GAME 12:    @ Aliceville 29, St. James 22  (2 OT)

The St. James Trojans logged a valiant effort but arrived just inches short, literally, as they were ousted from the playoffs for the second consecutive year by the Aliceville Yellow Jackets 29-22 in an occasionally sloppy, but thrilling, emotional contest which included two nail-biting overtime periods.

The first half was indeed sloppy as each team committed several turnovers.   The only serious scoring threat in the opening quarter was by St. James, who after recovering a fumble at the Yellow Jacket 27 drove to the Aliceville 15 before fumbling themselves.  Early in the second quarter, after an Aliceville punt was blocked, a Trojan FG attempt from 29 yards was also blocked.   Aliceville recovered the ball on their own 13 and drove 87 yards for the game's first score.  A personal foul penalty gave the Yellow Jackets their initial first down of the game,  and after a clipping penalty Aliceville workhorse Kendall Gibson had runs of 22 and 53 yards (only their second of six game first downs) to move the ball quickly down the field, setting the Yellow Jackets with first and goal on the Trojan 6.  On fourth down, Gibson plowed over from the 1.  Randall Gibson's extra point was good and Aliceville led 7-0 with just 4:27 to go in a surprisingly low-scoring half.

The Trojans fumbled on their next play from scrimmage deep in Yellow Jacket territory, but Aliceville returned the favor two plays later.  The Trojans then drove 83 yards for their first score racing against the second quarter clock.  Speed McDonald, who performed mightily despite a sprained foot, chugged out the first 21 yards.  A Matt Grooms 28 yard run and a Ryan Sexton pass which was deflected but cradled nicely by Nathan Yates advanced the ball to the Yellow Jacket 11.  Two McDonald runs of 9 and 2 yards had the Trojans in the endzone with only 31 seconds to go in the half.  Logan Markham's extra point tied the score at 7 at halftime.

The Trojans surprised everyone except themselves with a successful onside kick to start the second half.  However, Aliceville doubly surprised everyone by blitzing and forcing a botched handoff on the next play, where John Windham recovered the fumble and returned 48 yards for a touchdown.  An excessive celebration penalty in the endzone cost Aliceville 15 yards, and the extra-length extra point was blocked, keeping the score at 13-7.

The Trojans fumbled the ball away again two plays later, but the defense promptly held the Jackets on downs.  Three Trojan plays netted a loss of one yard, and on fourth down a high snap went over the head of the Trojan punter, who smartly (albeit illegally) batted the ball through the endzone for a safety to prevent another Jacket fumble recovery touchdown.  Aliceville declined the illegal batting of the ball penalty, thus accepting the two points and the ensuing free kick, building their lead to 15-7 with just over 7 minutes to go in the third quarter.

The Trojans forced a punt after the free kickoff from the 20, a punt which traveled sideways and netted minus 1 yard.  After one first down, the Trojans punted again but at the end of a nearly 30 yard return, the Yellow Jacket player fumbled and St. James recovered, earning a first down four yards back from where they had just punted.  After a sack, on second down from their own 31, McDonald took a pitch and vaulted down the Trojan sideline for 65 yards before a desperate tackle at the Jacket 4 saved a touchdown.  Ashley Snipe carried the ball into the endzone on the next play, and quarterback Ryan Sexton on a determined keeper to the right scored on a two point conversion to even the score at 15 with 2:31 to go in the third quarter.

A second onside kick attempt in the quarter was unsuccessful, and two plays later, Kendall Gibson evaded several tacklers on his own sweep and reached the endzone on the Jackets' second 48 yard scoring play.  The converted extra point returned the Yellow Jacket lead to 7, at 22-15.

After trading punts, St. James drove 72 yards for another touchdown.  A brilliant fighting catch by Yates on third and long moved the ball to the Aliceville 28.  An offside penalty and three consecutive runs by Snipe moved the ball to the two, where on third down Sexton slipped a pass to Matt Grooms just inside the endzone for a Trojan touchdown.  Markham's point was again good as the score was tied for the third time at 22, with 4:47 to go in regulation.

Aliceville managed only two first downs on their final drive and was faced with a fourth down and 5 on the Trojan 10 with only 59 seconds to go.  A potential game winning field goal was attempted, but the kick was wide and well short, and the Trojans ran out the clock preserving the regulation tie with all eyes on overtime.

St. James bucked the non-existant "Law of Averages" in 1999 when it came to coin tosses.  They had only won 2 tosses at the beginning of their 12 games (at ACA in game 1 and at Brantley in game 9).   Thirteen was an unlucky number as Aliceville won the toss in overtime and elected to play defense first.  After a 6 yard gain on first down, the Trojans were lucky to recover their own fumble on second down, although they lost ground back to the 14 yard line.  After a two yard loss on third down, a desperation fourth down pass was intercepted in the endzone, and Aliceville had held.  The Jackets could gain only 4 yards on 3 plays themselves, and the Trojans held tight by blocking a second potential game winning field goal to send the game into a second overtime.

The Trojans appeared to have garnered the advantage playing defense first in the second overtime, but on first down Yellow Jacket Kendall Gibson finished up his rushing night of 164 yards by carrying for ten yards on his 24th rush of the game, an Aliceville touchdown.   The extra point was good, and Aliceville had its fourth lead of the night at 29-22.  However, St. James had a chance to tie and send the game to a third overtime.

McDonald carried the ball for the Trojans three consecutive times for 3, 3, and 0 yards.  St. James drew Aliceville offside on fourth down and moved half the distance to the 2.  However, a handoff to Yates came up about a foot and a half short from the goal line, and Aliceville wildly celebrated a hard earned 29-22 victory in a game neither team will soon forget, concluding the successful season for the Trojans and a fine career for numerous St. James seniors.

SIDELINE STATISTICS - GAME TWELVE

ST. JAMES      RUSHING   56 rushes  195 yards  2 TDs  (3.48 yards per carry)

                          1   McDonald   28 / 177  (1 TD)         33   Snipe            9 /  45  (1 TD)         21   Grooms     7 /   42
                        20   Melton          2 /    3                      72   Gamble        1 / - 24                     17   Sexton       8 / - 47

                        PASSING      3 completions  12 attempts  1 INT  47 yards  1 TD  (3 sacks of, - 33 yards)

                        17   Sexton         3 - 11 - 1   47 yards  (1 TD)  (3 sacks, - 33)
                        21   Grooms        0 -  1 - 0

                        RECEIVING

                        34  Yates             2 / 45                       21   Grooms   1 /  2  (TD)

                        TOTAL YARDS:   242

ALICEVILLE   RUSHING   38 attempts  207 yards  3 TDs  (5.45 yards per carry)
                        PASSING      2 completions  9 attempts  0 INTs  24 yards  0 TDs  (2 sacks of, - 14 yards)
                        TOTAL YARDS:  231

                        KICKS:  XP  3 / 4                FG  0 / 2   (23,27 missed)
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                        KICKOFFS:  4  (59,57,52,52)                               PUNTS:  4  (31,24,0bk,25)
                        KO RETURNS:  3  (29,20,0)                                PUNT RETURNS:  2  (-1,27f)
                        FIRST DOWNS:   6  (5 rushing, 1 penalty)
                        FUMBLES:  2, lost 2
                        PENALTIES:  7 / 72 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:  21:45