STJ 0 0 13 0 13
Trinity came to Carlisle Field ranked sixth
in the state in 2A, but it was the Trojans who were the
ranked team in the next poll as Saint James overcame a
driving rainstorm in the first half and the resulting muddy
field in the second half to defeat the previously undefeated
Wildcats 13 - 6.
It was a costly victory for the Trojans, as
running back Jason Smith, well on his way to obliterating
all the previous Trojans rushing records, and probably
threatening some state records as well, broke his ankle in
the second quarter and could not continue. Neither
team could mount a threat in the first half. However,
Saint James surprised the Wildcats with a very short pooch
kickoff to start the second half, and it was recovered by
Stephan Woodham at the Trinity 38. Several plays
later, on fourth and eight from the Trinity 24, Jeff
McIntyre was given the handoff and he plowed for 17 yards
which led to a first and goal situation. Trinity's
defense held, but a roughing the kicking penalty on a field goal attempt which had been
missed wide gave the Trojans the
option to try for the touchdown from the three yard
line. Jake McMillian took the
handoff and drove into the endzone for the first score of
the game. Jason Edwards' extra point gave St. James a
7 - 0 lead early in the third quarter.
Several plays later, with Trinity backed up
inside their own 10 yard line, a wayward pitch to a Wildcat
running back was recovered by McIntyre in the endzone for
another Trojan touchdown. The extra point was blocked
this time, but Saint James had built a 13 - 0 lead still
relatively early in the third quarter.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Trinity's
Bret Eddins blocked a punt, setting up the Wildcats with
first down on the Saint James 15. On the next play,
Bobby Huddleston lifted a pass into the endzone. The
pass was tipped twice, but fell into the hands of Keeton
Blakeney who was on his knees, and Trinity had their first
score of the game. This time the Trinity
extra point attempt was blocked, but
the Wildcats were within one possession of a tie or perhaps
a possible win.
The Wildcats managed to stop Saint James on
its next drive and later marched just
into Trojan territory. However, a Huddleston pass was
tipped by Jason Edwards and intercepted by Logan Markham at
the Saint James 33, and the Trojans were able to run out the
clock and take command of both the area race and the Capital
City Conference race as well.
The Trojans could only manage 126 yards
rushing on 52 carries, and only attempted two passes, one of
which was intercepted. Trinity managed 50 yards
passing, but only could complete 5 of 16 passes with 2 of
theirs being intercepted. The Wildcats rushed for 112
yards on 32 carries. In the rain and slop, St. James
fumbled twice and lost one, while Trinity fumbled three
times and lost two, including the crucial endzone touchdown
recovery by McIntyre.
SIDELINE STATISTICS - GAME FOUR
(not yet available)
RETURN TO THE SAINT JAMES 1997 FOOTBALL HOMEPAGE