GAME 1:   ST. JAMES 31, Alabama Christian 21

Jake McMillian ran for 179 yards and two touchdowns; Rick Fidel caught a touchdown pass and recovered a fumble for a touchdown; and the Trojans withstood three consecutive Alabama Christian touchdowns within nine minutes of the third quarter to launch a successful defense of their 1997 Capital City Conference Championship, defeating the Eagles 31-21 at St. James' Carlisle Field.

After a 100 degree day, the temperature moderated somewhat as the sun set, but the Trojans started out hot themselves, blistering ACA 24-0 in the first half.  After the teams exchanged punts, St. James took over on their own 45.  On the first play, McMillan took a handoff from starting QB Lee Murphy and broke through the middle of the line into the secondary and burst for a 55 yard touchdown run - the first score of the season - midway into the first quarter.  Michael Ritch's extra point gave St. James a 7-0 lead.

On the ensuing drive, ACA managed their only first half first down on a 17 yard completed pass.  The Eagles only had 6 yards rushing on 11 carries, and the one completed pass for 17 yards, in the first half.  ACA was forced to punt, and sophomore Matt Grooms took the punt at his own 34; he dodged several tacklers and advanced all the way to the Eagle 25 yard line, a 41 yard punt return.  The drive stalled, but Ritch was called upon and kicked a 36 yard FG to make the score 10-0 with 3:24 to go in the first.

After another Ritch kickoff sailed into the endzone, ACA promptly fumbled the ball away on first down.  St. James could not score or convert a first down, and a 37 yard FG attempt was short and wide right, leaving the score at 10-0.   ACA fumbled again on the second play on their next drive.  St. James drove for eight plays into the second quarter, the highlight a 13 yard completion from Murphy to Michael Reid which overcame an earlier holding penalty.   However, the Trojans could not convert a fourth and goal from the one yard line, and turned the ball over on downs to the Eagles.

Yet, the Trojans defense was again solid, and forced the third ACA fumble in four offensive plays. This one was knocked back into the endzone in the scramble to recover, and Rick Fidel dove on the loose ball for St. James' second touchdown. The extra point with 10:37 to go in the half gave the Trojans a 17-0 lead.

The teams traded interceptions, and later Ritch missed a 38 yard FG try wide.  Near the end of the half, St. James had perhaps its finest drive of the night as junior quarterback Ryan Sexton made his debut.  Eleven consecutive rushing plays netted 63 yards, and on first down from the one, Sexton's only completion of the game was a pass to Fidel for a 1 yard touchdown, giving the Trojans a seemingly safe 24-0 halftime lead.   The Trojans outgained the Eagles 177-23 in total yardage in the first half, 163-6 on the ground.

However, the Eagles came out fired up in the third quarter.  One play after an early Trojan fumble, ACA QB Bo Offord tossed a 40 yard TD pass to Brent Botsford, making the score 24-7.  The Trojans were called for 5 penalties on the next drive, including 2 holdings and 2 dead ball personal fouls - the second after a punt which gave the Eagles the ball on the Trojans 34. Once again, the Offord to Botsford connection on the first play after change of possession resulted in a touchdown - making the score 24-14.

St. James mounted a drive, boosted by two ACA personal foul late hit penalties, but an incomplete pass on fourth down at the ACA 22 stopped the slight momentum turn.  ACA retaliated with an 11 yard run, pass completions of 13 and 28, an incomplete pass, and a 26 yard TD run by Dave Davenport which almost wiped out the Trojan lead - the score 24-21 with nearly a minute remaining in the third quarter.

After recovering a pooch kickoff, St. James could not convert a first down, but a huge punt by Ritch gave ACA the ball at their own 9 yard line. After a first down, and ACA with all the momentum, perhaps the play of the game occurred when a second first down - a 14 yard completion - was nullified by a holding penalty. After several incomplete passes, another fine punt return by Grooms gave St. James the ball at the ACA 38. McMillan ran 4 of the next 5 plays for 33 yards, the final 17 on a TD run. The extra point, Ritch's fourth, gave the Trojans a 31-21 lead, the final margin with 5:45 to go in the game.

ACA had the ball once more, but failed to convert a first down, and St. James converted two of their own, running out the clock due in part to some wasted time outs earlier in the half by the Eagles.

SIDELINE STATISTICS  - GAME ONE

ST. JAMES      RUSHING   57 attempts  264 yards   2 TDs  (4.64 yards per carry)

                        19   McMillan      28 / 179  (2 TDs)      35   Reid               7 / 30            21   Grooms       7 / 27
                        17   Sexton            7 /  15                    44   McDonald       2 / 10            10   Murphy       7 /  3

                        PASSING     2 completions  8 attempts  1 INT  14 yards  1 TD  (2 sacks of, - 11 yards)

                        10   Murphy       1 - 4 - 1       13 yards              (1 sack, - 2 yards)
                        17   Sexton         1 - 4 - 0         1 yard    1 TD   (1 sack, - 9 yards)

                        RECEIVING

                        35   Reid            1 / 13            1   Fidel         1 / 1  (TD)

                        TOTAL YARDS:  278