FLY’N THE NEST: Thrilling wins, bitter defeats and a fire, Ernie Gates served Blue Jays well – Jamestown Sun

Larry Ukestad first set eyes on iconic Washington Field as a grade-schooler in the 1950s.

Having sisters who attended high school at Fargo Shanley, Ukestad can recall tagging along to Jamestown to watch their boyfriends battle the Blue Jays on their home turf next to the James River. Turf in which the future JHS football coach would recruit his players to help replace in 1973, part of a renovation project that utilized donated sod from an open field near Spiritwood Lake leading up the fields rededication in honor of JHS coaching legend Ernie Gates.

Gates and the Jays hosted state title games at Washington Field in both 1941 and 54 -- falling 6-2 to Minot in 41 and 20-7 to Shanley in 54. The Jays were again slated to host the states largest prep football game at their beloved field in 56 before cold November weather canceled the contest versus Fargo Central resulting in co-championship honors for both schools.

JHS and its storied coach first reigned supreme 1933, defeating Fargo 12-6 on the field at Moorhead State Teachers College.

Ernie, he would dress 90 kids, Ukestad said. I never thought they would ever quit coming out of that old shed.

I thought, My God, that is really something.

Ernie Gates Field, bearing its new name over the past 47 seasons and home to the Blue Jays since 1928, according to newspaper reports, is slated for retirement in 2021. JHS is scheduled to shift its home games to the University of Jamestown campus and Taylor Stadium next fall, the culmination of an $11 million joint capital project between the Jamestown Public School District and UJ to renovate the 86-year-old college stadium.

Its the end of an era, Ukestad said. But I think its definitely something that needed to be done for the community and I think itll work out.

Ukestad guided the Blue Jays to its first of exactly 100 victories -- and counting -- at Ernie Gates Field since the 1973 rededication: a 13-8 victory over Fargo South on Sept. 21, 1973.

Jamestowns Doug Hogan took the handoff from Kim Stiefel on a reverse punt return, received a key block from Mike Fisher, and scampered 65 yards for the game-winning touchdown in the second half.

Ukestad, who coached the Jays from 1970-79, said his players mostly make up his memories of Gates Field, like when Paul Monson, Dean Richardson and Miles Pederson turned into the offensive stars hosting South again on Sept. 16, 1977.

After putting up just 68 yards of offense in a scoreless first half, JHS offensive coordinator Joe Kroeber reportedly delivered a fiery speech in the old shed locker room -- mostly referred to as The Shack -- located at the southeast corner of the field. Jamestown surprised the Bruins, rolling to a 14-0 win with Pederson scoring on the ground from 25 yards in the third quarter and quarterback Monson finding Richardson for a score through the air in the fourth.

The kids are the memory I have, said Ukestad, who in 71 led the Jays to an 8-1 record and a share of the East Region title with future NFL player Doug Beaudoin in uniform. Some were great athletes, but they were all good kids and you always want that.

Former JHS head football coach Larry Ukestad is photographed at Ernie Gates Field on Aug. 10, 2020. John M. Steiner / The Sun

Gates Field would witness a harrowing 8-7 victory over Fargo Shanley in the snow with JHS coach Dudley Butts at the helm on Oct. 23, 1980. Tim Jakowskis successful two-point conversion pass to Mark Goehner in the fourth quarter made the difference, and in 1984 Blue Jay quarterback Jim Roaldson led a 12-6 homecoming victory over Wahpeton by completing a pair of first-half touchdown passes.

Jamestown went 4-1 at home in 80, its best record in the Gates Field era up until new head coach Bill Nold and the Jays duplicated the feat in 1986, part of Jamestowns first winning season since 77 at 5-4 overall.

Jamestown ended Nolds first year as head coach at Gates, defeating West Fargo 16-14 on Oct. 24.

I never heard anyone say it wasnt a great place to watch a game, Nold said. Gates Field is unique in that theres not a track around it. The grandstands are right on top of the field and thats good and bad.

A senior running back for Wahpeton in 72, Nold was reminded early of Gates -- then Washingtons -- close fans and intimate sidelines. On Oct. 27 of that year, the future Jamestown Jimmie rolled up more than 250 total yards while intercepting a pass defensively and accounting for five touchdowns in coach Ray Kuklenskis power sweep offense, as Wahpeton defeated Jamestown 43-14.

But there was another part to Nolds big day.

They used to have tin yard markers attached to the bleachers and I can remember smashing into one of those, said Nold, whose Wahpeton team also ended Jamestowns 71 season with its only loss to split the conference crown. There wasnt a lot of room on the sidelines but it was great for the spectators. There were times when you couldnt hear yourself think between the students being loud and the adult fans.

Itll be something else not to have it there anymore.

Nold essentially oversaw the golden years at Gates Field. From 1990-94, Nolds teams played to an impressive 21-5 record at home, including a 5-1 playoff mark and a perfect 6-0 homestand in 1991.

JHS' Casey Carr (86), Jon Sjomstrom (62), Tim Fletcher (42) and Sean Fredricks (44) surround a Red River ball-carrier during the Jays' 21-0 Class A state semifinal playoff win over the Roughriders at Ernie Gates Field on Nov. 5, 1991. Sun File Photo

Arguably one of the biggest games held at Gates since the 54 title game was the 91 Class A state semifinal played between Jamestown and Grand Forks Red River. In the snow and ice on Nov. 5, the Blue Jays won 21-0 with Sean Fredricks and Tim Fletcher combining for 108 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

Cornerback Darin Erstad also recovered an early Red River fumble.

One of my biggest memories was just how doggone cold it was, and I kinda chuckled because Red River was on the east side where the visitors still stand, said Nold, whose Jays ultimately fell to Bismarck St. Marys 21-7 in the state championship game Nov. 9 on a muddy Hughes Field in Bismarck. I remember the northwest breeze in their face the whole game and their big fullback (Mark Murdock) slipping and falling multiple times trying to take handoffs.

The old frozen field was a good thing that year.

The spectrum flipped to hot in 94, the year Jamestown kicked off the postseason on fire -- literally.

Apparently touched off by a crockpot used for melting mouthguards, the current Ernie Gates locker room built in the early 80s to replace The Shack sustained serious damage on the morning of Saturday, Oct. 28, ruining player equipment and delaying that afternoons state playoff quarterfinal between Jamestown and Mandan to Tuesday, Nov. 1.

Former JHS football coach Bill Nold holds burned equipment following the locker room fire at Ernie Gates Field on Oct. 28, 1994. Sun File Photo

Wearing the orange helmets of Jamestown College, the Blue Jays defeated the Braves 14-0 at Ernie Gates before falling to Bismarck St. Marys in the Class A title tilt at the Fargodome later that month.

We were scrambling to find anything that wasnt smoked out, Nold said. Fortunately back in those days, the kids would always take their game stuff home. So game uniforms -- jerseys and pants -- were OK. Everything else was not usable anymore.

Nold, like Ukestad later served as JHS principal, sees the benefit of a shared facility with the local university. After all, the Blue Jays and the Jimmies could be found sharing Washington Field prior to the 1934 construction of Taylor Stadium.

On Nov. 3, 1933 -- the same year JHS won its first state championship -- the main sports headline in the Jamestown Sun read: Cassells Jimmies Down Valley City 42 To 0.

That drubbing of the Vikings occurred at what is now called Ernie Gates Field.

Having a beautiful game field is great, and weve had that in Jamestown at the high school and the university for as long as Ive been around, said Nold, who in 1978 graduated from then Jamestown College. But we spend a day on that game field every week, or every two weeks when were playing on the road.

The thing that I really look at is to make sure we can upgrade and do a good job with our practice facilities. Thats an important consideration for the athletes and their athletic health.

Three more head coaches -- Bill Cahill, Tim Fletcher and current coach Bill Nelson -- and two more Gates Field playoff wins have followed Nold and the 94 Blue Jays.

Cahill directed the Jays past Bismarck 15-14 in the opening round of the Class AAA state playoffs here in 1999. Darin Gerlach churned out 149 yards and two scores on 13 carries in the game, breaking off a 78-yard scoring run in the third quarter, as Jamestown erased a 14-0 deficit at the half.

Nelson, entering his sixth season as coach, and the Blue Jays blanked Devils Lake 20-0 at Gates Field in the state AA quarterfinals on Oct. 27, 2018. Current University of Jamestown freshman Jeremy Williams faked a reverse on the opening kick, took the play 90 yards to the house and the Jays never looked back.

Jamestowns Jeremy Williams (10) returns the opening kickoff for a touchdown behind teammate Aaron Mack (47) in the Class AA state quarterfinal playoffs held at Ernie Gates Field on Oct. 27, 2018. The Jays defeated Devils Lake 20-0. Sun File Photo

All told, Jamestown is 100-118 overall and 7-4 in the playoffs at home since Washington Field became Ernie Gates Field 47 years ago. Nelson has directed 10 of those wins and said saying goodbye will be difficult.

Jamestowns final home game is scheduled for Oct. 15 against Bismarck High.

Getting emotional thinking about it, Nelson said Aug. 11 inside the locker room at Ernie Gates. A lot of people -- a lot of blue and white -- have walked in and out of that door.

Nelsons favorite memory of the historic field to date helped lighten the mood.

Having first latched on as a volunteer assistant under Cahill 18 years ago, Nelson wound up in charge of videotaping games early in his coaching career. The date was Oct. 11, 2002, the Jays were hosting Minot in a driving rainstorm with local broadcaster Mark McKenzie and former coach Nold calling the game on the radio from the press box.

Im right over their shoulders and I can hear them talking. Coach Nold, do you smell something burning? Nelson recalled. They had a space heater down below and of course Im in shorts. Coach Nelson, your legs are on fire!

Here that thing was singing the hair off my legs and I was so into the game I had no idea it was even happening.

JHS head football coach Bill Nelson is photographed at Ernie Gates Field on Aug. 10, 2020. John M. Steiner / The Sun

Jamestowns Casey Conway and Nick Tews combined to rush for 203 yards out of the split-back veer in a 24-14 victory over the Magicians, whod later fall to West Fargo in the Class AAA state title game. Jamestown has only defeated Minot twice since 1998.

You remember the kids, said Nelson, echoing Ukestad. I can name almost every senior that year. You dont forget the names and the faces, and now weve got kids coming back and theyre rising families.

Jamestown Public Schools has committed $2 million to the Taylor Stadium renovation project, which also includes the construction of a turf practice field and locker rooms at the high school.

Nold said he had always envisioned a JHS football stadium at the current high school, which was opened in 2004. But in 2018 a proposed $34.4 million Jamestown Public Schools referendum that wouldve included $7.5 million for a new athletic complex failed with voters.

The Taylor Stadium rebuild, which will include adding lights and replacing its existing grass field with turf, is scheduled to begin this fall in preparation for the 2021 season. Jamestown and Fargo Davies are the only Class AAA schools still playing on grass football fields.

We need a turf field in this town, but we werent gonna get it without going together with somebody at Jamestown College, Ukestad said.

But Gates Field will certainly never be forgotten.

Jamestown's Grant Geiszler runs the ball wearing a Jamestown College orange helmet at Ernie Gates Field on Nov. 1, 1994. The Jays defeated Mandan 14-0 in the Class A state quarterfinal playoffs. Sun File Photo

It took me awhile to figure it out, but this is a special place, Nelson said. We did a lot of things to make this place home. Were still gonna have our own locker room when we go play at Taylor Stadium, and thats going to be a whole new special thing because were probably going to be the first team to play under the lights over there.

Coach Ernie Gates retired in 1965 and passed away at age 74 in February of 78. His obituary in the Bismarck Tribune credited him as having won three state championships with the Blue Jays when four can be argued.

After running the table and defeating Fargo in 33, Jamestown again went unbeaten in 37 and tied Fargo 6-6 on the road in the final contest of the season. Prior to the cancellation of the 56 title game in Jamestown, the 45 season came down to Jamestown and Williston in the West and Grand Forks and Fargo in the East when winter forced the seasons closure.

Nobody can say how the 56 title game wouldve actually ended had it took place at Washington Field. But its easy to imagine how it wouldve looked.

The crisp November air, fans packed snug to the sidelines, and 90 of Gates blue and white running out onto the field.

Its gonna be missed, man, Nelson said. All good things must come to an end, but theres always bright, new beginnings.

JHS' Page Klostreich (32) fights for yards behind a Paul Kaiser (40) block during the Jays' 16-14 victory over West Fargo at Ernie Gates Field to close the 1986 season. It was Jamestown's first winning season (5-4) since 1977 and was directed by first-year head coach Bill Nold. Sun File Photo

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FLY'N THE NEST: Thrilling wins, bitter defeats and a fire, Ernie Gates served Blue Jays well - Jamestown Sun