GAME 8:  ST. JAMES 31, Opp 7

OPP         0        7        0        0               7

STJ           7      14        3        7             31

SCORING SUMMARY:

STJ   (1)    3:14   Alter 27 pass from Martin                        (Sutter kick)       7 - 0
STJ   (2)  10:39   Thompson 11 pass from Martin                (Sutter kick)     14 - 0
OPP  (2)    5:08   Henderson 4 run                                    (Dunbar kick)      14 - 7
STJ   (2)    0:35   Alter 31 pass from Martin                         (Sutter kick)     21 - 7
STJ   (3)    5:36   Sutter 28 FG                                                                      24 - 7
STJ   (4)    1:41   Martin 2 run                                             (Sutter kick)     31 - 7

October 14, 2005  Carlisle Field    7:00 PM   Game Conditions:  Clear     Game Temperature:  68   Wind:  NNW  5 - 10


Will Martin threw for three touchdown passes, and ran for another, and Matt Dean became the first Trojan to rush for 100 yards this season as St. James evened their regional record and assured a .500 regular season with a 31-7 victory over the visiting Opp Bobcats.

On the second St. James drive of the game, Matt Dean picked up two first downs on 13 and 7 yard rushes on his way to a 148 yard rushing performance.  A defensive pass interference penalty resulted in another first down, but a block in the back penalty pushed the ball back to the Bobcat 27.  Martin then lofted his first touchdown pass to Bruce Alter, a 27 yarder.  Graham Sutter kicked his first of four extra points and St. James was up 7-0 late in the first quarter.

Opp benefited by a muff of a forward-deflected punt on their next drive, but had to punt again soon after, and a personal foul penalty after the return gave St. James good field position at the Opp 44.  A 27 yard completion to Nathan Newton and a 6 yard run by Dean set up Martin's second touchdown pass, caught by Taylor Thompson in the corner of the endzone.  The extra point gave St. James a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter.

The Bobcats' most effective drive followed.  Starting on their own 18 after a penalty, Jaquez Henderson had a first down run and a first down reception from Ryan Cook. Cook then completed three more passes for double digit yardage on the drive, the final one a 25 yarder to Donald Jones which gave Opp a first down at the Trojan 4.  From there, Henderson carried several tacklers on the next play into the endzone for Opp's first and only score, after the Chris Dunbar kick, and the lead was cut to 7 midway through the second quarter.

Opp then executed a successful onside kick, as a line drive bounced off the foot of a Trojan upman rebounding high in the air directly back to Henderson, who recovered it at the Opp 47, and the Bobcats suddenly had increased momentum.  However, three plays only netted one yard, and a fake punt attempt on fourth down came up two yards short.  Martin completed a pass to Dean for 13 yards, and then kept the ball himself three consecutive times for a total of 11 yards.  On third down, Martin again sought and found Alter wide open over the middle for a 31 yard touchdown pass just before halftime, and St. James regained its 14 point lead.  The Bobcats threatened with a 55 yard kickoff return which gave them a first down at the Trojan 35, but Blaine Joyner intercepted a Cook pass on first down, ending the half.

Joyner was once again prominent on the opening Bobcat drive of the second half, as he intercepted a low pass at the Opp 34.  Runs by Martin, Dean, and Newton advanced the ball as close as the Opp 5.  A penalty and a sack were later offset by a roughing the passer penalty, giving St. James another first down at the Bobcat 12.  However, the Trojans could not reach the endzone this time, and Sutter was called on to kick a 28 yard field goal, which he did, giving St. James a three score advantage halfway through the third quarter.

The teams traded punts and penalties the next few drives, and Jeff Cowden intercepted an Opp pass to stop another, but the Trojans added a late touchdown in the fourth quarter.  A 21 yard catch and run to Alter gave St. James a first down at the Opp 4, and three plays later Martin called his own number from two yards out for the score and the final margin of victory, 31 - 7.  After the game, St. James began their preparations for the visit from cross-town rival Trinity the next week after a 3 game 2 year absence from Carlisle Field.

GAME EIGHT SIDELINE STATISTICS

ST. JAMES      RUSHING   35 attempts  151 yards  1 TD  (4.31 yards per carry)

                        14   Dean      20 / 148                    19   Newton         2 /  6
                         3   Martin     12 /   0  (1 TD)         22   Alter             1 / - 3

                        PASSING   10 completions  13 attempts  0 INTs  135 yards  3 TDs  (2 sacks of, - 17 yards)

                          3   Martin         10 - 13 - 0    135 yards  3 TDs   (2 sacks, - 17 yards)

                        RECEIVING

                        22   Alter         4 / 79  (2 TD)          19   Newton       1 / 27       2   Thompson   3 / 13  (1 TD)
                        14   Dean         1 / 13                       5   Cowden       1 /  3

                        TOTAL YARDS:   286

                        KICKS:  XP  4 / 4                FG  1 / 1  (28 made)
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                        KICKOFFS:  6 (60EZ,50,50,53,56,40)         PUNTS:  3  (39,39,36)
                        KO RETURNS:  2  (16,-7f)                         PUNT RETURNS:   2  (0f,9)
                        INTERCEPTION RETURNS:  3  (1,0,10)
                        FIRST DOWNS:   15    (8 rushing, 5 passing, 2 penalty)
                        FUMBLES:  3, lost 2

                        TURNOVER MARGIN:   + 2
                        PENALTIES:  10 / 80 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:  22:34

OPP                 RUSHING   26 attempts  81 yards   1 TD  (3.12 yards per carry)
                        PASSING      12 completions  25 attempts  3 INTs  89 yards  0 TDs  (no sacks of)
                        TOTAL YARDS:  170

                        KICKS:  XP  1 / 1                FG  0 / 0
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                        KICKOFFS:  2 (46,14o)                              PUNTS:  4  (27,8,38,50)
                        KO RETURNS:  5  (13,55,17,23,0)              PUNT RETURNS:  1  (0fc)
                        FIRST DOWNS:   10  (4 rushing, 5 passing, 1 penalty)
                        FUMBLES:  2, lost 1
                        PENALTIES:  9 / 82 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:  25:36


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