GAME 7:   ST. JAMES 26, @ Montgomery Academy 7

The St. James Trojans were singing "CCC - 123" at the end of this game as they clinched their third consecutive Capital City Conference Championship with a score which duplicated last year's effort against the Montgomery Academy Eagles, a 26-7 victory knocking the ranked Eagles out of playoff contention.  This was also the first time in school history the Trojans had defeated the Eagles in three consecutive seasons.

The Eagles gained 13 yards rushing on their first two plays.  They would lose a net of 20 yards on all of their combined rushes the remainder of the game, with quarterback sacks figured alongside.  After a punt, the Trojans took over on their own 36 and began a time-consuming 10 play drive featuring 5 first downs and no third downs.  Matt Grooms led off with a 14 yard run.  After 8 more runs and an 8 yard pass mixed in the middle, Speed McDonald went up the middle on first down from the Eagle 2 for the first score of the game.  Nigel Guntharp's PAT made the score 7-0 with 5:24 to go in the first quarter.

The Trojans had a golden opportunity to score again quickly as they recovered a fumble on the kickoff, but returned the favor with their own fumble two plays later.  A second Eagle punt gave the Trojans the ball on their own 47, and St. James was in the endzone 3 plays later.  On third and 6 from the Eagle 49, Ryan Sexton lifted a pass toward Grooms on the Trojan sideline.  He tipped the ball away from two potential Eagle defenders and scooted by them down the sidelines for a memorable 49 yard touchdown reception.  A second Guntharp PAT gave St. James a 14-0 lead with 1:49 to go in the first quarter.

The Eagles struck quickly on their next drive, which ended up being the only score the Trojans would permit against its four 1999 city opponents.  After a 3 yard run, a 6 yard completion, and a defensive offsides penalty, consecutive passes from John Hunter Foshee to Brian Cone of 10, 13, and 28 yards on the second play of the second quarter had the Eagles in the endzone.  The extra point cut the lead to 14-7 and momentum was noticeably shifting back to the Academy.

However, the Trojans responded with a meticulous 80 yard drive.  A 31 yard run by Grooms and a 21 yard pass from Sexton to Matt Salvia helped the Trojans advance to the Eagle 9 yard line.  On fourth down from the 1, Sexton snuck over for the third Trojan TD in four drives.  The extra point was shanked, but the Trojans had a 20-6 lead.  MA once again fumbled on the ensuing kickoff return, but the Trojans were stopped on downs at the Academy 28 after a first down clipping penalty stifled the drive.

Neither team seriously threatened to score again in the first half.  Speed McDonald intercepted an Eagle pass on the final play of the half at the Trojan 20 to preserve a 20-7 lead.

St. James put the game out of reach on the first drive of the third quarter - overcoming three 5 yard penalties - marching 65 yards in 17 plays, milking 8:23 of the quarter away.  A run by Wade Melton of 15 yards was the only double digit yardage play of the drive.  On fourth and 6 from the Eagle 8, an offside penalty put the ball at the 4.  McDonald drove 3 yards for the first down, and was rewarded on the next play with a 1 yard TD run, his second of the game.  The Trojans tried for two, but a Sexton pass was intercepted at the goal line, leaving the score at 26-7.

After the Eagles managed two first downs, a Foshee pass was intercepted by McDonald (his second of the game) at the Trojan 21 on the next to last play of the third quarter.  With the wind howling and rain threatening, only one first down was registered by either team (on a nice 29 yard sideline run by Melton) the remainder of the game.  After the interception, the Eagles were completely shut down, throwing six incomplete passes and being sacked three times before a last minute interception by A.Z. Holloway sealed the game, the CCC championship, and (eventually) the area championship for the Trojans.

SIDELINE STATISTICS - GAME SEVEN

ST. JAMES      RUSHING   59 attempts  273 yards  3 TDs  (4.63 yards per carry)

                          1   McDonald      24 / 102  (2 TDs)   20   Melton   15 / 86                21   Grooms   5 / 63
                          2   Guntharp          4 /  15                 33   Snipe       2 /  9                 34   Yates       1 /  1
                          4   Holloway          1 /   0                  17   Sexton     5 / - 1 (1 TD)    44   Salvia      2 / - 2

                        PASSING      5 completions  7 attempts  0 INTs  106 yards  1 TD  (1 sack of, - 7 yards)

                        17   Sexton            5 - 7 - 0   106 yards   1 TD  (1 sack, - 7)

                        RECEIVING

                        21   Grooms         1 / 49  (TD)              1   McDonald   2 /  28
                        44   Salvia            1 / 21                       2   Guntharp     1 /   8

                        TOTAL YARDS:   379

M A                 RUSHING   12 attempts  minus 6 yards  0 TDs
                        PASSING      9 completions  23 attempts  3 INTs  96 yards  1 TD  (4 sacks of, - 28 yards)
                        TOTAL YARDS:  90

                        KICKS:  XP  1 / 1                FG  0 / 0
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                        KICKOFFS:  2 (65EZ,38)                                     PUNTS:  6  (34,29,45,58,43,49)
                        KO RETURNS:  4  (21,23f,13f,13)                       PUNT RETURNS:  1  (2)
                        FIRST DOWNS:   8  (2 rushing, 5 passing, 1 penalty)
                        FUMBLES:  3, lost 2
                        PENALTIES:  11 / 105 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:  13:47