Sep. 20—JAMESTOWN — The University of Jamestown football team returns home for the first time this season intending to end its three-game skid against Mayville State University.
“We’ve had a rough three-game stretch here and it’s about time our guys go out and have fun playing football again and let loose and do the things that they know how to do well,” Mistro said. “Surrender to the outcome guys, don’t worry about what the score is going to be. Let’s go out and have fun and do the things that we need to do and go out and play Jimmie football.'”
The Jimmies will be heading into the game against the Comets without offensive coordinator Jason Challeen, who was let go from his position on Sunday, Sept. 15. Mistro said he will be the primary play caller, starting with the game against the Comets.
“As the head coach for the last five years it’s one of those things where I had a lot of influence on a lot of plays that have been called,” Mistro said. “It’s gonna be a combination of all of us putting in our input and putting the next play together. It’ll be fun.”
As one of the Jimmies fifth-year seniors on offense, running back Carlos Julian spent his entire career learning from Challeen.
“Jason was my guy,” Julian said. “He’s been here since I was a youngin’ but just gotta keep pushing forward. I was kind of shocked but you just gotta take it and keep going forward.”
Julian said the move reinvigorated the offense heading into their home opener.
“I think it’s a breath of fresh air,” Julian said. “I didn’t even realize how much of a rut we were in until today (Tuesday, Sept. 17). It feels like a new energy out here, new blood.”
Julian said he expects the offense to show up and have a big game against the Comets.
“I think this is the weekend we come out and let it hang,” Julian said. “Homecoming, I got family coming out, we’re just gonna leave it all out on the field.”
The Jimmies head into the game with a 0-3 record after a 16-6 loss to Dakota State on Sept. 14.
“It’s not what we expected but the team’s got to battle through adversity and come back and make the best of the season we got,” Jimmies fifth-year senior Parker Chaffee said. “I guess it’s been tough … but football’s tough, you gotta battle through it.”
The Comets enter the game with a 1-2 record after a 34-24 loss to Nebraska Wesleyan University on Sept. 14.
Over the last two seasons, the Jimmies have gone 5-6 at home.
“It feels good because we ain’t been home in a minute,” Julian said. “It’s been a minute and we’re playing on these other teams’ turf and it’s not home. So it feels good.”
This season the Jimmies offense is averaging 229.3 total yards, 46 rushing yards and 7.3 points per game. Defensively, the Comets are giving up 213 total yards, 96.0 rushing yards and 18.5 points per game.
“We only have one running back touchdown so I feel like this is the game, this is the game,” Julian said. “We’re home, it’s homecoming and this is a game that is susceptible to the run so time for me to show out and my boys.”
This season the Jimmies defense is giving up 239 total yards, 111.3 passing yards and 18.7 points per game. The defense also has five interceptions for 34 yards, three fumble recoveries for 68 yards and one defensive touchdown. The Comets have thrown two interceptions for 62 yards and have lost two fumbles for zero yards.
Chaffee said winning the turnover battle will be an important key for his team.
“That’d be extremely helpful,” Chaffee said. “If it happens, it happens, interceptions help but at the end of the day if we do our job that’s the only thing we can do.”
Through their opening three games of the season, the Comets are scoring 15.5 points per game on 51.5 rushing yards and 135 passing yards per game.
“They have athletes,” Chaffee said. “Every team’s a college team, they’re gonna have athletes so we’re gonna have to run, hit, celebrate like we’ve been doing; ain’t nothing special.”
