The statistics were not pretty by any means, at least offensively, but the Saint James Special Teams never before shined finer, both on the offensive and (especially) defensive ends as they defeated the homestanding Highland Home Flying Squadron impressively, 30-14.

Neither team could mount much offense early, but Highland Home was winning the field position battle.  After starting their second possession on the St. James 47, they moved 47 yards in 9 plays, all running.  Senior Alton Palmer traveled the final four on the first play of the second quarter, giving the Squadron a 7-0 lead - the first time all season the Trojans trailed.

St. James responded quickly when a personal foul after the kickoff return gave them possession at their own 47.  They were forced to punt, but the returner fumbled after being nailed by a Trojan defender.  Rick Fidel, who recovered a fumble in the ACA game for a touchdown, picked up the fumble at the HH 23 and advanced it inside the Squadron 3 yard line, where 3 consecutive runs netted 3 yards, the final yard on a quarterback sneak by Lee Murphy.  Michael Ritch's extra point tied the game at 7 with 7:56 to go in the second quarter.

Highland Home struck back quickly.  Starting from their 20 (after another Ritch kick went into the endzone), four consecutive runs of 21, 9, 6, and 44 yards had the Squadron on the scoreboard again, once more on the feet of Palmer.  A second extra point gave the lead back to Highland Home at 14-7.

St. James promptly returned the kickoff past midfield, but four plays later fumbled after catching a screen pass inside the Highland Home 20 yard line, thwarting a second Trojan touchdown drive before halftime.  Highland Home threatened late in the half with a 13 play drive, but four penalties never allowed them inside the St. James 45 yard line before the end of the second quarter.

By halftime, the Trojans had only managed two first downs, 24 yards rushing on 16 carries, and only 38 yards passing (despite a perfect 3 for 3 performance by Murphy).  Highland Home had managed 41 yards passing and 157 yards rushing, 102 of those by Aldon Palmer - who would be noticeably silenced in the second half.  However, while not showing the offensive prowess of week one, the defense and special teams came to play in the second half in a big way.

The teams traded punts early in the third quarter, but after the Trojan punt, the Squadron had the ball on their own 6.  Three plays netted only six yards, and on fourth down a holding penalty by the punter protector returned the ball to the five yard line.  The Trojans put their all out punt block in effect on the retry, and the Squadron punter never had a chance. A bad snap bounced off his knees in the endzone, and Trojans were fighting each other for possession of the ball.  Stephen Stringer finally pounced on it for a touchdown, the second Trojan touchdown this season upon recovering an opponent's fumble in the endzone.   Ritch's extra point tied the game once more at 14 with 4:17 to go in the third quarter.

Highland Home's offense from then on was virtually non-existant.  On first down from the 20, a pitch play was bobbled and Ryan Sexton recovered for the Trojans on the Squadron 8 yard line.  This Trojan drive stalled at the 2, and Ritch was called in to kick his second field goal of the year, from a sharp angle.  The 19 yard attempt split the uprights, and St. James took the lead for good at 17-14 with 2:06 to go in the third quarter.

Highland Home was forced to punt again without making a first down, and the kick return team shined. Sophomore Matt Grooms, on the last play of the third quarter, took the punt at his own 36 and barrelled through numerous tacklers into the secondary.  He was caught from behind at the 6 yard line after a 58 yard punt return.  Two consecutive Jake McMillan three yard runs gave the Trojans another touchdown.  Ritch missed the extra point attempt (his first miss after 6 makes) on a botched snap, but the Trojans had a lead of 23-14 with 11:13 to go in the game.

The lone kickoff of Ritch's in this game not to make the endzone was returned only out to the Squadron 13.  Five plays later, Rick Fidel again showed his "offensive" defensive skills.   He intercepted a Highland Home pass at the 29 and returned it to the Squadron 6.  Two plays later, McMillan wrapped up the victory with his second TD of the game, his fourth of the season, on a one yard run.  Ritch's kick gave the Trojans a final victory margin of 30-14, as Highland Home could manage little offense afterwards.

SIDELINE STATISTICS  - GAME TWO

ST. JAMES      RUSHING   31 attempts  18 yards   3 TDs 

                        19   McMillan      18 / 36  (2 TDs)       21   Grooms       3 /   6          17   Sexton       1 / - 4
                        22   Woodham      1 / - 5                     35   Reid            3 / - 7          10   Murphy     5 / - 8

                        PASSING     3 completions  4 attempts  0 INTs  38 yards  0 TDs  (1 sack of, - 4 yards)

                        10   Murphy       3 - 4 - 0      38 yards
                        17   Sexton         0 - 0 - 0                        (1 sack, - 4 yards)

                        RECEIVING

                        12   Edwards        2 / 33                     22  Woodham       1 /  5

                        TOTAL YARDS:  56