SCORING SUMMARY:
S S (1) :39 McConico 8 run
(Myles run) 0 - 8
STJ (2) 7:35 Roberts 60 pass from Gantt
(run failed) 6 -
8
S S (3) 3:53 Myles 26 run
(pass failed) 6 - 14
STJ (3) 3:36 Ward 84 kickoff return
(Brewer run) 14 - 14
S S (4) 8:22 Myles 7 run
(Myles run) 14 - 22
S S (4) 1:17 Walls 7 run
(pass failed) 14 - 28
September 5, 2003, Panther Stadium. Cloudy,
rain & wind beginning third quarter, Game temperature
82
degrees, dropping, wind SE gusts to 15
Seven turnovers, including five
second half
pass interceptions, thwarted the St. James Trojans after they had tied
up
the game with a thrilling kickoff return late in the third quarter, and
the
Southside-Selma Panthers converted two of the interceptions into
touchdown drives as they defeated the Trojans 28-14 in a game which was
originally forecast to feature clearing, cooler weather but instead
provided wind, drizzle,
and then rain.
Both teams moved the ball for several first downs on their first two
drives, but neither could reach the endzone. On the Panthers'
third possession, a 40 yard run by Tony Myles, a 12 yard run by Eric
Williams, and an 8 yard run by Rickey McConico completed a 3 play 60
yard drive for Southside's first score. Myles added a two point
conversion run to give Southside an
8-0 lead. The Trojans nearly ran the ensuing kickoff back for a
touchdown, but the last player with a legitimate chance for a tackle
knocked the ball away for a fumble and the Panthers again had
possession. They drove down to the Trojans 26, but failed on a
fourth down and three attempt. Four plays later, Brett Gantt
connected on a 60 yard catch and run
across the middle to Chris Roberts as he broke free 10 yards into the
secondary
and outraced his pursuers. The Trojans decided to try a two point
conversion as well, but a run came up short.
Neither team seriously threatened again in the second quarter, but a
bizarre situation took place on the sidelines near the end of the half.
On third down and 25 from his own 25, Gantt completed a pass to
Roberts for 23
yards. As he ran out of bounds, he dislodged the clip on the
sideline chains the referees use to mark ball and chain location.
The chains had been correctly thrown down because Roberts and his
defender were headed toward the crew on the sidelines. However,
there was confusion afterwards where to mark the ten yard chains after
the clip had been dislodged from the
chain. As it turned out, the chains were moved improperly about 4
yards
downfield, making a fourth down and 2 play actually a fourth down and 6
play.
As it worked out, the error would become moot because the ensuing
pass
on fourth down was incomplete, turning over the ball and virtually
ending
the first half.
As the second half began, the wind began blowing briskly and a rain
feeder band from the distant tropical storm Henri set in with
alternating drizzle and rain for the entire second half. St.
James was quickly into Panther territory, but threw an interception on
the second play from scrimmage. After a Panther punt, the teams
each fumbled the ball away almost consecutively as the rain increased.
In a slow moving game on the clock, each team garnered a first
down on their next drives, but each ended with endzone
punts. However, St. James' next punt was returned by Darryl
Walls,
who avoided several early tackles and perhaps several illegal blocks in
the back for a 36 yard return to the Trojan 26. On the first
play,
Tony Myles ran up the middle and was virtually untouched for the 26
yard
touchdown and an 8 point lead.
The first of three consecutive big plays for St. James occurred next.
The
Trojans deflected a two point conversion pass in the endzone, keeping
the
game at a one score margin. Then, Matt Ward fielded the kickoff
on
his own 16 yard line, cut across the field and turned upfield at the
30,
outracing defenders and cruising the final 70 yards into the endzone
for
an 84 yard touchdown return only 17 seconds after the previous
touchdown.
Again the Trojans tried for two, and this time they were
successful
as Ted Brewer snuck in to tie the score at 14 and the momentum quickly
flocked
to the St. James sideline.
After an endzone kickoff, a near interception, a punt and return, and
a late hit penalty on the Trojans' next play from scrimmage, St. James
was
marching with the ball at midfield. Despite several penalties,
the
Trojans continued to move down the field to the Panther 32 while the
rains
were hardest and the play calling was the most conservative.
However,
on third down, a razzle dazzle pass attempt was intercepted at the 36
and
returned all the way to the Trojan 18 in the first minute of the fourth
quarter.
Five straight running plays gave Southside the lead for good as
Tony
Myles carried in from the final 7 yards for a touchdown. He again
added
the two point run for an 8 point lead at 22-14.
Ted Brewer's kickoff return to the Trojan 40, and a 31 yard pass from
Gantt to Taylor Nelson moved the ball down to the Panther 15 and St.
James
was threatening to tie the score once more. However, Michael
Carter
intercepted a Gantt pass at the 16 yard line to stop the crucial drive.
The Panthers drove for 6 plays and nearly 3 minutes before fumbling
back
to the Trojans. However, on the next play the third interception
of
the quarter occurred, and it was returned to the Trojan 36. From
there,
it took only 5 plays for the Panthers to reach the endzone again, with
Darryl
Walls traveling the final 7 yards. An extra point kick for the
only
time of the night was lined up for, but it was a fake and the Trojans
stopped
the two point conversion to end the night's scoring at 28-14 with only
1:17
remaining in the game.
However, the Trojans weren't so sure there would be no more scoring.
On fourth and 11 on the following drive, Gantt connected with
Taylor Nelson for his second 60 yard pass completion of the game, as
Nelson was just dragged down at the Panther 5 with still 35 seconds to
go. After a bad snap forced a fall on the ball, and an incomplete
pass, McConico, who had been switching in and out as Panther
quarterback, pulled off the interception at the 7 yard line to end the
final scoring threat and seal the Panther victory.
GAME TWO SIDELINE STATISTICS
ST. JAMES
RUSHING 23 attempts 14 yards 0 TDs
10 Gantt 16 / 9 1 Gunn
2 / 5 42 Brewer 5 / 0
PASSING 13 completions 29 attempts 5
INTs 260 yards 1 TD (2 sacks of, - 21 yards)
10
Gantt 13 -
27 - 4 260 yards 1 TD (2 sacks, -
21 yards)
8
Varner 0 - 1 - 1
3 Nelson
0 - 1 - 0
RECEIVING
3 Nelson 6 / 130
6 Roberts 5 / 103 (1 TD) 88
Burke 2 / 27
TOTAL YARDS: 274
KICKS: XP 0 / 0
FG 0 / 0
2 POINT
CONVERSIONS: 1 / 2
KICKOFFS:
3 (52,50,EZ)
PUNTS: 5 (24,29,50,46,38)
KO RETURNS: 5 (36f,15,84TD,12,14)
PUNT RETURNS: 4 (0fc,0,0,3)
FUMBLE
RETURNS: 1 (2)
FIRST DOWNS: 9 (3 rushing, 5 passing, 1
penalty)
FUMBLES: 3, lost 2
TURNOVER MARGIN: - 5
PENALTIES: 6 / 37 yards
TIME OF POSSESSION: 19:10
SOUTHSIDE RUSHING 44
attempts 273 yards 4 TDs (6.20 yards per carry)
PASSING 2 completions 11
attempts 0 INTs 13 yards 0 TDs (1 sack of, -
3 yards)
TOTAL YARDS: 286
KICKS: XP 0 /
0
FG 0 / 0
2 POINT CONVERSIONS: 2 / 4
KICKOFFS: 5
(42,28,44,32,38)
PUNTS: 4 (42,42,52,44)
KO RETURNS: 2 (25,5)
PUNT RETURNS: 3 (4,36,36)
INTERCEPTION RETURNS: 4 (46,49,4,0)
FIRST DOWNS: 13 (12 rushing, 1 penalty)
FUMBLES: 2, lost 2
PENALTIES: 11 / 75 yards
TIME OF POSSESSION: 28:50