GAME 8:    Trinity 52, St. James 7

TRI        28      10      14        0          52

STJ          0        7        0        0            7

SCORING SUMMARY:

TRI  (1)   8:19   Hooper 9 pass from Fain                         (Shelley kick)   0 -  7
TRI  (1)   3:20   Hoyt 15 pass from Fain                           (Shelley kick)   0 - 14
TRI  (1)   2:59   Tapley 23 run                                          (Shelley kick)   0 - 21
TRI  (1)   1:09   Tapley 39 run                                          (Shelley kick)   0 - 28
STJ  (2)  11:13   Gantt 1 run                                             (Nelson kick)   7 - 28
TRI  (2)   8:09   Shelley 36 FG                                                                  7 - 31
TRI  (2)   2:58   Trott 11 pass from Fain                           (Shelley kick)   7 - 38
TRI  (3)   4:02   Trott 8 pass from Fain                             (Shelley kick)   7 - 45
TRI  (3)   3:03   Fain 29 run                                              (Shelley kick)   7 - 52

October 18, 2002   Carlisle Field, Montgomery  Game conditions:  Mostly clear  Game Temperature:   68   Wind  E  3

Three first quarter Trojan turnovers contributed heavily to 28 quick Wildcat points, and Trinity used its defense, its kicking game, and the arms and legs of quarterback Walker Fain, to cruise to a solid overall thumping of St. James at Carlisle Field, 52-7.

The first such Trojan turnover was a fumble on a quarterback exchange problem on the second play of the game.  However, St. James temporarily escaped danger as they held the Wildcats to no yards on three plays, and a 46 yard field goal attempt was well short.

Two plays later, an interception by Trinity's Bryant Dyess gave them the ball at the Trojan 39, and this time Trinity would not be denied.  Five plays later, Walker Fain threw his first of four touchdown passes, a 9 yarder to Perry Hooper.  Jeffrey Shelley converted all seven of his extra point attempts on the evening, and this one put the Wildcats up 7-0 with 8:19 remaining in the first quarter.

St. James punted on their next drive to the Wildcat 30, but Trinity moved the 70 yards in 9 plays, with Fain completing 5 of 6 passes on the drive, the final one for 15 yards to Austin Hoyt for the touchdown, and a 14-0 lead.  The Trojans promptly fumbled on their next scrimmage play, and it took Trinity only one play to strike after a 5 yard penalty.  This time, it was a 23 yard sweep by Matthew Tapley, nearly untouched into the endzone, and the lead was 21-0 with still 3:20 remaining in the opening quarter.

St. James punted again and gave Trinity another short field and Tapley went the distance absolutely untouched on the only play of the drive again, this time for 39 yards, and the score was 28-0 with time still remaining in the first quarter and a quite dejected home side sideline.

The Trojans managed nearly half of their offensive game yardage on their next drive which would lead to their only score of the evening.  A 12 yard run by Brett Gantt was followed by a nice 66 yard pass completion and run from Gantt to Alex Howell down to the Wildcat 2 yard line, a too rare Trojan bright spot.  Three plays later, early in the second quarter, Gantt snuck over from the 1 for the touchdown.  Taylor Nelson's extra point finally got the Trojans on the scoreboard, at 7-28.

Trinity's next drive resulted in a Shelley field goal attempt from 36 yards which was good, boosting the score to 31-7 Trinity with still over 8 minutes remaining in the half.
After a short Trojan punt gave the Wildcats great field position at the Trojan 33, Fain completed his third touchdown pass, this one to Tommy Trott, for 11 yards despite considerable contact between the two which was called defensive pass interference and, obviously, declined.  The extra point raised the score to 38-7 late in the first half.  St. James was driving late, but a minus 15 yard fumble on a reverse play stopped the drive and any further first half scoring threats.

Trinity added two touchdowns in the third quarter, on a Fain touchdown pass to Trott of 8 yards where he made a fine catch despite being nearly triple covered, and a 29 yard quarterback sprint by Fain after another Trojan lost fumble.  The second touchdown of the quarter was the final tally of the game, as neither team seriously threatened the rest of the game as underclassmen saw most of the remaining work. Trinity wrapped up another region championship with an overwhelming victory over their crosstown rival.

GAME EIGHT SIDELINE STATISTICS

ST. JAMES      RUSHING   31 attempts  61 yards   1 TD  (1.96 yards per carry) 

                        35   Wahl           3 / 14               11   Howell       5 / 13                   42   Brewer        6 / 11
                          9   Murphy       1 / 10               10   Gantt        13 /  9  (1 TD)       22   Winn           3 /  4

                        PASSING     7 completions  14 attempts  1 INT  84 yards  0 TDs  (2 sacks of, - 11 yards)

                        10   Gantt         7 - 13 - 1     84 yards    (2 sacks, - 11)
                          9   Murphy       0 - 1 - 0

                        RECEIVING

                         11   Howell        2 / 71                6   Roberts         2 / 10                 4   Joyner        1 /   5
                           3   Nelson        1 /   2              80   Thompson    1 / - 4

                        TOTAL YARDS:   145

                        KICKS:  XP  1 / 1                FG  0 / 0
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                        KICKOFFS:   2 (60,7)                            PUNTS:  8  (29,26,3,22,31,30,36,31)
                        KO RETURNS:  5 (18,13,15,13,17)        PUNT RETURNS:  2 (2,0)
                        FIRST DOWNS:   8    (5 rushing, 1 passing, 2 penalty)
                        FUMBLES:  5, lost 3
                        TURNOVER MARGIN:   - 3
                        PENALTIES:  4 / 30 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:  20:35

TRINITY         RUSHING   44 attempts  188 yards   3 TDs  (4.04 yards per carry)
                        PASSING    16 completions  24 attempts  0 INTs  212 yards  4 TDs  (2 sacks of, -10 yards)
                        TOTAL YARDS:  400

                        KICKS:  XP  7 / 7                FG  1 / 1  (36 made)
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                         KICKOFFS:  9 (50,45,56,56,60,57,60,60,60) PUNTS:  2  (27,35)
                        KO RETURNS:  0                                   PUNT RETURNS:  5  (5,10,30,0,4)
                        INTERCEPTION RETURN:  1  (0)
                             FIRST DOWNS:  23  (10 rushing, 12 passing, 1 penalty)
                        FUMBLES:  2, lost 1
                        PENALTIES:  9 / 70 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:  27:25

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