GAME 7:   @ Trinity 44, Saint James 14

October 19, 1990  Boykin Field.   Game conditions:  Clear, cool    Game temperature:  61   Wind:  N  3 - 8

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Saint James could not overcome the Trinity running back tandem of Steve McCulloch and Stephan Phelan who rushed for a combined five touchdowns and well over 200 yards as the Wildcats defeated the visiting Trojans 44 - 14.

The Trojans were forced to punt on their first drive, and a clipping penalty negated most of a long punt return.  However, Trinity drove 75 yards in 6 plays, the key play a 44 yard run by Phelan.  On second down from the Trojan five, McCulloch on his second carry of the drive traversed the final yards for the opening score.  The Wildcats opted for a two point conversion pass, and completed it successfully, leading to a 8 - 0 lead midway through the first quarter.

Saint James coughed up the football on a quarterback scramble deep in their own territory on the next set of plays, and McCulloch passed once for fifteen yards and ran three times for five yards, the final yard on a quarterback keeper.  Again, the conversion pass was attempted successfully, giving Trinity a 16 - 0 advantage late in the first quarter.

On the last play of the first quarter, the Trojans attempted a fourth down and one from their own 28, and failed to convert as the quarterback sneak was snuffed.  However, this time the Trojan defense sparkled as Trinity tried to pass for an early put away score.  A fumble on a sack was recovered by the Trojans at their own 47.  However, in a miserable offensive first half where Saint James did not convert a first down, another fourth down and two was stopped on a quarterback sack.  Trinity this time drove 49 yards in a laborious 9 plays, overcoming a holding penalty, and Phelan carried in from the two for his first touchdown.  He then kicked the first of his four extra points, and the Wildcats lead of 23 would hold up until halftime.

Saint James tried an onside kick, with peculiar results, to start the second half.  A line drive kick bounced off two Trinity upmen and traveled high and back further into Trinity territory.  A basketball jump ball situation resulted, and the Trojans managed to fall on the live ball at the Trinity 34.  On first down, Wade Hartley rared back and found a wide open Stephen Woodry downfield for a quick 34 yard touchdown pass.  Taking advantage of some defensive confusion, Hartley attempted his own two point conversion pass and found Billy Byrd in the endzone for the successful attempt, and suddenly Saint James had momentum and had cut the lead to a two possession margin.

The momentum was nulled when McCulloch returned the ensuing deep kickoff to the Trinity 43.  Saint James stopped the Wildcats three yards short of a first down, but a deep punt pinned them deep in their own territory.  A face mask penalty more than offset a 12 yard quarterback sack, but it was not enough to prevent another punt, which was returned inside Trojan territory.  This time, the Wildcats would not be denied as they scored four plays later, with McCulloch on his third touchdown of the night gaining the final five yards.  Phelan's kick pushed the lead to 23 midway through the third quarter.

On the next drive, Hartley took to the air, looking for Stephen Woodry five times.  Three of the passes were incomplete, but one bomb went for 49 yards, and on fourth down and 10 Hartley found Woodry for 30 yards and a second touchdown connection.   A two point pass this time failed, but the lead was cut back to two possessions, at 30 - 14. 

Saint James was on the way to recovering a second onside kick, but a late whistle for offsides on the kickoff negated the recovery.  A pooch popup kick was fair caught by Trinity, setting them up at their own 41.  Saint James forced a punt, but a clipping penalty on the return moved the Trojans back inside their own 10.  Three plays later, another deep pass intended for Woodry was intercepted, and the Wildcats were on the Saint James 35.  However, on the last play of the third quarter, the defense held McCulloch to a four yard gain on fourth down and six.  Just as it appeared Saint James had averted major trouble, disaster struck on the opening play of the fourth quarter as Phelan recovered a fumbled snap at the Saint James eight.  Two plays later, he carried in for the game-sealing touchdown from the four, and his own extra point pushed the lead to 37 - 14.

Trinity added its final touchdown midway through the fourth quarter as backup Bubba Skipworth scored on a 30 yard reverse, and Phelan's extra point finalized the scoring at 44 - 14, continuing the Trojan win drought since the first two games of the season as Montgomery Academy loomed large the following Friday.

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