Jamestown wins second straight NDHSAA 11A Football state title

November 11, 2022 6:00 pm

By Tom Mix
NDHSAA Media Specialist

FARGO – Make it back-to-back NDHSAA Division 11A football state championships for the Jamestown Blue Jays.

Jamestown defeated Fargo North 46-28 in the 2022 NDHSAA Division 11A football state championship game on Friday, November 11 at the FARGODOME. Jamestown also won the 2021 11A state title a year ago defeating Bismarck St. Mary’s.

The Blue Jays were led by senior quarterback Payton Hochhalter who accounted for all seven of the Blue Jays’ touchdowns on Friday – passing for three touchdowns, rushing for three touchdowns and catching one touchdown pass.

Hochhalter passed for 296 yards, rushed for 43 yards and caught one pass for a 35-yard touchdown.

Hochhalter also had two interceptions playing defense for the Blue Jays.

Hochhalter's seven touchdowns is a new Dakota Bowl record breaking the previous record of six touchdowns held by several players.

In total the Blue Jays generated 485 yards of offense – 374 of which was generated by Hochhalter. Senior running back Aden Braun rushed for 94 yards for the Blue Jays.

North scored the game’s first touchdown getting a 22-yard rushing score from junior running back Peder Haugo. Jamestown answered later in the first quarter when Hochhalter connected with Nathaniel Walz for a two-yard touchdown pass. Jamestown’s extra point kick failed and North led 7-6 at the quarter break.

Hochhalter scored on a two-yard keeper in the first minute of the second quarter and from there on the Blue Jays never trailed.

Junior Sara Sletto converted 4 of 6 extra point kicks attempted in the game. She joins Kindred’s Jordyn Sunram as the only female players to score a point in Dakota Bowl history.

Haugo led the Spartans with 139 yards and two touchdowns. North was playing in its first football state championship game since the 2000 NDHSAA Division AAA title game.

North finished the season 7-5. Jamestown ended the 2022 campaign 10-2.

BOX SCORE: JAMESTOWN 46, FARGO NORTH 28

2022 NDHSAA DIVISION 11A FOOTBALL STATE PLAYOFFS BRACKET

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