STJ (1)
8:15 Redding 29 run
(Finklea kick) 7 - 0
STJ (2) 0:24 Redding 2
run
(Finklea kick) 14
- 0
MAP (4) 6:58 Green 11 pass from
Johnson
(Green kick) 14 - 7
November 15,
1985. Collier Field. Game conditions: not
yet available
This game
was supposed to be the "re-match" between Trinity and Saint
James in the second round of the playoffs the way the brackets
set up. However, the Maplesville Red Devils ruined that
scenario as they upset the highly-ranked and moreso-favored
Wildcats in Montgomery in their first round matchup, as did
Saint James technically "upset" the area-winning Billingsley
Bears the week before. Fortunately, for the Trojans, they
earned the home field in the second round matchup of the 1985 1A
playoffs thanks to their victory and well-placed bracketing.
Johnny Redding's two first half touchdown runs were enough as
the Trojan defense thoroughly stifled the wishbone rushing
attack of Maplesville, forcing them, almost too successfully, to
resort to the passing game in the fourth quarter. Redding
managed 149 yards on 22 carries despite his sore ankle, 120 of
those in a dominant first half. The Trojans rushed 41
times for 207 yards overall. The Red Devils only managed
two first downs and 35 yards of total offense in the first half.
However, Maplesville scored midway through the fourth quarter
and were again threatening to score late. Gary Johnson
caught the Trojans off guard with his halfback pass back to Red
Devil quarterback Vincent Green on first down from the Trojan 11
to cut the fourth quarter lead in half. After the Trojans
ran nearly five minutes off the fourth quarter clock despite
making only one first down, the Red Devils took over at their
own 40 with less than two minutes remaining. On first
down, Jeff Stevenson made perhaps the defensive play of the year
pulling down an interception at the Trojan 30 with 1:40 left,
and then Saint James easily ran out the clock as Maplesville had
exhausted its timeouts.
The Red Devils lost two fumbles along with the late
interception, but the Trojans failed to turn the ball
over. Maplesville was held to a measly 33 yards on only 13
first half scrimmage plays, and actually ran only four offensive
plays in the entire second quarter.
With the victory, the Trojans prepared to travel to visit the
only team remaining in the state playoffs with a losing record
after a 3 - 6 regular season, but a tough matchup nevertheless
far away in Pickens Count loomed.
Thanks to Allen Williams of the Chilton County News for the assist on the
game recap and the game statistics.
PARTIAL SIDELINE STATISTICS - GAME TWELVE
SAINT
JAMES RUSHING 41 attempts
207 yards 2 TDs (5.05 yards per carry)