Third quarter woes doom Huskies, varsity newcomers still impress

Brayden Steffens celebrates in the end zone after scoring Wahpeton’s first touchdown of the season

The Wahpeton Huskies football team rolled out a new-look roster Friday against Jamestown in its 2025  high school football home opener. There were plenty of positive takeaways, along with some critical lapses that allowed the Blue Jays to escape with a 23-12 comeback win.

Wahpeton took a 6-0 lead into the half after sophomore quarterback Treyton King found senior receiver Brayden Steffens over the middle on a 36-yard touchdown pass.

Steffens, an all-state selection last season, picked up where he left off with 93 yards receiving on five grabs. 

King, making his first start at quarterback in place of the injured Jack Gilbertson, completed his first 10 passes, highlighted by the scoring strike on third-and-16.

King closed the contest with 181 yards on 15 of 25 passing and two touchdowns. He also lost a fumble at the Jamestown 7-yard line. King added 16 carries for 43 yards.

Jamestown took a 13-6 lead in the third quarter when King’s punt deep in Huskies territory was blocked by Braden Hemminger, leading to a scoop-and-score for Jaeger Roemmich.

Wahpeton faded fast in the third, as Jamestown running back Liam Frey found another gear while his team scored 20 unanswered points. Frey finished the contest with 132 yards rushing and two touchdowns. 

King found the end zone again midway through the fourth quarter, connecting with sophomore Cooper Koolmo on a 26-yard pass up the seam, dropping a dime between three defenders in zone coverage. 

Koolmo had a stellar varsity debut with five receptions and 60 yards.

Alex Traut put the game on ice with a 24 yard field goal in the final minute. With no timeouts remaining, Wahpeton was unable to sustain a final drive.

Wahpeton senior Michael Petersen was productive in his first crack at the feature back role. Petersen ran for 80 yards on 18 carries.

The Huskies defense was led by senior linebacker Isaiah Bruechert, who recovered a fumble to upend a methodical Jamestown drive. Cayden Barth recorded Wahpeton’s lone sack of the contest.

Wahpeton heads to Watford City on Friday as both squads look for their first win of the season in week two.

FIRST QUARTER
Wahpeton – Treyten King 36-yard TD pass to Brayden Steffens (XP missed) 2:58 – 6-0 Wahpeton – 10 plays, 83 yards, 5:21 – Key play: Michael Petersen 22-yard run, King 18-yard pass to Steffens

THIRD QUARTER
Jamestown – Liam Frey 9-yard TD run (Chase Traut XP) 8:48 – 7-6 Jamestown – 6 plays, 40 yards, 1:50 – Key plays: Brady Nenow 14-yard pass to Jaeger Roemmich, Frey 13-yard run
Jamestown – Braden Hemminger blocked punt recovered by Roemmich in end zone (XP missed) 7:25 – 13-6 Jamestown

FOURTH QUARTER
Jamestown – 3-yard TD run (Chase Traut XP) 10:46 – 20-6 Jamestown – 9 plays, 64 yards, 2:14 – Key plays: Nenow 17-yard pass to Will Bennett for 1st down, Nenow 16-yard pass to Roemmich for 1st down, Frey 23-yard run
Wahpeton – King 26-yard TD pass to Cooper Koolmo (2-point conversion missed) 5:58 – 20-12 Jamestown – 5 plays, 77 yards, 5:58 – Key play: Petersen 14-yard run for 1st down
Jamestown – Traut 24-yard FG 0:58 – 23-12 Jamestown – 8 plays, 55 yards, 5:00 – Key plays: Aiden Skari 20-yard KO return, Frey 13-yard run, Frey 24-yard run

STATS

RUSHING
Jamestown – Frey 18-132-2 TD, Nenow 8-20, Bennett 6-19, Cephy Sayler 2-(-4), Gradin Thorlakson 1-(-17)
Wahpeton – Petersen 18-80, King 16-43

PASSING
Jamestown – Nenow 17-30-149
Wahpeton – King 15-25-181-2 TD

RECEIVING
Jamestown – Brannen Kahler 4-20, Roemmich 3-63, Sayler 3-28, Kale Verke 3-12, Tucker Allen 2-9, Bennett 1-17, Frey 1-0
Wahpeton – Steffens 5-93-TD, Koolmo 5-60-TD, Isaiah Bruechert 3-16, Petersen 2-12