GAME 9:  SAINT JAMES 14, Catholic 7

CAT         7       0       0       0           7

 STJ          7       0       7       0         14 

SCORING SUMMARY:

CAT  (1)   6:14   Barranco 9 pass from Davis            (Gorrie kick)     0 - 7
STJ   (1)   0:02   Herring 36 yard run                          (Horn kick)     7 - 7
STJ   (3)   -----    Robertson 7 pass from Cole             (Horn kick)   14 - 7

October 27, 1995.  Carlisle Field.   Game Conditions:  Rainy, windy, tornado watch  Game Temperature:  65   Wind:  Variable 10+

The classic Montgomery Advertiser headline summed it all up:  "Trojans Berry Knights in Mud".  In a game which matched up the 6 - 2 Catholic Knights and the 2 - 6 Saint James Trojans vying for the remaining playoff spot in Class 3A Area 4, not many pundits gave the Trojans much of a chance, especially due to the foul weather.  And after the first drive of the game, where Catholic traveled a quick 53 yards for a touchdown, it appeared they may have been correct.  However, the Trojan defense stood tall and failed to allow another point, while fullback Mark Berry had a career night rushing, as Saint James surprised the Knights and captured the runner-up playoff spot in Area 4 with a messy, but ultra-rewarding 14 - 7 victory.

After a nearly 40 yard opening kickoff return, the Knights were in good field position immediately.  Eight rushing plays later, courtesy of John Rose and Mike Caple, and one quickly deteriorating field later, Catholic was at the Trojan nine yard line, where Matt Davis connected with Jeff Barranco on the first pass attempt of the game, a touchdown.  Jason Gorrie's extra point gave the Knights a 7 - 0 lead halfway through the first quarter.

The Knights would only make two first downs the remainder of the game as the Trojan defense stood solidly as it had not done all season.  However, the Saint James offense was giving Catholic plenty of chances.  Saint James entered the Catholic side of the field on each of its five first half possessions, but punted once, turned the ball over on downs once, fumbled once (on the Catholic 15), and was intercepted once, by Barranco who had caught the touchdown pass earlier.  Fortunately, on the second drive, Sequon Herring cashed in for Saint James as he rushed for a touchdown from the Knight 36 late in the first quarter, and Jason Horn's kick, certainly no gimme in the rain and howling wind, was successful, leading to a 7 - 7 tie after one quarter.

The Trojans took the lead for good on their second possession of the third quarter.  After allowing a short punt to die in a puddle at the Knight 43, Saint James moved eight plays, with the final one a 7 yard pass from Rob Cole to Jay Robertson for a touchdown.  Horn's kick had the Saint James sidelines (and press box) dancing and screaming with a surprise 14 - 7 lead.

Catholic was by no means finished, as they punted deep and recovered a Trojan fumble at the Saint James 11 with only three minutes remaining in the game.  However, the first three plays netted minimal yardage, and a fourth down desperation pass was intercepted by Will Webber at the Trojan 4.  Catholic had timeouts remaining and forced the Trojans to punt from deep in their territory.  Despite the all out punt block being called, Horn's kick caught a miraculous wind draft and carried nearly all the way to midfield, continuously rolling and splashing and wasting valuable clock time for the Knights.

With 34 seconds remaining, Catholic was going to try a desperation pass, but the ball was knocked out of quarterback Davis's hand and recovered by Trojans so muddy their gold numbers were almost unreadable.  The muddy did not matter, as it took Saint James only one play to run out the clock on one of the biggest upsets in Trojan history as it would be 3 - 6 Saint James, not 6 - 3 Catholic, advancing to the playoffs in two weeks, with a crosstown showdown at Saint Jude as a tune-up the following Friday.

PARTIAL SIDELINE STATISTICS  - GAME NINE

SAINT JAMES   RUSHING    48 attempts  217 yards  1 TD  (4.52 yards per carry)

                          PASSING     1 completions  4 attempts  1 INT  7 yards  1 TD

                          12   Cole             1 - 4 - 1   7 yards  1 TD

                          RECEIVING

                          44   Robertson     1 /  7  (TD)

                          TOTAL YARDS:  216

                          KICKS:  XP  2 / 2                FG  0 / 0
                          2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                          FIRST DOWNS:   9
                          FUMBLES:  3, lost 3
                          TURNOVER MARGIN:  - 1
                          PENALTIES:  6 / 40 yards

CATHOLIC        RUSHING   46 attempts  107 yards  0 TDs  (2.33 yards per carry)
                          PASSING      2 completions  3 attempts  1 INT  6 yards  1 TD
                          TOTAL YARDS:  113

                           KICKS:  XP  1 / 1                FG  0 / 0
                          2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                          FIRST DOWNS:   6
                           FUMBLES:  5, lost 2
                          PENALTIES:  5 / 45 yards

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