GAME 5:  SAINT JAMES 41, @ Alabama Christian 22

  STJ            6     14       8     13         41
 
ACA           7       0       7       8         22

SCORING SUMMARY: 

ACA (1)    8:34   Cobb 36 pass from Dismukes          (Norton kick)      0 -  7
STJ   (1)    2:51   Armstrong 10 run                              (kick failed)      6 -  7
STJ   (2)  10:36   Armstrong 2 run                                (pass failed)    12 -  7
STJ   (2)    0:43   Moss 2 run                                       (Pappas run)    20 -  7
STJ   (3)    6:29   Pappas 5 run                                    (Pappas run)    28 -  7
ACA (3)    2:26   Norton 11 run                                 (Norton kick)    28 - 14
STJ   (4)    9:53   Pate 1 run                                   (Roberson kick)    35 - 14
ACA (4)    8:39   Cobb 12 run                                     (Norton run)    35 - 22
STJ   (4)    3:41   Pate 4 run                                          (kick failed)    41 - 22
October 1, 1993.  Eagles (new, unnamed) Field.   Game Conditions:  Mostly clear   Game Temperature:  64, dropping steadily   Wind:  Light

Saint James made their first trip to Alabama Christian's new west to east football field a successful one, rushing for a school record 69 carries and over 300 yards and six touchdowns, as the Trojans defeated the Eagles in an intra-city and area matchup 41 - 22.

A perfect conclusion to a perfect weather week - clear, cool, and very fall-like set the stage.  On the first drive of the game, it appeared the Eagles would be taking center stage themselves.  Michael Dismukes tossed two key passes, a 16 yarder to Wade Norton and two plays later a 36 yarder to Michael Cobb for a touchdown just 3½ minutes into the game.  Norton's extra point gave Alabama Christian early momentum with a 7 - 0 lead.

The Trojans, which attempted only two passes in the game, both in the first quarter, moved as effectively although not nearly as swiftly on a 16 play, 75 yard drive.  The key play in the middle of the drive was a fourth down conversion by Cade Armstrong, who picked up seven yards on fourth and two near midfield.  Armstrong's 9 yard run gave the Trojans a first down at the Eagles 13, and two plays later Armstrong carried in from the 10 for a touchdown.  The extra point was blocked however, and the Eagles maintained a single point lead late in the first quarter.

Trojan Brian Brown continued the Trojan momentum as he intercepted a Dismukes pass several plays later and returned it to the Eagle 38.  After a 5 yard run by Armstrong, Ryan Pynes caught the only completed Saint James pass of the night from Walter Moss for 18 yards.  Six plays later, on the fourth play of the second quarter, Armstrong called his own number for a two yard touchdown.  The Trojans attempted a 2 point conversion from the 8 yard line after a penalty, but the pass failed.  However, Saint James had its first lead of the game at 12 - 7.

The Eagles were stopped after a lengthy kickoff return, and the Trojans took over after a punt on their own 24.  Another 16 play drive ate up 76 yards of field and well over 7 minutes of clock time.  Walter Moss' measured two yard carry on fourth and two from the Eagle four yard line kept the drive alive, and Moss called the same play on the next down for the score.  The Trojans opted for two again, and were successful on Hunter Pappas' carry.  It appeared Saint James would cruise into halftime with a 13 point lead with only 43 seconds remaining on the clock.

However, a second consecutive fine kickoff return to the Trojan 39 gave Alabama Christian one more chance to score.  Dismukes scrambled, trying to pass, and eventually picked up 11 yards for a first down, but when time out was called only nine seconds remained on the halftime clock.  Dismukes' next pass attempt was incomplete, and his final try only picked up five yards, keeping Alabama Christian off the scoreboard in the second quarter.

The Trojans embarked on another time consuming drive to start the second half, moving 66 yards in 12 plays.  Hunter Pappas and Robert Pate, switched to a fullback from the offensive line, were the main workhorses on another all-ground assault.  Cade Armstrong's 5 yard run gave the Trojans a first down at the Eagle 15.  Two plays later he carried down to the six, but an injury later to be determined a dislocated shoulder led to his early departure from the game.  A Moss keeper for one and a five yard run by Pappas gave Saint James its fourth rushing touchdown of the evening, and Pappas added another two point conversion run as Saint James had scored 28 consecutively to take a three touchdown lead.

Alabama Christian got its offense on track on the next drive.  Michael Cobb picked up eighteen on first down.  Four plays later, on fourth and four, a long run by Norton was negated in part by a clipping penalty, but the Eagles still had enough yardage for the key first down.  A 31 yard pass on the next play advanced the ball to the Trojan 16, and two plays later Norton carried in from the 10 for an Eagle touchdown.  He added his own extra point and cut the Saint James lead to 14.

With Armstrong out of the game, Pappas took over in the backfield. He carried three times for 27 yards to end the third quarter.  After a one yard run, his third down run of five yards which would have been short of the first down was aided by a personal foul penalty, moving the ball down to the Eagle 14.  Two more Pappas runs of one and eleven yards preceded a Pate run of two for a touchdown.  Andy Roberson's extra point boosted the lead back to 21 early in the fourth quarter.

The Trojans basically gave away half the field on their next defensive possession.  On consecutive plays a roughing the passer penalty and a personal foul penalty were called, and an unsportsmanlike conduct flag was added after the second call.  From the Saint James 12 on the next play, Cobb carried in against the frustrated Trojan defenders.  The extra point snap went directly to the kicker Norton who rushed for a surprise two point conversion, and the Eagles had closed to within 13 with still nearly 9 minutes remaining in the game.

For the first time in the game, the Trojans were held out of the Alabama Christian endzone on their next drive and punted out of bounds to the Eagle 34.  Just as it appeared momentum was switching sides, the Eagles fumbled on the first play, a quarterback scramble, and the Trojans recovered on the Eagle 20.  Two runs by Pappas picked up a total of seven yards, and Pate then carried for five, four, and four for his second touchdown.  The extra point failed, but Saint James was up a seemingly safe 41 - 22 with less than four minutes remaining.

The Eagles were driving, albeit using valuable clock time mostly on the ground, until Trojan Brian Brown garnered his second interception of the night on a great catch straddling the sidelines at the six yard line.  From there, two Walter Moss carries were enough to run out the clock, and the win gave the Trojans an excellent chance at their first state playoff appearance since 1985.

SIDELINE STATISTICS  - GAME FIVE

SAINT JAMES   RUSHING    69 rushes (school record) 308 yards  6 TDs  (4.47 yards per carry)

                          17   Pappas         25 / 130  (1 TD)     12   Armstrong         20 / 108  (2 TDs)         44   Pate         14 / 45  (2 TDs)
                          10   Moss              9 /  25  (1 TD)     84   Pynes                 1 /    0

                          PASSING      1 completion  2 attempts  0 INTs  18 yards  0 TDs  (no sacks of)

                          10   Moss            1 - 2 - 0        18 yards

                          RECEIVING

                          17   Pappas         1 / 18

                          TOTAL YARDS:   326

                          KICKS:  XP  1 / 3                FG  0 / 0
                          2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  2 / 3
                          KICKOFFS:   7  (46,50,38,42,49,50,46)                   PUNTS:   1  (30)
                          KO RETURNS:  4  (13,21,4,6)                                PUNT RETURNS:  0
                          INTERCEPTION RETURNS:  2  (4,0)
                           FIRST DOWNS:   20  (18 rushing, 1 passing, 1 penalty)
                          FUMBLES:  0
                          TURNOVER MARGIN:  + 3
                          PENALTIES:  5 / 53 yards
                          TIME OF POSSESSION:  32:45

A C A                 RUSHING    25 attempts  126 yards  2 TDs  (5.04 yards per carry)
                          PASSING      5 completions  10 attempts  2 INTs  70 yards  1 TD  (no sacks of)
                          TOTAL YARDS:  196

                           KICKS:  XP  2 / 2                FG  0 / 0
                          2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  1 / 1
                          KICKOFFS:  4  (48,47,28,26)                                 PUNTS:  1  (39)
                          KO RETURNS:  6  (15,22,17,43,19,23,16)              PUNT RETURNS:  1  (9)
                          FIRST DOWNS:   11  (5 rushing, 2 passing. 4 penalty)
                          FUMBLES:  1, lost 1
                          PENALTIES:  2 / 30 yards
                          TIME OF POSSESSION:  15:15

RETURN TO THE SAINT JAMES 1993 FOOTBALL HOMEPAGE