JAMESTOWN, N.D. – The Southwest Minnesota State football team snapped a 12-game losing streak with a hard-fought 12-7 victory over the University of Jamestown on Saturday.
 
SMSU, which finished 0-11 last season, earned its first victory since the final game of the 2023 season. SMSU improves to 1-1 overall, while Jamestown drops to 0-2.
 
Parker Knutson led the Mustangs with a pair of interceptions, while punter/kicker Mason Carver had a fabulous game with a field goal, point after attempt and several punts that pinned the Jimmies deep in their own end.
 
SMSU forced four turnovers in the game with Knutson's two interceptions, while recovering a pair of UJ fumbles.
 
SMSU opened the scoring in the opening quarter with a safety as UJ snapped a punt over the punter's head out of the end zone. The drive was set up by an excellent punt by Carver, downed at the UJ 3-yard line.
 
SMSU scored on its first drive of the second half with Crowton connecting with Colin Maher on a 40-yard pass on the first play of the drive. SMSU later had first-and-goal, but had to settle for a 25-yard field goal by Carver to make the score 5-0 with 9:34 left in the third quarter.
 
SMSU added to the lead later in the quarter putting together an 80-yard drive with Crowton capping the drive with a 22-yard touchdown pass to Jerid Fearing at the 3:05 mark. Carver's PAT was good to push the lead to 12-0.
 
UJ answered with an impressive drive, moving the ball down to the SMSU 1-yard line, but the Mustang defense made a huge goal line stand, forcing a fumble on fourth-and-goal, recovered by Gideon Ervasti.
 
SMSU punted on its next drive and UJ was able to take advantage with a 10-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-2 to cut the deficit to 12-7 with 9:10 left in the fourth quarter.
 
UJ threatened again, but Knutson ended potential go-ahead drive with his second interception of the game in the end zone with 4:23 left in the game.
 
The SMSU offense picked-up one first down, but was forced to punt with a minute left in the game. On the ensuing punt, Carver booted another long kick and on the play, the ball bounced off a Jimmie player with the Mustangs' Tyler Nebelung recovering the loose ball to seal the victory.
 
Crowton closed the game completing 10 of 17 passes for 153 yards and one touchdown. The SMSU rushing attack was led by Tariq Parker, who amassed a game-high 85 yards on 23 carries, while Zander Wolf added 15 yards on 10 carries. Colin Maher caught a team-high three passes for 50 yards.
 
Carver finished the game with a 42.4-yard punt average, including booting a 67-yard kick and finished with three inside the UJ's 10-yard line.
 
Ervasti racked up a seven tackles with Cam Enright adding five tackles.
 
SMSU returns home next Saturday, Sept. 20, facing the University of Mary (1-2, 0-2 NSIC) with kickoff slated for 1 p.m. at Mattke Field at The Schwan Regional Event Center.