WOO WOO WOO! was the cry as Stephen Woodham almost singlehandedly brought the Trojans back from potential fourth quarter disaster to a late come-from behind touchdown.  Saint James grabbed the lead in Area 5 play, defeating ranked Trinity at their home stadium, Boykin Field, for only the second time in school history (1984), and for the second consecutive year, in an exhilirating 13-12 Capital City Conference contest.

Special teams once again proved the difference, as the offense could only manage two scoring drives for significant yardage.   The hits on both sides were clean, but mighty effective and audible.

Five "3 and out" series started the game, but St. James maintained the field position advantage thanks to the opening kickoff by Michael Ritch, as usual sailing through the endzone. On the Trojans' third possession, which started at midfield, the first first down of the game was earned by a defensive holding penalty.   A run of minus 2 yards and a 5 yard pass completion gave the Trojans 3rd and 7 on the Trinity 36.  A handoff to sophomore Matt Grooms and a fantastic effort of avoiding early tacklers allowed him to break loose down the Trinity sidelines for a 36 yard TD run. The extra point gave St. James a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter.

Midway into the second quarter, a 37 yard run by Trinity's Trey Moeller and a defensive pass interference penalty gave the Wildcats a first down at St. James' 17.  Shallum Harris broke through the line and with the help of a great block from the umpire, scrambled into the endzone.  However, the extra point attempt was shanked to the right, a crucial miss, and St. James maintained the lead at 7-6.  The Trojans had one chance in the first half to add to their lead as Trinity fumbled with 10 seconds to go on their own 34.  After a 2 yard loss, Ritch was called in to try what would have been a school record 53 yard field goal.  The kick was easily long enough, but wide left, and the Trojans were content with their 7-6 halftime lead.

St. James had the only serious scoring threat in the third quarter.  Runs of 10 and 46 yards by Michael Reid eventually led to a fourth down on the Trinity 24.   Ritch was called on once more, but missed a 40 yard FG attempt wide left.  Trinity then started on its longest drive of the game, running out the third quarter and regaining the field position advantage, but eventually punting.  St. James was unable to move the ball, and on fourth down Trinity managed to block Ritch's punt, due to a bad snap, and they recovered on the Trojans one yard line.   However, on first down, a botched snap returned the ball to the Trojans on their own one.  After 2 one yard quarterback sneaks, and two dubious delay of game penalties, the Trojans returned the favor - allowing Trinity to score in a way they had each of the prior two games.  A fumble in the endzone was recovered by Trinity's Kirby Howard, and the Wildcats took a 12-7 lead with 7:35 to go.  A two point conversion pass was broken up by the Trojans defense, another crucial play as it later turned out. Then, it was time for the Stephen Woodham show.

On the ensuing kickoff, Woodham took the ball at his own 6, and a brilliant return including two changes of direction brought the ball across midfield - a 50 yard return to the Trinity 44.  Two runs netted no yards, but an 11 yard completion from Lee Murphy to Woodham (fine pattern and catch) on third down kept the Trojan drive alive.  Three more plays netted only 4 yards, and on fourth down another Murphy to Woodham pass gained just enough for a second Trojan first down.  After an illegal motion penalty, and a 5 yard run by Jake McMillian, the stage was set.  From the 23, Murphy lofted a fine pass and Woodham pulled it down, surrounded by two Trinity defenders, in the near corner of the endzone for a touchdown and a 13-12 lead with exactly 3 minutes left in the game.  A two point run attempt by Michael Reid ended just short, but by now the momentum had shifted, the pressure was on the stunned Wildcats, and the recently disheartened Trojan crowd on the sidelines was roaring like crazy.

Trinity managed one first down later (on a face mask penalty), but faced with fourth and four - Ryan Sexton intercepted a Trinity pass and sealed the victory for an ecstatic Trojan team and supporters.

St. James won its first area game of the season.  The win was also St. James' eighth consecutive Capital City Conference victory (giving Coach Johnson a perfect 7-0 record in CCC play) and its 13th win in its last 15 regular season games overall.  The loss dropped Trinity to 2-1, 0-1 in the all-important Area Play.

SIDELINE STATISTICS - GAME THREE

ST. JAMES      RUSHING   42 attempts  99 yards   1 TD  (2.36 yards per carry)

                        21   Grooms       12 / 59  (1 TD)       35   Reid            7 / 51
                        19   McMillan     16 / 14                   10   Murphy      7 /- 25

                        PASSING     4 completions  8 attempts  2 INTs  45 yards  1 TD  (2 sacks of, - 16 yards)

                        10   Murphy       4 - 8 - 2      45 yards   1 TD   (2 sacks, - 16)

                        RECEIVING

                        22   Woodham    3 / 40  (1 TD)        19   McMillan    1 /  5

                        TOTAL YARDS:  144