C C 0 0 0 0 0
October 4, 2002 Central Field, Hanover, Game conditions: Partly cloudy, muggy, no wind Game Temperature 79 - field dry despite heavy rain earlier
The first of two Matt Debardelaben interceptions set up a Taylor Nelson 24 yard field goal in the second quarter, and it would surprisingly hold up as enough scoring. The Central-Coosa Cougars dropped two potential touchdown passes and had a touchdown run negated by a penalty, while the St. James defense was large, helping the Trojans pick up a huge road region win over the Cougars, 3-0.
The teams each garnered several first downs on their first quarter drives but never threatened to score. On Coosa's first drive of the game however, a long pass which likely would have gone for a 47 yard touchdown went through the outstretched arms of the intended receiver. On Coosa's third drive, in the early part of the second quarter, Debardelaben intercepted a pass and returned it 11 yards to the Cougar 23. After a first down run by Daniel Winn, the Trojans managed to get as close as the four yard line, but a small loss and an incomplete pass set up the field goal attempt, which Taylor Nelson drilled from 24 yards out, giving St. James a 3-0 lead with 7:05 remaining in the half.
Coosa drove down the field again, but after a sack, a fourth and 22 pass was dropped by a receiver who had to wheel around for the catch, a catch which would have continued the late first half drive. St. James tried once more to score but lost a fumble after a pass reception past midfield just before the end of the half.
The Cougars took the first drive of the third quarter down the field and appeared to have scored on the eighth play of the drive from 8 yards out, but a push in the back penalty erased it. On fourth down from the Trojan 7, another pass was simply mishandled by a wide open receiver in the Trojan endzone and St. James survived the possession. Then, the Trojans managed to eat up a large portion of the third quarter clock by driving the ball from their own 7 all the way to the Cougar 27 before turning the ball over on a fourth down fumble.
In the fourth quarter, after a 41 yard pass completion advanced the Cougars to the Trojan 41, a costly offensive pass interference penalty stalled the drive. St. James managed to eat four minutes off the final quarter clock before punting to midfield. With 2:45 to go, Debardelaben had the play of the game with an interception on a deep ball at the Trojan 25, and St. James managed to pick up two first downs, one on a defensive offside penalty, and run out the clock.
The defense was strong, holding the Cougars to only
30 yards rushing on 27 carries. Amazingly for the first time all
season in a 3-0 game, considering the sizeable scores in previous
games, the Trojans
had their first 100-yard rusher of the season. Ted Brewer carried
the
ball 24 times, 16 of those in a ball control eat-up-the-clock second
half,
for 141 yards on the way to a huge road and region win.
GAME SIX SIDELINE STATISTICS:
ST. JAMES RUSHING 44 attempts 186 yards 0 TDs (4.23 yards per carry)
42 Brewer 24 / 141
22
Winn 11 / 55
34
Thrasher 5 / - 1
10 Gantt
4 /
- 9
PASSING 2 completions 5
attempts 0 INTs 31 yards 0 TDs (no sacks of)
10
Gantt 2 - 5
- 0 31 yards
RECEIVING
80 Thompson 1 / 21
6 Roberts
1 / 10
TOTAL YARDS: 217
KICKS: XP 0 / 0 FG 1 / 1 (24 made)COOSA
RUSHING 27 attempts 30 yards 0 TDs (1.11 yards
per carry)
PASSING 5 completions 17
attempts 2 INTs 120 yards 0 TDs (3 sacks
of, - 24 yards)
TOTAL YARDS: 150
KICKS: XP 0 /
0
FG 0 / 0
2 POINT CONVERSIONS: 0 / 0
KICKOFFS: 1 (48)
PUNTS:
5 (35,23,31,17,39)
KO RETURNS: 2
(29,21) PUNT
RETURNS: 0
FUMBLE
RETURNS: 1 (6)
FIRST DOWNS: 7 (2 rushing, 5 passing)
FUMBLES: 1, lost 0
PENALTIES: 6 / 45 yards
TIME OF POSSESSION: 22:00