STJ 0 0 0 0 7
October 18, 1996 Carlisle
Field. Game conditions: Clearing,
cooling, breezy Game Temperature: 55 Wind
NNW 15 - 25
Montgomery
Academy
used a crushing running game to control the ball, keeping
possession for 10 minutes more than Saint James, and field
position helped the Eagles pick up two first half touchdowns
on the way to a 17 - 7 victory over the Trojans.
The
Trojans'
first drives, both on the offensive and defensive sides of the
ball, were not things of beauty. A loss on first down
and a loss of 16 on a fumble on third down cost them field
position earned on the kickoff return. A shanked punt
into a strong, steady wind of only 9 yards gave the Eagles
first down on the Trojan 31. Later, two consecutive
defensive offside penalties gave Montgomery Academy a first
down at the Trojan 4. It took three plays, but the
Eagles finally stuffed the ball in the endzone from inside the
one yard line on a run by John Ellis. However, the extra
point was blown wide, and the Eagle lead was six midway
through quarter one.
Saint
James moved the ball on their next drive, with a 12 yard run
by Jake McMillan and an 11 yard run by Jason Smith leading off
the drive. However, an extended delay due to a broken
sideline chain repair tempered the momentum. The Trojans
converted another first down, but were halted at the Eagle 20,
where a 37 yard field goal attempt was blown wide right on a
night where the wind played havoc with most every kick.
The
Eagles
picked up one first down, and were fortunate enough to punt on
the first play of the second quarter, with the wind.
Saint James went three and out, and Montgomery Academy took
over on their own 45 yard line. Ten plays later, they
were in the endzone a second time. A 30 yard screen pass
and run on third and 9 moved the ball down to the Trojan 3,
and three plays later the Eagles cashed in again as Jay
Barganier scored from inside the one yard line. Nearly
the same play as the earlier screen pass was called on the two
point attempt by quarterback Matt Cone, and his toss to Buddy
Barnes was successful, giving the Eagles a 14 - 0 lead midway
through the second quarter.
Saint
James again failed to convert a first down, and another short
punt gave Montgomery Academy a first down at the Trojan
36. However, Rick Fidel intercepted yet another
screen pass attempt on the next play before it had a chance to
develop, and the Trojans regained possession. McMillan's
14 yard run moved the ball to midfield, but the Trojans could
gain no more yards. The wind was affecting snaps as
well, as the punt snap sailed over the punter's head, and he
was indeed fortunate to regain some semblance of control and
manage a low punt which came up 6 yards short of the line of
scrimmage; a far better result than a potential 30 yard loss
on the play. The Eagles had 93 seconds to score again,
but with only one time out, they could not make up enough
yardage to get into field goal range even with the tailwind,
and the lead stayed at 14 at halftime.
The
teams
traded turnovers on their initial second half drives, with
Jason Smith recovering an Eagle fumble at midfield, but the
Eagles intercepting a pass deep in their territory three plays
later. From the 27, Montgomery Academy embarked on a
rigorous 16 play drive which consumed over 8 minutes of the
third quarter clock. All 16 plays were rushing plays,
and the longest one only netted 11 yards, but the Eagles drove
down as far as the 10, where Saint James dropped the runner on
a reverse attempt for a 7 yard loss on third down.
However, a 34 yard field goal by Glenn Sylvest was good and
Montgomery Academy seemed to be safely in control with a 17 -
0 lead and less than 13½ minutes remaining in the game.
The Trojans punted on the first play of the fourth quarter
with the wind, but later recovered a fumble by the Montgomery
Academy reserves at the Eagle 29. From there, McMillan
ran for 16 and 7 yards. Smith ran for 4 yards, and then
Alan Olsen completed a 2 yard touchdown pass to Jay Robertson
for the Trojans' first score of the night. Keith Horn's
extra point was good and the lead was cut to 10 with 9½
minutes remaining. With the wind at their back, Saint
James opted for the long kickoff and field position versus an
onside attempt. A long kickoff return virtually wiped
out that advantage, but the Eagles again fumbled three plays
later at midfield. McMillan had runs of 22 and 11 in the
next drive and Saint James was at the 7 yard line with plenty
of time remaining. However, a fumble turned the ball
back over to the Eagles at their own 12.
Saint
James forced a punt on the next series, but two quarterback
sacks, the second on fourth down, turned the ball back over
and the first string Eagles returned to convert two quick
first downs, which were enough to empty the clock and push the
Eagles to the road victory.
SIDELINE STATISTICS - GAME SEVEN
SAINT JAMES RUSHING 37 carries 101 yards 0 TDs (2.73 yards per carry)
19 McMillan 17
/ 128 7 Smith
6 /
26
32 Meadows 3 / 3
17
Olsen
18
/ - 56
PASSING 3 completions 9 attempts 1 INT 26 yards 1 TD (3 sacks of, 27 yards)
17 Olsen 3 - 9 - 2 26 yards 1 TD
RECEIVING
44
Robertson 2 / 21 (1
TD)
7 Smith 1 / 5
TOTAL YARDS: 127
KICKS:
XP 1 / 1 FG 0 / 1 (60 Horn)
2 POINT
CONVERSIONS: 0 / 0
KICKOFFS:
2 (46,52)
PUNTS: 5
(9,29,24,-6,43)
KO RETURNS: 2
(25,15)
PUNT RETURNS: 1 (0)
FIRST DOWNS:
10 (9 rushing, 1 passing)
INTERCEPTION RETURNS: 1 (0)
FUMBLES: 2, lost 1
TURNOVER MARGIN: + 2
PENALTIES: 5 / 24
TIME OF POSSESSION: 18:53
MONT
ACAD RUSHING 55
attempts 176 yards 2 TDs (3.20 yards
per carry)
PASSING
2 completions 4 attempts 1 INT
44 yards
TOTAL YARDS: 220
KICKS: XP 0 / 1 FG 1 / 1
2 POINT CONVERSIONS: 1 / 1
KICKOFFS: 4 (52,53,EZ,25ob)
PUNTS: 2
(44,36)
KO
RETURNS: 2 (24,30)
PUNT RETURNS: 2 (4,3)
FIRST
DOWNS: 14 (11 rushing, 2 passing, 1 penalty)
FUMBLES:
4, lost 3
PENALTIES: 2 / 10 yards
TIME OF POSSESSION: 29:07