger standpoint, from a confidence standpoint," Mistro said. "Ty's always been a pretty calm, cool, collected dude ... that bravado, whatever that it is. He has that to him in a different way than Nick had it. It's been fun to watch, I'm really excited for him, for his family, for the city of Jamestown, that watched him play in high school. It's kind of a cool deal to be the quarterback in your town that you played in."

Monson is the first Jimmies quarterback from North Dakota since Jordan Mann in 2019 and the first signal caller from Jamestown since at least the 2009-10 season.

"It's really all I could've dreamed of honestly, coming to play college football here, pretty grateful for having the chance to do it and taking the opportunity by 100% of what I can do," Monson said.

Monson said he grew up going to Jimmies games and rooting for the team. He said he decided to play for the Jimmies because he wanted to play in front of his friends and family.

Monson's older brother, Ross, was a defensive back for the Jimmies from 2017-2021.

"It's always good to see the young community just surrounding it, seeing kids playing around the games honestly just remind me of my young days and thinking that that used to be me," Monson said.

Monson said he was told that the team decided to go with Martinez to start the season by quarterbacks coach Jason Challeen and Mistro. Monson said he was ready for the competition and he knew he had to keep competing regardless being named the starter or not.

"He's done exactly what you expect a guy that's been in our program for three years that has been bought in," Mistro said. "He's grown and matured, he's learning and growing every single game that we're putting him in and going into game three obviously we're expecting some big things from him."

Through the first game and first drive of the second game, Monson said he stayed mentally ready to take his chance when or if it arrived. Monson said he knew he was going to make his full debut on Sept. 9, against Concordia when it became apparent Martinez' injury would force him to miss an extended period of time.

Through his first two years with the Jimmies, Monson sat behind quarterback Cade Torgerson. Monson said he still talks about football with Torgerson when he sees the current Jimmie relief pitcher around campus.

"Cade was a pretty good mentor to the whole quarterback room for us and obviously him having so much experience, it was easy for him to teach us the whole offense and where to look on certain things and where the ball should be going on certain looks," Monson said.

Monson is one of two quarterbacks on the roster from Jamestown alongside freshman Peyton Hochhalter, who was Monson's backup for the Blue Jays.

"He's definitely got the playmaker vibe to where when he gets put in games he can just go make a play," Monson said. "I played all three sports with him in high school too, so I've seen how competitive he is. He's got a great thing coming for him."