GAME 10:    Montgomery Academy 17, St. James 14

Montgomery Academy's senior runningback Rob McClendon carried the ball and carried it often, 34 times for 128 yards, and William Crum's line drive 35 yard field goal in the last minute of the game ended St. James' city unbeaten streak at 16, as the Eagles defeated the Trojans 17-14 at Carlisle Field in the final regular season game for both teams.

The first 20 minutes of the game featured only 3 possessions.  St. James drove for four first downs on their initial march, but could not convert a fourth down at the Eagles 20.  Montgomery Academy took over and marched 80 yards in a nearly 11 minute drive of 17 plays.  The highlight of the drive was a 22 yard fourth down pass to Matthew Garrard putting the ball at the Trojan 13.  Four plays later, McClendon carried for the final three yards and the initial score of the game.  The extra point was blocked, but MA had a 6-0 lead midway through the second quarter.

St. James quickly responded with an 80 yard drive of their own, the key play being another long pass from Alan Craft to A.Z. Holloway, a 42 yard connection down to the Eagle 2.  On the next play, Ted Brewer dashed over for a touchdown.  Lawton Webb's extra point was good, and the Trojans had a 7-6 lead with 3:48 to go in the second quarter.  Neither team threatened again for the remainder of the first half.

After the Eagles were stopped 3 and out to open the third quarter, the only turnover of the game proved costly.  Michael Brainerd intercepted a St. James pass at the Trojan 45 and returned it 18 yards.  Five plays later, William Crum ran the final three for a second touchdown.  The Eagles tried for two, and a pass from Stephen Dees to Garrard gave the Eagles a 14-7 lead with 7:12 to go in the third quarter.

On the ensuing deep kickoff, a holding penalty on the return gave the Trojans the ball 96 yards from the endzone.  What followed was a bizarre, but successful 96 yard touchdown drive of 18 plays.  After two first downs and a face mask penalty moved the ball to the Trojans 46, the drive stalled.  On fourth and four from the Eagle 48, a punt was attempted but a 5 yard penalty on an illegal fair catch signal before the actual change of possession gave the Trojans a big, albeit to some a controversial, first down.  Two plays later, a defensive pass interference penalty gave St. James another first down at the Eagle 27.  On second down, the Trojans recovered their own forward fumble of five yards.  On fourth down and three from the 20, Yates ran for 8 yards and the fifth first down of the drive.  Four plays later, on the second play of the fourth quarter, Craft snuck over from the one for a touchdown, completing the 'scenic' 96 yard drive.  Webb's extra point tied the score at 14 with 11:35 to go in the game.

The teams traded punts, and MA took over on their own 39 with 5:37 to go in the game.  McClendon handled the ball on 8 of the next 9 plays, advancing to the Trojan 19.  On fourth down and 1, MA opted for a last minute field goal, and William Crum connected on a line drive from 35 yards, giving the Eagles a 17-14 lead with 57 seconds
remaining in the game.

St. James returned the kickoff to their own 23 yard line, but could only gain 5 yards on the next 4 plays, turning the ball over to the Eagles who ran out the clock and ran off Carlisle Field with a big regular season ending victory.

The Trojans ended their regular season as it began, with a loss, but concluded their first season in the 4A classification with a 6-4 record, a 2-1 CCC record (sharing their fourth consecutive CCC championship), and a second place finish in region 3 with a 5-2 record, guaranteeing a first round playoff appearance at home.

GAME TEN SIDELINE STATISTICS:

ST. JAMES      RUSHING   42 attempts   150 yards  2 TDs  (3.57 yards per carry)

                        42   Brewer          18 / 64  (1 TD)      34   Yates        14 / 57
                          2   Guntharp         2 / 27                    3   James         1 /   5
                          4   Holloway         1 /   0                 10   Craft           6 /  -3  (1 TD)

                        PASSING      4 completions  8 attempts   1 INT  59 yards   0 TDs  (2 sacks of, - 15 yards)

                       10   Craft        4 - 8 - 1   59 yards  0 TDs  (2 sacks, - 15)

                        RECEIVING

                        4   Holloway            1 / 42                   44   Salvia   1 /  12
                        2   Guntharp            1 /   6                   34   Yates    1 /  -1

                        TOTAL YARDS:   209

                        KICKS:  XP  2 / 2                FG:  0 / 0
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                        KICKOFFS:   3  (31,30,38)                         PUNTS:   2  (45,38)
                        KO RETURNS:   3  (12,2,15)                      PUNT RETURNS:  1 (0)
                        FIRST DOWNS:  15  (11 rushing, 2 passing, 2 penalty)
                        FUMBLES:  1, lost 0
                        TURNOVER MARGIN:  - 2
                        PENALTIES:   3 / 14 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:  24:28

M A                 RUSHING   43 attempts  148 yards  2 TDs   (3.44 yards per carry)
                        PASSING     2 completions  3 attempts  0 INTs  33 yards  0 TDs  (no sacks of)
                        TOTAL YARDS:  181

                        KICKS:  XP  0 / 1                FG:  1 / 1 (35 made)
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  1 / 1
                        INTERCEPTION RETURNS:  1  (18)
                        FIRST DOWNS:   12  (11 rushing, 1 passing)
                        FUMBLES:  0
                        PENALTIES:  5 / 35 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:  23:32