Saint James
scored eleven second quarter points despite running only two
plays from scrimmage in the period, but three interceptions and
a huge dose of Alabama Christian running could not be overcome
as the visiting Eagles left Collier Field with a 21 - 18
victory.
After a three
and out led to an early Trojan punt, the Eagles drove 57 yards
in nine plays for a touchdown on their opening drive.
David Blevins caught a 25 yard pass from Chris Dodd to move the
ball to the Trojan 25. After a penalty, Buddy Pugh ran for
23 yards, and two plays later Dodd called his own number from
the Trojan five for the first score of the game. Kevin
Cash's kick gave Alabama Christian an early 7 - 0 lead.
The Trojans
would respond with their own long drive, eating up the remainder
of the first quarter. After crossing midfield, a clipping
penalty pushed Saint James back into their own territory.
A 15 yard pass from Wade Hartley to Jeff George erased the
penalty yardage, and on fourth down and seven, the Trojans
executed a fake punt perfectly with upback Clifford Long
carrying for 17 yards. A late hit penalty added 12 yards
to the gain, and the Trojans had first down on the Eagle
12. Three plays only netted four yards, and P.J. Robertson
was called on to kick a 25 yard field goal, which he did on the
first play of the second period, cutting the Alabama Christian
lead to 4.
The Eagles then
embarked on a drive almost as long timewise as the first two
combined. Nearly the entire second quarter was eaten up on
a 19 play drive with only two instances resulting in a gain of
more than nine yards, a Dodd run of 15 and a 15 yard late hit
personal foul penalty added to a Pugh run. Pugh carried in
for the touchdown at the end of the amazing 10½ minute
drive, and Cash's kick gave Alabama Christian a seemingly
comfortable eleven point lead heading into halftime.
Not quite.
Jeff George took the ensuing kickoff at his own eleven and
darted up the near sidelines, breaking two tackles at the 30 and
leaving other Eagles behind as he raced for the endzone and a
Trojan touchdown just twelve seconds later, which at the time
was the longest kickoff return touchdown in Saint James
history. He managed to have enough oxygen left to catch a
two point conversion pass from Hartley and reach the endzone,
albeit barely, and suddenly the Trojans were within three at 14
- 11.
Amazingly, Saint
James actually earned another chance to score before
halftime. The Eagles fumbled on the Trojan 33 with 36
seconds remaining. On only the second snap for Saint James
of the second quarter (the other being the first play field
goal), a Hartley pass for the endzone was intercepted by
Blevins. He zigzagged across the field several times, and
almost broke loose for what would have been a touchdown negated
by penalties on the return, but the second quarter clock expired
in the process.
The Trojans
carried momentum into the third quarter despite the
interception, and forced the Eagles into a three and out to
start the half. George returned the punt into Eagle
territory at the 44. He ran for fourteen yards two plays
later just prior to a Hartley screen pass to Long which moved
the ball down to the Eagle seven. Three plays later,
George scored his second touchdown of the game, this one on a
three yard run. Robertson's extra point was true, and the
Trojans had overcome an 11 point deficit to take a 4 point lead
at 18 - 14.
Alabama
Christian converted one first down on their next drive, but
could only advance as far as the Trojan 45. However, Dodd,
who doubled as punter, made a terrific kick which was downed
inside the Trojan one yard line. Saint James managed to
give their punter room by nearly reaching the ten yard line, but
the Eagles still had great field position at the Trojan 37 after
the kick. Halfback Torrando Station was given the ball on
the second play of the drive, only his second carry of the game,
and he burst through the line for 33 yards and a
touchdown. Cash's kick gave Alabama Christian back their
three point lead with a majority of the final quarter remaining.
After George
returned the kickoff to the 34, the fresh legs of Jay Allen were
called upon, and he quickly responded with a 19 yard gain on
first down. Four plays later, George converted a huge
fourth down with a 16 yard run down to the Eagles 26.
However, on the next play, David Blevins once again intercepted
a Hartley pass, this time at the Alabama Christian 13.
The Eagles were
stopped three and out, George fair caught a punt at the Eagles
47, and Saint James had just over six minutes remaining.
They were slowed as they reached the Eagle 20, and Robertson was
called on to try a tying 32 yard field goal, which came up just
inches wide to the right with 3:19 remaining. The Trojans
actually got another chance as Pugh fumbled while trying to run
out the clock at the Trojan 45. With 1:25 remaining,
an incomplete pass, a penalty, and a sack led to Saint James's
second timeout. On the next play, a defensive pass
interference penalty was called on a screen attempt, a dubious
call at best, but the Trojans had first down again at their own
45 with 47 seconds remaining. A sack led to the Trojans'
last timeout, and a desperation pass was tipped and intercepted,
ending the final Trojan scoring threat and clinching the victory
for Alabama Christian.
SIDELINE STATISTICS - GAME FIVE
SAINT JAMES RUSHING 37 carries 124 yards 1 TD (3.35 yards per carry)
28 George 10 /
54 (1 TD) 11
Allen 11 /
38
34 Parker
6 / 27
33
Long
6 /
17
10
Hartley 4 / - 6
PASSING 3 completions 7 attempts
3 INTs 49 yards 0 TDs (2 sacks of, 14 yards)
10
Hartley 3 - 7 -
3 49 yards
RECEIVING
33
Long
1 /
22
28 George 1 /
15
84
Nave 1 / 12
TOTAL
YARDS: 173
ALA
CHRISTIAN RUSHING 42 attempts 210
yards 3 TDs (5.00 yards per carry)
PASSING 2 completions 10 attempts
0 INTs 31 yards 0 TDs (1 sack of, 4 yards)
TOTAL
YARDS: 251
RETURN TO THE SAINT JAMES 1988 FOOTBALL HOMEPAGE