STJ 20 14 7 7 47
November 5, 1999 7:00 PM. Carlisle Field. Game Conditions: Clear Game temperature 54 No wind.
The St. James Trojans started their 1999 playoff march with a decisive 47-0 victory over the outmanned, but gutsy Slocomb Red Tops in the first ever football meeting between the two schools.
It took the Trojans only six plays on the first drive to score. They marched 64 yards on the first drive, with Nathan Yates carrying the final 17 for the first TD of the night. With Nigel Guntharp injured on the third play of the game, Ashley Snipe was called on for the extra point attempt. The kick was wide, but the Trojans had an early 6-0 lead.
Slocomb punted, and it took St. James only four plays to score their second touchdown. Starting from their own 49, Speed McDonald ran for 11 and Ryan Sexton ran for 39. After a completed pass lost a yard, McDonald took it over from 2 yards and the second TD of the game. Yates ran for a two point conversion giving St. James a 14-0 lead with 6:38 still to go in the first quarter.
Slocomb then started their best march of the game. Bolstered by three Trojan penalties, the Red Tops moved down to the Trojans 23. On first down however, a pitch to the halfback was fumbled and A.Z. Holloway picked up the ball at the 29 and jaunted 71 yards for a defensive touchdown. Snipe's extra point was wide and the score remained 20-0 with nearly a minute to go in the opening quarter.
On the third play of the next Slocomb drive, Ryan Sexton smartly defended a slant pass attempt, picking off the wayward throw, and cruised 24 yards for a second defensive TD on the opening play of the second quarter. The second converted extra point kick of the night was made by Logan Markham and the Trojans controlled at 27-0 just 13 minutes into the game.
St. James fumbled on their next drive, just after an 80 yard Sexton to Thomas touchdown pass was called back due to a clipping penalty, but after a short punt, the next drive was aided by a Slocomb pass interference penalty. McDonald ran the final four yards for his second touchdown of the night, and Markham's extra point was good. The night was complete for the starters with 4 minutes to go in the first half as the Trojans were content with a 34-0 halftime lead.
Mercifully, in the second half the clock ran continuously; no stops except on changes of possession, scores, and penalties. However the Trojans managed two touchdowns on only three possessions in the second half. On their first such drive, 6 running plays netted 63 yards, the final yard and the touchdown earned by Wade Melton. The fourth string kicker, Jeremy Ingle, had his extra point attempt moved back 5 yards on a substitution penalty. The resulting kick was blocked and the score remained 40-0.
On the second play of the fourth quarter, Thomas (on only his third carry of the night) ran 43 yards for his second touchdown. Markham's third extra point was good, and the final score of the night was 47-0. Slocomb threatened near the end of the quickly moving second half, but a fumble on the Trojans 16 stuffed their final scoring chance as St. James moved on to the second round of the 1999 3A state playoffs.
SIDELINE STATISTICS - GAME ELEVEN
ST. JAMES RUSHING 31 rushes 375 yards 5 TDs (12.10 yards per carry)
1 McDonald 7 / 101 (2
TD) 33
Snipe 8 / 77
32
Thomas 3 / 72
(2 TD)
20 Melton 4
/ 48 (1 TD) 17
Sexton 2
/ 34 34
Yates 1 / 18
2 Guntharp 2 /
28
3 Perry 2 /
5 86
James
1 / - 4
10
Craft
1 / - 4
PASSING 2 completions 4 attempts 0 INTs 11 yards 0 TDs (2 sacks of, - 9 yards)
17
Sexton 1 - 2 -
0 - 1 yard (1 sack, - 5)
10
Craft
1 - 2 - 0 12
yards (1 sack, - 4)
RECEIVING
33 Snipe 1 / 12 34 Yates 1 / - 1
TOTAL YARDS: 386
KICKS: XP 3 / 6 FG 0 / 0SLOCOMB RUSHING 36 attempts 79 yards 0 TDs (2.19 yards per carry)