STJ 7 14 7 14 42
October 5, 2001 Carlisle Field Game Conditions: Cloudy, breezy, occasional drizzle Game temperature: 77 Wind S 15
The St. James kicking game was a major focus as Marshall Darneille was a perfect 6 for 6 on extra points, and his two solo tackles prevented two certain kickoff return touchdowns. The Trojans advanced to 6-0 for the season and 4-0 in the region, clinching a school-record ninth consecutive playoff appearance, with a dominating rushing game of well over 400 yards translating into a hard fought 42-27 victory over the Central-Coosa Cougars.
St. James started with the ball and a powerful 14 play 80 yard drive, boosted by a key fourth down offside penalty at the Cougars 11. Alan Craft snuck over from the 1 and Marshall Darneille added the extra point, giving the Trojans an early 7-0 lead with just over 4 minutes remaining in the first quarter.
The score was nearly tied on the next play. Jermaine Maxwell fielded the kickoff and snuck through the first 10 Trojan defenders. However, kicker Darneille made a great open field tackle saving a touchdown at the Trojan 37. The Cougars did manage to score on the drive though, thanks in part to a defensive pass interference penalty. Quarterback Charlie Brooks ran in from the 3, the first points in the 2001 season the Trojans have surrendered in the first quarter, and the extra point tied the game at 7.
The teams traded punts, but St. James scored on their third possession. A 25 yard pass from Craft to Daniel Winn set up a 4 yard touchdown run by Ted Brewer. The first try at an extra point was missed, but a roughing the kicker penalty gave Darneille a second chance which he converted, and the score was 14-7 midway through the half.
After a short Cougars punt, St. James took only 4 plays to score again. A 17 yard run by Nathan Yates, and Ted Brewer runs of 7, 17, and the final 14 had Darneille lining up again to kick. The point was good and St. James was up 21-7. However, the Cougars almost returned the ensuing kickoff as well, a second open field tackle by Darneille saving a sure score. The Lions eventually turned the ball over on downs, and St. James held a 21-7 halftime lead after running out the clock.
On St. James' first possession of the second half, however, a screen pass attempt was intercepted by Cougar Anthony Carter and returned to the Trojan 16. Four plays later, tailback Damien Pearson-Kelly ran in from the 2, these being the first points St. James has allowed in the third quarter this season. The extra point was no good, but the lead was cut to 8 at 21-13 with 6:39 left in the quarter.
On the next drive, a 25 yard run by Yates and a 39 yard jaunt by Brewer, which was shortened by a clipping penalty, had the Trojans threatening again. A second key offside penalty on fourth down from the Cougar 20 kept the drive alive, and Brewer later scored from the 3. Another Darneille extra point boosted the St. James lead to 28-13 with 1:28 remaining in the third quarter.
The Trojans' first possession of the fourth quarter lasted two plays. A 4 yard run by Brewer and a 60 yard run by Josh Thomas where he bowled over several potential tacklers, as he dashed into the endzone. Darneille's fifth conversion made the score a seemingly safe 35-13. However, on the next return, Darneille couldn't save the day as he had twice previously. Bobby Kelly took the kick at the 20 and didn't stop for 80 yards. A two point conversion was no good, but the gap was closed to 35-19 with nearly 11 minutes remaining in the game.
St. James turned the ball over two plays later, giving the Cougars a short field. Pearson-Kelly scored from the 7, added a two point conversion run and, like last Friday night, the game was close in the fourth quarter as Coosa cut the lead to 8 at 35-27.
The Trojans responded with an 11 play 71 yard drive where the key play of the game may have been a third crucial offside penalty on the Cougars on a fourth and 5 from near midfield. A Brewer run of 39 yards got the ball down to the 2 where Craft snuck in for his second touchdown. A sixth consecutive conversion led to the final margin of 42-27. The Cougars did drive down to the Trojan 32, but penalties forced them back and Coosa could not convert a fourth and 25 in the last minute of the game.
GAME SIX SIDELINE STATISTICS:
ST. JAMES RUSHING 55 attempts 416 yards 6 TDs (7.56 yards per carry)
42
Brewer
27 /
218 (3
TDs)
7
Thomas
9 /
103
34
Yates
12
/ 95 (1 TD)
10
Craft
7
/ 0 (2 TDs)
PASSING 5 completions 8 attempts 1 INT 62 yards 0 TDs (1 sack of, - 10 yards)
10 Craft 5 - 8 - 1 62 yards 0 TDs (1 sack, - 10)
RECEIVING
19 Baxter 3 / 29 22 Winn 1 / 25 11 Howell 1 / 8
TOTAL YARDS: 478
KICKS:
XP 6 /
6
FG
0 / 0
2 POINT CONVERSIONS:
0 / 0
KICKOFFS:
7
(45,46,47,42,52,40,15)
PUNTS:
1 (60)
KO
RETURNS: 4
(5,9,5,15)
PUNT
RETURNS: 1 (11)
FIRST
DOWNS: 25 (19 rushing, 3 passing,
3 penalty)
FUMBLES:
1, lost 1
TURNOVER
MARGIN: - 2
PENALTIES:
6 / 60 yards
TIME
OF POSSESSION: 29:06
COOSA
RUSHING
23 attempts 66 yards 3 TDs (2.87
yards per carry)
PASSING
5 completions 7 attempts 0
INTs
53 yards 0 TDs (1 sack of, - 4 yards)
TOTAL
YARDS: 119
KICKS:
XP 1 /
2
FG
0 / 0
2
POINT CONVERSIONS: 1 / 2
KICKOFFS:
5
(60,60,40,46,46)
PUNTS:
4 (37,25,30,33)
KO
RETURNS: 6
(48,13,48,18,80TD,0)
PUNT
RETURNS: 0
INTERCEPTION
RETURNS: 1 (42)
FIRST
DOWNS: 10 (6 rushing, 2 passing, 2 penalty)
FUMBLES:
0
PENALTIES:
9 / 68 yards
TIME
OF POSSESSION: 18:54