St. James overcame the shock of a score less than 40 seconds into the game, and 10 minutes plus of continuous defense in the second half, as Brett Gantt passed for over 200 yards for the second time this season, as the Trojans defeated the Alabama Christian Eagles 34-13 in a game which was indeed closer than the score would indicate.

The first three plays of the game did not bode well for the Trojans.  A kickoff out of bounds, a 24 yard run by Clinton Adams, and a 41 yard quarterback scamper on the option by Dee McBrayer had the Eagles in the endzone 39 seconds into the game.  The extra point was wide, but the Eagles had a quick strike 6-0 lead.

Despite being pinned deep on the ensuing kickoff, the Trojans moved the ball down the field on several big plays, including a 26 yard run by Matt Ward.  However, the drive stalled and after a 9 yard punt the Eagles took over on their own 33.  Four plays later, on fourth down and two, ACA risked going for the first down but botched whatever play they were attempting, and the ball simply lay on the ground for a no gain play.  From the Eagle 41, Brett Gantt completed a pair of 10 yard passes to Ward and Chris Roberts.  During the drive, Ted Brewer ran for 11 yards and finished off the drive with a 4 yard touchdown rumble.  The extra point snap was bobbled and no kick was attempted, but the score was tied at 6.

On the ensuing drive, Alabama Christian fumbled on the second play giving St. James the ball on the Eagles 20.  Five plays later, Will Thrasher scored on a sweep from 5 yards out.  This time, Will Stansfield converted the extra point into the parking lot and the Trojans were on top 13-6, scoring 13 points in 2½ minutes.

Alabama Christian picked up several first downs on the next drive, including a 24 yard run by Adams, but the drive stalled at the Trojan 31 and a 46 yard field goal attempt came up short.  St. James took the following drive down to the Eagle 14 on 7 consecutive passes, 4 completions, but failed to convert a fourth down and five.  Neither team seriously threatened for the remainder of the half as they continued to pound on each other.

On the Trojans' second drive of the second half, Matt Ward returned an ACA punt to the Trojan 47.  After a short gain and a fumbled shotgun snap, St. James faced a third and 18 from their own 39.  Gantt dropped back to pass and Taylor Nelson had snuck behind the defense.  The pass was a bit underthrown and just got over the defense, but Nelson was standing still and managed to run and not get caught until his successful dive into the endzone for a 61 yard catch and run touchdown.  Another bad snap led to a failed converstion, but the Trojans now had a two score lead.

Alabama Christian once again fumbled near midfield on their next drive.  Gantt completed a pass to Roberts at the Eagle 32.   After a 4 yard quarterback run and a penalty, Gantt rared back and threw for Roberts again.  The ball was tipped and nearly intercepted, but it fell right into Roberts' hands and he vaulted down the sidelines for another touchdown.  Matt Ward ran a sweep for a successful two point conversion and St. James seemed to have a safe lead at 27-6 with only 14 minutes remaining in the game.

After an endzone kickoff, the Eagles ground game rumbled along.  A fifteen play drive of mostly straight ahead running plays consumed a bunch of time off the clock, 6:26 worth, but Adams plowed in from the 2 yard line on fourth down for the touchdown.  Cody Lange's point cut the lead to 14 points.

With less than 8 minutes to go, ACA opted for the onside kick and executed it beautifully.  The bouncing kick traveled about 15 yards before hitting the knee of a Trojan defender, bouncing directly into the hands of an Eagle coverer.  Therefore, the Trojan defense had to immediately trot back on to the field for another potential Eagle onslaught.  From the Trojan 46, it took 8 plays for the Eagles to advance to the Trojan 4.  On second down from the 4, an option pitch was called for, but the pitch was not handled and St. James' Will Thrasher finally recovered at the 19 yard line.  With 4:01 left on the clock, the Trojans were called on to run out the clock.  On third down and 1, Brewer broke loose for a 20 yard run which may have sewn up the game.  On the ensuing third down and 1, Brewer broke through the line and outran the pursuers to the endzone for a 58 yard touchdown, pushing Brewer over 100 yards for the night.  The Stansfield extra point with exactly a minute remaining led to the final margin of 34-13.  The Eagles did threaten in the last minute, moving down to the Trojan 6, but an incomplete pass exhausted the remaining time and the Trojans had their seventh consecutive win over their city rival.

GAME FIVE SIDELINE STATISTICS:

ST. JAMES      RUSHING   28 attempts  183 yards  3 TDs  (6.54 yards per carry)

                        42   Brewer            9 / 111  (2 TDs)   30   Ward                  5 / 42
                        10   Gantt             10 /  17                 34   Thrasher             4 / 13  (1 TD)

                        PASSING   12 completions  22 attempts  0 INTs  222 yards  2 TDs  (no sacks of)

                        10   Gantt          12 - 22 - 0     222 yards     2 TDs

                        RECEIVING

                          6   Roberts        5 / 105  (1 TD)          3   Nelson               3 / 83  (1 TD)
                        88   Burke           2 /  15                     30   Ward                 1 / 10
                        23   Aitken          1 /    9

                        TOTAL YARDS:   405

                        KICKS:  XP  2 / 4                 FG  0 / 0
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  1 / 1
                        KICKOFFS:  6 (OB,EZ,52,50,EZ,OB)        PUNTS:  3 (9,42,30)
                        KO RETURNS:  2 (8,0f)                            PUNT RETURNS:   2  (0fc, 11)
                        FIRST DOWNS:   17    (9 rushing, 8 passing)
                        FUMBLES:  1, lost 1
                        TURNOVER MARGIN:   + 2
                        PENALTIES:  8 / 65 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:  21:01

ACA                 RUSHING   55 attempts  264 yards    2 TDs  (4.8 yards per carry)
                        PASSING      3 completions   17 attempts  0 INTs  40 yards  0 TDs  (2 sacks of, - 13 yards)
                        TOTAL YARDS:  304

                        KICKS:  XP  1 / 2                FG  0 / 1  (46 missed)
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                        KICKOFFS:  3 (56,EZ,14)                           PUNTS:  2  (30,27)
                        KO RETURNS:  2  (19,15)                          PUNT RETURNS:  2  (8,7)
                        FIRST DOWNS:  20   (16 rushing, 2 passing, 2 penalty)
                        FUMBLES:  4, lost 3
                        PENALTIES:  4 / 20 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:  26:59

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