Going for the win: DSU completes a two-point conversion in the final seconds to defeat Jamestown College

• Matt Harkless

Photo by John M. Steiner / Forum Communications Dickinson State sophomore quarterback Matt Harkless, left, shakes off Jamestown College freshman linebacker Ram Flores on Saturday at Rollie Greeno Field in Jamestown. The Blue Hawks scored in the final 15 seconds on a Harkless touchdown pass to James Smith. DSU then completed the two-point conversion to seal the win.

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JAMESTOWN — It wasn’t coaching genius, or a savvy stroke of strategy, rather a gut reaction that got Hank Biesiot win No. 257 of his legendary career.

After nearly 60 minutes of lackluster offense, the Blue Hawks drove 75 yards for their lone touchdown of the game to get within 7-6 on a scoring strike from Matt Harkless to James Smith Saturday afternoon at Rollie Greeno Field.

Instead of kicking the extra point and likely forcing overtime, Biesiot and the Blue Hawks rolled the dice.

With just 14.6 seconds left, Harkless rolled right found Presley Straub open to stun the Jimmies 8-7 and spoil homecoming weekend at Jamestown College.

“We were going to kick it, but they called timeout and I figured, what the heck, let’s have some fun,” Biesiot said in his trademark baritone voice. “It was as simple as that. Nothing more.”

The frantic and exciting finish capped an otherwise ragged day for both offenses. The two teams combined for 17 punts, nine by the Blue Hawks.

The Jimmies, who dropped to 2-5, held Dickinson State (2-5) to less than 200 yards of offense, but were again left with a stinging defeat.

“It’s tough. We played 3 1/2 quarters of good football, but that’s not enough,” said senior stalwart defensive lineman Andrew Hammond. “All we can do is use this as a learning experience. We’re not going to quit. We’re going to learn from it and get better. That’s all we can do.”

It was the second game this season the Jimmies let slip through their fingers. The first being three weeks earlier against Valley City State.

On the Blue Hawks’ final drive, the Jimmies dropped two sure interceptions and were flagged for defensive holding on a fourth-down-and-6 where Harkless’ throw sailed wildly out of bounds to seemingly end the game.

On the game-winning drive, Harkless completed five passes, which was two more than he had up to that point.

“We couldn’t get anything going. Nothing was clicking,” Harkless said. “On the last drive guys were wide open and the blocking was great. … That’s something we work on. The coaches had us prepared for that situation.”

In retrospect, Biesiot said they probably should have picked up the pace sooner.

“We had no rhythm. We couldn’t do anything and the Jimmies had a lot to do with that,” he said.

The JC defense was dominant until the last drive. Ram Flores had two of the Jimmies’ six sacks. Hammond, Logan Hurd, Maua Vole and Bradley Brooks had the others. C.J. Costello added an interception and Reid Haagenson’s six tackles were team-leading.

But the offense again sputtered. It didn’t score until Lance Johansen galloped in from 17 yards out with 10:14 to go in the game, although at that point it looked like it would be enough.

“Defense, offense we had a chance to make more plays, we just didn’t get it done,” Hammond said. “But there’s no blaming anybody. We’re in this together.”

So now the Jimmies will attempt to regroup again and try to reclaim the Paint Bucket back Saturday in Valley City.

“I know all my teammates, our coaches and everybody in the community of Jamestown wants that Bucket back,” Hammond said. “That’s where our focus is now.”

DSU 0 0 0 8 — 8

JC 0 0 0 7 — 7

First quarter

No scoring

Second quarter

No scoring

Third quarter

No scoring

Fourth quarter

JC– Lance Johansen 17 yard run (Ryan Benke kick), 10:14.

DSU– James Smith 6 pass from Matt Harkless (Presley Straub pass from Harkless), :14.6.

TEAM STATISTICS DSU JC

First downs 14 15

Rushes-yards 42-122 43-99

Passing yards 75 120

Comp.-Att.-Int. 8-24-1 12-23-0

Total yards 197 219

Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-0

Penalties-yards 6-55 6-74

Punts-Avg. 9-35 8-43

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: DSU, Presley Straub 13-50, Myren Moore 12-37, Matt Harkless 16-34, Kyle Stanton 1-1. JC, Lance Johansen 19-82, Matt Mithaugen 11-30, Steve Nelms 3-8, Dan Snider 1-0, D’Marco Smith 2-(-4), Ramasco 7-(-17)

PASSING: DSU, Harkless 7-18-0, 68, 1 TD; Thad Lane 1-6-1. JC, Ramasco 12-23-0, 120.

RECEIVING: DSU, James Smith 5-58, Straub 1-9, J.T. Keith 1-7, Wyatt Mirich 1-1. JC, Michael Sena 8-76, Matt Wilson 2-37, Johansen 1-5, Snider 1-2.

Tags: college football, dsu athletics, blue hawks, jamestown college jimmies, dsu blue hawks, sports, football