Jimmies can't overcome slow start in 23-16 loss to Hastings

Oct. 22—JAMESTOWN — The University of Jamestown's offense struggled in the first half and it cost them in a 23-16 loss to Hastings College on Saturday, Oct. 22, at Charlotte and Gordon Hansen Stadium.

"I'm an emotional guy, so for me, it hurts," Jimmies head coach Brian Mistro said. "It hurts for the kids, it hurts for our program, it hurts for the fans, it hurts for the families. But with pain, you overcome pain and you have some good things that can come from it. So, it's just looking at this thing and making sure the guys understand that we're gonna overcome this and keep battling because that's what we do."

Despite the Jimmies (3-6, 2-6) picking up a fumble, on the Broncos' 48-yard line, the offense could not take advantage, having to punt. It was one of four punts, the Jimmies had in the first quarter for 131 yards. After a Jimmies fumble, the Broncos (7-2, 4-2) took advantage driving down the field and punching it in when Brett Simonsen broke multiple tackles on his way to the end zone to make it 7-0 with 1:50 to go in the first quarter.

The Jimmies' only highlight offensively of the first half was when quarterback Cade Torgerson threw it deep to Micah Madyun to get to the Broncos' 30-yard line early in the second quarter. The play also saw Torgerson pass Bo Eriksson for most passing yards in program history. In total, the Jimmies had 131 yards of offense in the first half.

"It's kind of hard to put into words, coming into college records aren't the thing that's on your mind," Torgerson said. "First, you want to be a part of the team and then you want to earn a starting spot and then you just want to try and help your team win football games. So, it's never really been about the records for me but looking back on it and the storied history that's at Jamestown, it's pretty special accomplishment to have my name up thee with some other really good quarterbacks. So, I'm pretty grateful."

The Broncos added on with 3:10 to go in the second quarter when Jason Bachle nailed a 28-yard field goal to make it 10-0.

The Broncos pushed their lead out further when Zamora threw it over the middle to Jaishawn Wright who found the seam down the left side and turned on the jets from 39-yards out to make it 16-0 with 9:06 to go in the third quarter. The snap on the ensuing extra point attempt was fumbled and Zamora rolled out throwing a desperation ball that was intercepted by the Jimmies' Rashawn Benners. That seemed to wake the Jimmies' offense up as they drove down the field and got into the red zone for the first time. The Jimmies punched it in when Torgerson threw it to Javon Bowie-Monteiro from five yards out to make it 16-6 with the two-point conversion attempt failing with 4:27 to go in the third quarter.

"Obviously it played a big part because then we go for two to try to make it a two score game," Mistro said. "It was 16-0, so we try to make it eight and obviously you go through. Obviously it didn't matter towards the end there, it would've been a seven point deal and we would've seen what would happen from there."

After the Jimmies cut into the lead with a 40-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, the kickoff was caught by the Broncos' Antoine Murphy who returned it 86-yards to push his team's lead out to 23-9 with 14:37 to go in the game. The Jimmies had a chance to cut into it getting the ball back from their own 46-yard line late in the fourth quarter. The Jimmies showed their toughness twice converting on fourth down including a fourth and 26, however they did not convert the most important one, a fourth and goal from the seven.

The Jimmies would not give up though as they scored when Torgerson found Bowie-Monteiro in the front corner of the end zone to make it 23-16 with 1:11 to go in the game.

The Jimmies are back in action at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29, when they go to Dordt University.

HC 23, UJ 16

HC: 7 3 6 7 — 23

UJ: 0 0 6 10 — 16

Scoring plays:

First quarter:

HC: Brett Simonsen one-yard run (kick is good)

Second quarter:

HC: Jason Bachle 28-yard field goal

Third quarter:

HC: John Zamora 39-yard pass to Jaishawn Wright (two-point attempt is no good)

UJ: Cade Torgerson five-yard pass to Javon Bowie-Monteiro (two-point attempt is no good)

Fourth quarter:

UJ: Aanon Peterson 40-yard field goal

HC: Antoine Murphy 86-yard kickoff return (kick is good)

UJ: Torgerson 19-yard pass to Bowie-Monteiro (kick is good)