STJ 21 7 14 0 42
October 30, 1998 Carlisle Field, Montgomery Game conditions: Clear Game Temperature: 67 No wind
St. James completed its second ever 9-1 regular season - the best regular season record in school history, and its second consecutive undefeated Area championship, with a convincing 42-0 Senior Night victory over the noticeably improved from 1997 Holtville Bulldogs.
The Trojans took control early and numerous players in the second half had their chances to run ramshod over the recently resodded Carlisle Field. After a Holtville fumble on the third play of the game, it took the Trojans only two plays to score from 19 yards out with Stephan Woodham taking the ball the final five yards for the first Trojan touchdown. The first of six Michael Ritch extra points made the early score 7-0 in favor of St. James.
Holtville managed to move the ball down to the Trojans 12 on the next drive, but a costly dead ball personal foul penalty eventually led to the Bulldogs turning over the ball on downs at the St. James 22. On the first play, Woodham took the handoff down the left side, escaped an early tackle, and was clear for 78 yards and a quick second touchdown - the extra point made the score 14-0 midway into the first quarter.
Holtville held the Trojans on the following drive - the first drive in the last 13 against Holtville (including last year's game) where the Trojans had not reached the endzone. However, on the first Bulldog offensive play, Logan Markham intercepted a slant pass attempt at the Holtville 42, deked a Bulldog back, and ran the distance for the third Trojan touchdown and a 21-0 lead, still in the first quarter.
Three plays later, Holtville fumbled once more and again it took the Trojans only one play to strike. Jake McMillian - who for the second consecutive year surpassed 1000 yards rushing - took a handoff up the middle at the Bulldog 33 and was virtually untouched. The fourth extra point gave the Trojans a 28-0 lead less than 13 minutes into the game, and they cruised home keeping Holtville out of the endzone.
Two drives later, Michael Ritch attempted a school record (and what would have been an Alabama state record) 62 yard field goal, his only try of the evening. The kick was straight, but landed in the endzone maybe three yards short, and the Trojans took a comfortable four touchdown lead into halftime.
The Trojans' fifth touchdown came on the third play of the third quarter, a third down 72 yard touchdown pass from Lee Murphy to Matt Grooms who deftfully evaded his defender. On the next drive - after an 18 yard punt return by Rick Fidel - it took St. James only four more plays to score. Speed McDonald had an impressive 26 yard run on the drive, and Stephan Woodham picked up his third TD of the game, travelling the final 11 yards. From then on, neither team threatened seriously to score, although St. James did reach the 12 yard line near the end of the game using third and fourth team running backs. A school record of 13 different Trojans carried the ball in this game as the 1998 regular season concluded and the playoffs loomed.
SIDELINE STATISTICS - GAME TEN
ST. JAMES RUSHING 41 attempts 272 yards 4 TDs (6.64 yards per carry)
22 Woodham
5 / 102 (3 TDs) 19
McMillan 13 / 85 (1 TD)
44 McDonald 1 / 26
2 Guntharp 4 /
24
33 Wright 2 /
15
70
Barber 2 / 13
34 Bogie
3 /
11
15 Ritch
1 /
9
60 Smoker 1
/ 8
50 Harrington 2
/
2
20 Melton 2 / -
3
21 Grooms 2 / - 9
10
Murphy 3 /
- 11
PASSING 1 completion 2 attempts 0 INTs 72 yards 1 TD (1 sack of, - 6 yards)
10 Murphy 1 - 1 - 0
72 yards 1 TD
17 Sexton 0
- 1 - 0 0 yards
RECEIVING
21
Grooms 1 /
72 (TD)
TOTAL YARDS: 344