GAME 5:   @ Alabama Christian 33, Saint James 0

September 22, 1989   Alabama Christian Field   Game Conditions:   Nearby thunderstorms, windy  Game temperature 78  Winds SW 10-20

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The lightning from the skies was not the only thing sparkling at Alabama Christian's field this night, as the Eagles pounded out an opponent record 22 first downs as five different players scored touchdowns on their way to defeat the visiting Trojans 33 - 0.

Saint James moved the ball a bit on their first drive, thanks mainly to several defensive offside penalties and a first down pass from Wade Hartley to Barry Nave.  However, an illegal motion penalty slowed the drive and the Trojans punted.  The Eagles picked up 42 quick yards on four carries, but on the fourth lost a fumble and the Trojans regained possession at their own 25.  A 23 yard pass from Hartley to Billy Byrd moved the Trojans just short of Eagle territory, but they were forced to punt again.

From their own 17, Alabama Christian drove 83 yards for the first score of the game.  A 30 yard pass from Greg Anfield to David Blevins moved the ball to the Trojan 26.  Four plays later, still from the 26, an offside penalty cost the Trojans five yards and the Eagles converted a key first down when Jeff Sutherland caught a 15 yard pass from Anfield.  Three plays later, on the second play of the second quarter, Buddy Pugh carried in from one yard for the first touchdown of the game.  Kevin Cash's extra point gave Alabama Christian a 7 - 0 lead.

Saint James overcame a clipping penalty with a 20 yard completion from Hartley to Gabe Harris for a first down.  Several plays later, consecutive passes from Hartley to Will Parker of 15 and 18 yards had the Trojans threatening at the Eagle 32.  After a short gain, a delay of game, and an incomplete pass, the expected thunderstorm hit - suddenly and vigorously.  On the first play during the rain, Blevins picked off a pass and returned it to the Eagle 40, but a clipping penalty pushed the ball back.  During the markoff of the penalty, lightning struck dangerously close to the field, and players, officials, coaches, and cheerleaders immediately bolted from the playing surface.  After a fifteen minute delay for lightning from the subsiding storm, Alabama Christian continued their drive.  (Note:  A mandatory thirty minute delay is now required when lightning is involved.)

Similar to their first possession, on the fourth play, the Eagles fumbled the ball away at midfield.  However, the Trojans lost four yards and were forced to punt.  With just over three minutes to go, Alabama Christian drove 76 yards for a momentum-swinging touchdown.  The Trojans had a chance to get good field position themselves, but roughed the kicker on a punt attempt, and the Eagles retained the ball at their own 44 with 63 seconds left.  After an incomplete pass, Lee Pouncey's 16 yard run and Lamar Bradley's 17 yard pass reception moved the ball to the Trojan 23 with 24 seconds left.  Following another incomplete pass, Anfield found Blevins open in the endzone for a touchdown with only six seconds remaining in the half.  Cash's extra point gave the Eagles a two touchdown lead and a huge momentum obstacle for the Trojans to overcome.

They made headway on the opening kickoff, an onside beauty recovered by Saint James at the Eagle 42.  However, after two illegal procedure penalties, Arch Lee, who had taken over at quarterback for Hartley who exited the game with a dislocated shoulder, threw an interception and Alabama Christian regained their lost momentum.  Several plays later, after a scrum on the freld resulted in a personal foul and an Eagle ejection, Saint James had Alabama Christian trapped in a first and 25 situation.  Quickly though, consecutive runs of 17 and 27 yards by Pouncey fired up the Eagles, and three plays later Anfield called his own number from one yard out.  Cash's third consecutive extra point gave Alabama Christian a 21 - 0 lead.

Saint James could not move the ball on the now super-sloppy field, and a 30 yard punt return by Paxton Dickson had Alabama Christian nearing the endzone again.  A third lost fumble at the end of a first down run gave the ball back to the Trojans.  Two plays later, Bradley Pemberton intercepted a pass and returned it to the Trojan 35.  From there, the Eagles stayed mostly on the ground, grinding out yardage and clock time.  On the tenth play of the drive, Pouncey carried in from one yard and Alabama Christian had sewn up the game at 27 - 0.   The Trojans' next punt attempt was blocked and recovered on the five yard line, where Lee Pouncey was rewarded three plays later with a four yard touchdown run to end the scoring.

The Trojans had one more drive and had reached their own 47, but failed on a fourth down, allowing Alabama Christian to run out the clock with a big, wet, intracity victory.

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