10-27-00 ST. JAMES 9, @ Handley 7

SCORING SUMMARY:

HAN (2) 7:04 Harrison 23 run    (Lowry kick)     0 - 7
STJ (2) 0:00 Webb 18 FG    3 - 7
STJ (3) 4:22 Brewer 1 run (kick blocked)    9 - 7

October 27, 2000. Wright Field, Roanoke. Game Conditions: Hazy Game Temperature: 64 Light wind

St. James kicked a second quarter field goal as first half time expired, then took advantage of a short field drive in the third quarter with a touchdown; stopping Handley three times on turnovers in the fourth quarter while clinching an 8th consecutive state playoff appearance with an impressive 9-7 road victory over the Handley Tigers.

Handley's first possession ate up over 5 minutes on the game clock, but a punt was forced. After St. James went 3 and out, the Trojans punted as well, but the return was muffed and St. James recovered on their own 44. After one first down, the Trojans were forced to punt again. Handley, which did not attempt a pass until the final 40 seconds of the game, chose to continually grind the ball forward throughout the first 47 plus minutes of the game. This long drive lasted 7 minutes and 78 yards, which culminated in a touchdown. On the 14 play drive, none of the first 13 plays gained more than 7 yards. However, from the Trojan 23, sophomore quarterback Cedrick Harrison burst through the line and down the Tiger sidelines for a score. The extra point was good, and Handley had a 7-0 lead with 7:04 to go in the half.

St. James drove for two first downs on their next possession, bolstered by a Tiger personal foul. On third and 13 from the Tiger 32 however, a pass was intercepted at the 8 yard line. Handley managed one first down, but good defense and clock management forced a Tiger punt with 1:34 to go in the half. St. James took over on their own 34. After an offsides and an illegal procedure penalty, quarterback Alan Craft connected with Nigel Guntharp for 23. After an 8 yard run by Nathan Yates and an incomplete pass, a second Craft to Guntharp pass for 9 yards and a 14 yard run by Ted Brewer gave the Trojans first down on the Handley 12. After a spike to stop the clock, Craft completed a pass to Yates which came up just short of the goal line, but gave the Trojans first down at the 1. A quick snap quarterback sneak failed, and St. James called their last time out with 32 seconds left in the half. A second down incomplete pass and a third down run by Brewer which was just short of the goal line, if so, kept the clock moving. The Trojans hurried their field goal team into play, and Lawton Webb connected with an 18 yard field goal as time expired, making the score 7-3 Handley in a quickly played hard hitting smashmouth half of football.

St. James picked up two first downs on their initial third quarter drive, on Yates runs of 11 and 19 yards, but punted, forcing Handley back to their own 8. Three plays and a false start penalty netted a loss of one yard, and the Trojan punt block team was called on. The ensuing punt itself was not blocked, but had to be kicked nearly straight up to avoid oncoming rushers. A good bounce helped a poor punt net 22 yards, but St. James had great field position at the Handley 30.

Brewer ran for 5 and Yates for 10 cutting the short field in half. Four plays later, Brewer dove in from the 1, giving the Trojans their first lead of the night. The extra point was blocked, and St. James had a shaky lead of 9-7 with 4:22 to go in the third quarter. Handley was stopped again on four plays, and St. James converted one first down on a nice Yates run of 17. On fourth and 3 from the Tiger 31, the Trojans went for broke and a Craft pass, his only attempt of the second half on the first play of the fourth quarter, was just overthrown, and Handley regained possesion.

A nice drive including 3 first downs kept the ball, and the clock moving. On fourth down and 1 from the Trojan 24, a fumbled quarterback snap from center gave the ball back to St. James. They were unable to make a first down, and a nice punt return gave Handley the ball at the Trojan 40 with 3:14 to go in the game. On third and 5, defensive back A.Z. Holloway made the play of the game, stripping the ball from the runner on what would have been a first down carry, and the Trojan fumble recovery at their own 32 with 1:47 to go put Handley in time out mode. St. James forced Handley to call all their remaining time outs, but could not convert a first down themselves. The Trojan punt was muffed, but recovered by the Tigers at their own 30, and they had 42 seconds and no time outs to get the ball in field goal range for their able kicker.

Handley, however appeared very uncomfortable needing to pass, not having tried one for the entire game. Three straight incompletions, none really close to a potential receiver, and a fourth down interception by Yates on a weak halfback pass sealed the hard-earned road victory and a playoff berth for the Trojans in their first ever football contest against the Tigers of Handley.

                        KICKS: XP 0 / 1 FG 1 / 1
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS: 0 / 0
                        KICKOFFS:   2 (39,27)                        PUNTS:   5 (24,23,34,33,32)
                        KO RETURNS:   2 (24,21)                        PUNT RETURNS: 0
                        INTERCEPTION RETURNS: 1 (0)
                        FIRST DOWNS: 13 (10 rushing, 3 passing)
        FUMBLES: 0
TURNOVER MARGIN: + 3
      PENALTIES:   4 / 20 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION: 20:44

HANDLEY       RUSHING   42 attempts 173 yards 1 TD (4.12 yards per carry)
                        PASSING      0 completions 4 attempts 1 INT 0 yards 0 TDs (1 sack of, - 10 yards)
                        TOTAL YARDS: 173

                        KICKS: XP 1 / 1                FG: 0 / 0
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS: 0 / 0
                        INTERCEPTION RETURNS: 1 (2)
                        FIRST DOWNS:   11 (11 rushing)
        FUMBLES: 4, lost 3
      PENALTIES: 5 / 37 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION: 27:16

GAME 9: ST. JAMES 9, @ Handley 7