GAME 4:  @ Beauregard 40, Saint James 0

September 27, 1991   Hornet Field.  Game Conditions:  Clearing, very cool   Game Temperature:  58   Wind:  Light, variable

---

The outmanned Saint James Trojans traveled for the first time ever to Hornet Stadium to face off against 4A Beauregard, a team who in later years would become an occasional regional foe, and returned home with a rather humbling 40 - 0 defeat.

Beauregard took over on their own 32 yard line and used up more than half of the first quarter to travel 68 yards for their initial touchdown.  The Hornets overcame several penalties, fumbled center to quarterback snaps, and even a sack at the Trojan 14.  However, on the next play, Rob Hunter carried for the sixth time on the drive for an 18 yard touchdown.  Maurice Black's extra point was good, and Beauregard was up 7 - 0 midway through the first quarter.

The Saint James offense failed to take the field as a fumble was forced and recovered by Beauregard on the ensuing kickoff.  After an incomplete pass on first down, the game was delayed nearly half an hour because of a serious injury to a Trojan player, who was taken off the field in an ambulance.  After the game, a positive report was obtained from the nearby hospital in Opelika, but the early injury seemed to take the "life" out of the Trojans and their concerned fans for the remainder of the game.   Hunter scored for the Hornets five plays later, from three yards out, for his second touchdown.  This time, the extra point failed, but Beauregard was up by thirteen points still in the first quarter.

Saint James' most impressive offensive series of the evening followed, as the Trojans tried desperately to rally back into the game.  Steve Barton completed passes of 17 yards to Tray Ivey, 16 yards to Chad Scheer, and 8 yards to Craig Hill.  After a quick Beauregard timeout, Barton's three yard keeper moved the ball to the Hornet 27.  An offside penalty moved the ball backwards before the quarter ended, and the penalty was followed by an incomplete pass and an unfortunate fumbled snap recovered by the Hornets at their 34 yard line.

The defense held and forced a short punt, and a potential first down interception by Beauregard was negated by defensive pass interference.  However, a quarterback sack on the next play pushed the ball back near midfield, and Saint James turned the ball over on downs at the Hornet 37.  From there, it took Beauregard only four plays to strike, as quarterback Travis Battle called his own number from 46 yards out for the touchdown on a well-executed sweep.  Black's extra point gave Beauregard a 20 point lead late in the first half.

Saint James would again give Beauregard outstanding field position as they fumbled their second kickoff return of the half.  This time, fullback Luther Crawford was called on at the five yard line for the Hornets' fourth first half touchdown.  A failed extra point left the score at 26 - 0.

The Trojans did threaten once more before halftime.  Two major distance penalties aided the Trojans as they advanced to the Hornet 12 yard line in the last minute.  A no gain run, two incomplete passes, and only a five yard gain on fourth and ten ended the threat and the first half concluded with Beauregard in command.

Saint James could not convert on their first third quarter possession despite testing an interesting quarterback rotation on each play.  Beauregard added to their lead quickly as a 19 yard run by Hunter set up a 4 yard touchdown run by Trenten Holsten, giving the Hornets a 32 - 0 lead.  On the next drive, a Trojan pass was intercepted, but the defense forced a Hornet punt which was downed nicely by Beauregard at the Trojan five.  After a half the distance penalty, Barton was sacked in the endzone by Hornet Jeffrey Hannah and Beauregard was awarded a safety boosting the lead to 34 - 0 late in the third quarter.

The free kickoff was returned by Beauregard to the Trojan 34, but the second string Hornets could only get as close as the six before turning the ball over on downs.  Davis Hartley completed passes of 22 yards to Ivey and 18 to Danny Mayer before tossing an interception which was returned to midfield.  The Hornets drove and overcame a dead ball personal foul penalty as Jeffrey Hannah, who was credited with the safety tackle, carried in from 31 yards for the final touchdown of the game.  For whatever reason, the Hornets attempted a 2 point conversion pass which did not succeed, but succeeded in making the Trojans fans and sidelines quite angry.  (It was learned later the only Hornet placekicker had suffered an injury and was not to be brought back into the game by coach's decision.)

The remainder of the game was filled with penalties and shouting and shoving matches, and the referees thankfully decided on a running clock which left little time after an out of bounds run and three incomplete Saint James passes on their last possession as the Trojans headed back to Montgomery to face off against their first city opponent of the year.

---