GAME 9:    ST. JAMES 35, Brantley 19

St. James defeated its third consecutive ranked opponent, the 1A powerhouse (and eventual 1A State Champion) Brantley Bulldogs, 35-19 in a game which didn't appear quite as close as the score indicated in front of a festive Homecoming crowd who was anticipating a second straight area championship to be earned in the final week of the season.

The Trojans shut down the vaunted Brantley offense in the first half, holding them to only 14 yards rushing (on 16 attempts) and 82 yards passing.  However, Brantley recovered and actually outgained the Trojans in total yardage 397-384, as the Bulldogs had runs of 50 and 80 yards, and pass completions of 22, 34, 34, 44, and 45 yards, although most of them were late in the game after the foregone conclusion.

Brantley earned several first downs on its first possession, but punted to the Trojans, who took over at their own 15 yard line. The Trojans only took 5 plays to go 85 yards.  The first two plays netted 5 yards, then Matt Grooms broke loose on the visiting sidelines for a 66 yard scamper to give the Trojans first down on the Brantley 14.  Two Jake McMillian runs, of 12 and 2 yards, gave the Trojans a 6-0 lead with the extra point missed.

Neither team moved the ball on the next three possessions, but after a Rick Fidel interception, the Trojans moved 73 yards for their second touchdown.  The drive was highlighted by two McMillian first down runs, a sideline scamper by Michael Reid of 36 yards, and an astute 9 yard TD run by Stephan Woodham on third and goal with 5:02 to go in the half.  The Trojans tried to draw Brantley offsides on a potential two point conversion, but after delay of game was called, Michael Ritch added the extra point to give St. James a 13-0 lead.

Brantley, starting on their own 20 yard line after another Ritch kickoff sailed into the endzone, moved backwards on a holding penalty and a quarterback sack.  The Trojans punt block was successful once more as Woodham and Jason Edwards teamed up to block a punt, which went through the back of the endzone for a safety, and a 15-0 lead with 3:25 to go in the half.

Following the Brantley free kick, St. James moved down the field and had a chance to add to their lead, but after an illegal procedure penalty on fourth down, a Ritch FG attempt of 36 yards was wide left, resulting in the still impressive 15-0 halftime lead, and the annual Homecoming presentation followed.

St. James drove down the field with the second half kickoff; seven consecutive runs netted 54 yards. A holding penalty stalled the drive, and Ritch tried a 32 yard FG which everyone in the stadium except two referees saw split the upright.  Even the umpire appeared to be surprised at the call of "no good" by his assistants, but the score remained 15-0.  It took Brantley only one play to strike.  All-state running back Bo Daniels took a handoff at the 20, busted several tackles, and had clear sailing to the endzone for an 80 yard touchdown run. The extra point suddenly closed the gap to 8, at 15-7, with 7:19 to go in the third quarter.

St. James shook off the stunning run and themselves scored almost immediately.  Woodham returned the kickoff and cleared early onrushing Bulldogs, but just couldn't avoid the Brantley kicker, Gregory Daniels, at the 50 yard line.  After a first down, Matt Grooms had a wonderful 30 yard run, setting him up two plays later for an 8 yard touchdown catch and run thrown by Lee Murphy.   Another Ritch kick which appeared to be good was called no good, and the score was 21-7 at the 4:28 mark of the third quarter.

Nine seconds later, after a Brantley fumble on their first play from scrimmage, a deft 22 yard run by McMillian had the Trojans in the endzone again.  Ritch's extra point this time was undoubtedly good, and so confirmed by the officials, and the Trojans were cruising at 28-7 still in the third quarter.

Brantley drove down the field, but after a costly clipping penalty on a busted reverse attempt, they turned the ball over on downs.  On first down from the Trojans 42, McMillian ran for 25 yards. On the next play, an apparent 33 yard touchdown run around left end by Woodham was called back on a very late flag for holding.  Two plays later, again at the 33, Murphy connected to Grooms once more for the distance, and the Ritch extra point gave St. James a comfortable 35-7 lead with 10:07 to go in the game.

Two drives later, against mostly second team Trojan defenders, Brantley found the endzone. A 50 yard run by Artavius Cooper was followed 6 plays later by a 3 yard touchdown run by Dean Jones. A two point conversion run came up short.   In the last minute of the game, against the Trojan second and third string defensive unit, Brantley quarterback Andy Johnson connected on a 45 yard pass to DeMarin Wiley for the final margin of 35-19.

SIDELINE STATISTICS - GAME NINE

ST. JAMES      RUSHING   52 attempts  359 yards   3 TDs  (6.91 yards per carry)

                        19   McMillan     26 / 180  (2 TDs)    21   Grooms      3 / 103      22   Woodham    11 / 40  (1 TD)
                        35   Reid              2 /  34                    2   Guntharp     3 /   6       33   Wright           2 /  2
                        17   Sexton           1 /   0                   44   McDonald   3 / - 1       10   Murphy         1 / - 5

                        PASSING     3 completions  8 attempts  0 INTs  48 yards  2 TDs  (1 sack of, - 5 yards)

                        10   Murphy       3 - 8 - 0        48 yards   2 TDs

                        RECEIVING

                        21   Grooms          2 / 41  (2 TDs)       1   Fidel          1 /   7

                        TOTAL YARDS:  407