Kelan Harstad's three touchdowns lead Jamestown to win over Grand Forks Central

GRAND FORKS — Senior running back Kelan Harstad started Jamestown’s season opener against Grand Forks Central as the top running back. He did his job in the first half, but junior running back Liam Frey strung together a few 10-plus yard runs, so Blue Jays coach Bill Nelson gave him the carries. “Liam needed a break,” Nelson said, “and Kelan, I think, was a little bit peeved because if Liam's going to run like that, I need to.

And Kelan picked it up.” ADVERTISEMENT His response? Scoring three touchdowns in the second half, leading Jamestown to a 34-9 win over the Knights at Cushman Field. “I have to give credit to the whole O-line,” Harstad said, which featured four new players.



“I wouldn't have been able to do that without the line. It's special for me to do that, but it's even more for the guys blocking for me.” Harstad ended with 23 rushes for 117 yards and his three scores from 14, 5 and 2 yards out.

Frey added 16 rushes for 106 yards and a score. “We talked about, just don't overthink it,” Nelson said. “Just play.

It was a great combination. Any way we can move the chains is great, but when you can go ahead and run the ball like that, we’ll take that.” Blue Jays quarterback Ryan Kallenbach went 11-of-22 for 110 yards and no interceptions.

He found Nate Walz for a 5-yard score after Central’s Logan Vorhies fumbled on the Knights’ opening drive. Central was led by Naz Fisher, who ended with 10 rushes for 66 yards, including a 36-yard rush, the second-longest play for either team Friday night at Cushman Field. “He's so raw,” Central coach Jake Schauer said.

“Naz did some good things. He did some bad things. But the thing I really like about Naz is he's a competitor.

He just doesn't stop fighting.” ADVERTISEMENT The Knights are young and the inexperience showed throughout Central’s season opener. Junior quarterback Noah Lease went 7-of-14 for 49 yards, but Lease and the offense generated just seven first downs in the loss.

“We lost by three scores, but I'm still encouraged,” Schauer said. “We have like two kids from last year that started. When you lose 25 really good seniors, a couple Division-I athletes, this is going to happen.

If this doesn't happen, you belong in AAA football, I'll say that right now. “But we're learning. We're learning this is the level of football where every game is going to be very difficult, and there are no easy wins on the schedule.

I felt like we were in the game. We had a couple bad breaks. If we eliminate the mistakes, we're a better team.

” On Jamestown’s first possession of the second quarter, punter Gradin Thorlakson stood inside the 5 yard line and watched as the snap sailed over his head out of bounds, giving Central its first two points of the night. Jamestown ended with 110 yards of total offense in the first half, while Central totaled 46 in the opening half. Blue Jays tight end Max Rittenbach broke loose for a 45-yard catch and run early in the third, the longest play for either team Friday.

Another special teams error worked out for the Blue Jays in the third. A low snap landed in front of Thorlakson, who picked it up and ran for 12 yards, giving Jamestown a first down. ADVERTISEMENT Central lost junior Eli Thompson to an injury early in the fourth quarter, a blow considering the numerous plays he made on defense for the Knights.

The Knights go on the road the next two weeks, first to Bismarck St. Mary’s, then to Dickinson High. “They've never taken a road trip and had to play a varsity football game, especially one to Bismarck, four hours away,” Schauer said.

“We're still making improvements. I think one of the things that's most encouraging about this game is there's a lot of very intentional things to work on, defensively and offensively. We’ll watch the film, and it's going to be a week of learning.

I'm ready to be better next week.” Jamestown 34, GF Central 9 First quarter J – Nate Walz 5 pass from Ryan Kallenbach (Chase Traut kick) Second quarter GFC – Safety: snap out of end zone GFC – Naz Fisher 1 run (Talan Lunski kick) J – Liam Frey 1 run (Traut kick) Third quarter J – Kelan Harstad 14 run (Traut kick) Fourth quarter J – Harstad 5 run (kick failed) J – Harstad 2 run (Traut kick) ADVERTISEMENT Individual leaders RUSHING – GFC: Fisher 10-66; J: Harstad 23-117, Frey 16-106 PASSING – GFC: Noah Lease 7-14-0, 49 yards; J: Kallenbach 11-22-0, 110 yards RECEIVING – GFC: Logan Vorhies 3-38; J: Max Rittenbach 3-77.