St. James scored three touchdowns in the first six minutes of the game, including an opening play 82 yard kickoff return by Taylor Thompson, as the Trojans began 2004 Region play with an impressive 42-0 shutout of the Bullock County Hornets.

Thompson, the nearside receiver, hauled in the kick at the 12 yard line and darted toward the middle of the field, where he shook off two tacklers at the 25 yard line and crossed to the opposite sideline where he outraced the kicker at the 40 yard line and cruised into the endzone.  Graham Sutter's kick, his first of 5 in a row, gave St. James a 7-0 lead just 16 seconds into the game.

Bullock County was stopped on a 12 yard sack by Michael Stabler, and Matt Ward returned the ensuing punt to the Hornet 35.  A 5 yard run by Peter Krothapalli and a 30
yard quarterback scamper by Tyler Murphy, right where Thompson had just raced, had the ball in the endzone again and the Trojans with an early 14 point lead.

On the Hornets' third down of the ensuing drive, Drew Gunn intercepted a high wobbly pass at the St. James 25, and on the Trojans' third down, Murphy connected with Thompson for a beautiful 25 yard screen play catch and run for a third early touchdown and a 21 point lead before the first heat time out was called.

The teams traded punts on the next two drives, with the second St. James punt being blocked and the Hornets recovering at the Trojan 33.  However, on fourth down and 2, the fullback was stopped for no gain.  Jeremy Crider took his first carries at running back this season for 19 and 18 yards sandwiching a holding penalty.  However, two plays later, a Matt Ward fumble gave the ball back to Bullock County.  Yet, he redeemed himself three plays later with a nifty tiptoe interception of a desperation pass at the Hornet 22.  A fourth down St. James touchdown pass was called back because of an ineligible receiver, and Graham Sutter attempted a 37 yard field goal which was straight but just short.

Bullock County finally earned their initial first down of the game on the next drive, thanks to a roughing the passer penalty, but started moving backwards and punted to the
Trojans with only 37 seconds remaining in the half.  It took Murphy only one play to lead to the next score, again connecting with Thompson on a fingertip grab at the 25.  Thompson just avoided the safety at the goal line and scored with 27 seconds remaining, giving St. James a four touchdown lead at halftime.

The Hornets failed to move on their first drive of the second half, but the Trojans travelled 63 yards in 4 plays on theirs.  Crider runs of 12 and 20, a 28 yard pass from Murphy to Thompson, and a 3 yard run by Crider for a touchdown ended the night for most of the starters and propelled the lead to 35 points.

The teams traded punts, turnovers, and loss of downs as more and more subs for both teams played their way into the game.  After a lost Hornet fumble at the Trojan 20, the third team offense managed to get into the endzone as 9th grade quarterback Brandon Cook led the way, pitching out to Nathan Newton whose effort from the 5 yard line gave him a touchdown and the final margin of victory.  The Trojans declined a final chance to score as Bullock County fumbled at their own 15 with a minute remaining, but after one run of 11 yards, the Trojans downed the ball and prepared to travel to their next region opponent, Ashford, confident again with a fine victory.

GAME TWO SIDELINE STATISTICS:

ST. JAMES      RUSHING   32 attempts  171 yards  3 TDs  (5.34 yards per carry)

                        10   Crider        10 / 88   1 TD         9   Murphy        5 / 43  1 TD       19   Newton   5 / 26   1 TD
                        30   Ward           3 / 13                  44   Krothapalli    2 /  5                 14   Enslen     5 / - 1
                          4   Cook           2 / - 3

                        PASSING     8 completions  14 attempts  0 INTs  169 yards  2 TDs  (1 sack of, 2 yards)

                          9   Murphy      6 - 11 - 0   155 yards   2 TDs
                        14   Enslen        1 -   2 - 0      7 yards                  (1 sack, - 2 yards)
                          4   Cook          1 -   1 - 0      7 yards

                        RECEIVING

                          2   Thompson    4 / 126  2 TDs    88  Burke            1 / 23                 19   Newton   1 /  7
                        30   Ward            1 /    7               10  Crider            1 /   6

                        TOTAL YARDS:   340

                        KICKS:  XP  6 / 6                FG  0 / 1   (37 missed)
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                        KICKOFFS:  7  (55,50,OB,EZ,43,56,EZ)    PUNTS:  2  (48,bk)
                        KO RETURNS:  1  (88T)                           PUNT RETURNS:   4  (4,-5,15,12)
                        FIRST DOWNS:   14   (9 rushing, 5 passing)
                        INTERCEPTION RETURNS:  2  (5,0)
                        FUMBLES:  6, lost 3
                        TURNOVER MARGIN:   + 1
                        PENALTIES:  8 / 78 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:  22:25

BULLOCK CO RUSHING   32 attempts  - 6 yards    0 TDs
                        PASSING      4 completions  15 attempts  2 INTs  21 yards  0 TDs  (3 sacks of, 44 yards)
                        TOTAL YARDS:  15

                        KICKS:  XP  0 / 0                FG  0 / 0
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                        KICKOFFS:  1 (48)                                    PUNTS:  7  (22,31,46,24,35,- 3,34)
                        KO RETURNS:  4  (17,22,14,35)                PUNT RETURNS:  0
                        FIRST DOWNS:  6   (4 rushing, 1 passing, 1 penalty)
                        FUMBLES:  4, lost 2
                        PENALTIES:  5 / 40 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:  25:35

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