GAME 3:  ST. JAMES 27, @ Alabama Christian 10

STJ                 6       7      14       0          27
 
ACA                0       3       7       0          10

SCORING SUMMARY:

STJ   (1)    7:29   Dean 3 run                                         (kick failed)      6 -  0
ACA (2)  11:49   Thomas 26 FG                                                            6 -  3
STJ   (2)    3:06   Dean 34 run                                   (Hankins kick)    13 -  3
STJ   (3)    6:17   Freeman 46 pass from Martin        (Hankins kick)    20 -  3
ACA (3)    1:23   McMichen 1 run                             (Thomas kick)    20 - 10
STJ   (3)    1:01   Dean 86 kickoff return                   (Hankins kick)    27 - 10
September 14, 2007   Wade Norton Field.   Game Conditions:  Cloudy, first half drizzle   Game Temperature:  76    Wind:  Light, variable

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Matt Dean scored three touchdowns, two on the ground (picture above shows him running for the second) and a third on a key kickoff return just after an Eagles score, as Karl Smeltzer picked up his first career win as St. James head coach, and the Trojans evened their region record at 1 - 1 with a 27 - 10 victory at Alabama Christian.

For the second consecutive game, the Trojans took their opening drive the length of the field for a touchdown.  Alexander Forrer and Wes Davis teamed up on a fair catch of a short kickoff to start the game, and the Trojans methodically drove 65 yards exclusively on the ground.  Chase Christian had 4 carries for 28 yards, Clinton Freeman picked up 12 on his carry, Will Martin kept for a 5 yard gain, and Matt Dean carried 3 times, the third a 3 yard touchdown run.  The extra point snap was bad and a kick was not attempted, but St. James was up 6 - 0 midway through the first quarter.

The Eagles nearly duplicated the feat.  They marched up the field, with a personal foul penalty a huge boost mid-drive.  ACA had a first down at the Trojan 11 as the rain began to spritz, but a costly holding penalty on first down caused the drive to sputter.  On fourth down from the 15, the Eagles attempted a field goal, but the kick was wide left and St. James retained the 6 point lead.  However, on second down a fumble gave the Eagles another first down at the Trojan 11.  After the final two plays of the first quarter picked up only 3 yards, and the next play was an incomplete pass, Dallas Thomas got a second chance and converted this field goal from 26 yards, slicing the lead of the Trojans in half, to 6 - 3.

One of nine penalties held up St. James on their next drive, but ACA could fare no better.  From the 26, the Trojans drove 74 yards for their second touchdown.  Christian rushed for two consecutive first downs, and Chase Eley caught a 9 yard pass setting up a third and 1 at the ACA 40.  Christian converted with a 6 yard carry, and on the next play Matt Dean took the handoff and broke through several tackles on his way towards the endzone.  Clark Hankins' extra point after the 34 yard touchdown gave St. James a 10 point lead late in the first half as the steady drizzle finally began to fade.

The Eagles completed their only two passes of the game on the next drive trying to score once more before halftime, but the second completion was only for one yard on fourth down and 8.  St. James was hoping to break a run in the last few seconds of the half, but a fumble gave ACA one more play before halftime.  However, quarterback Michael Williams couldn't make the line of scrimmage and the first half clock ran out.

A 5-yard face mask penalty on the opening third quarter kickoff return and consecutive first down runs by Jordan Creel quickly had the Eagles in Trojan territory.  However, on fourth down and 3 from the Trojan 25, a second consecutive run by Dee Gibbs again lost yardage, and St. James took over.  After Dean picked up a measured first down, Christian picked up 22 on a key 3rd down and 14 pass from Martin.  On the next play, Martin baited defenders and found a wide open Clinton Freeman behind the Eagles, and he charged into the endzone for a 46 yard touchdown catch and run.  The Hankins extra point from the 16 yard line after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and a roughing the kicker penalty on a missed first try gave St. James a 20 - 3 lead.

Hankins' kick went into and through the endzone, leaving ACA 80 yards to march.  They did, thanks in great part to three major distance penalties by the Trojans, the third of which gave the Eagles first and goal at the Trojan 9.  Creel carried for 8 yards on first down, and Chase McMichen picked up the final yard for ACA's first touchdown.  Thomas' extra point brought the margin back to 10 points and the Eagles appeared to have momentum.

For a few seconds.  After two earlier pooch kickoffs were fair caught, the Eagles elected to kick deep.  Matt Dean took the kick at his own 14 and rushed straight up the middle as the blocking opened a hole in the center of the field.  Only the kicker had a chance for the tackle near midfield, and he was jostled by a half-move, half-fall by Dean who managed to keep his balance and just outrun the chasing defenders for an 86 yard kickoff return touchdown, the third longest in Trojan history.  Hankins' extra point boosted the lead back to 17 points late in the third quarter.

Neither team could accomplish much offensively thereafter.  On the second play of the fourth quarter, a fumble was recovered by Trojan Pete Williams at the Eagle 40.  A delay of game penalty prevented a first down, but a Dean punt was downed at the 6 yard line.  The teams traded punts again, and ACA had little better field position at their own 14 as time was running out.  Gibbs picked up one first down, but the Eagles had to punt and Christian's 18 yard run on first down was enough to whittle the clock below a minute, and two plays later the Trojans danced on the field with their third consecutive victory over their city rival, and their first area victory of the season.

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SIDELINE STATISTICS  - GAME THREE

ST. JAMES      RUSHING    37 attempts  206 yards  2 TDs  (5.57 yards per carry)

                        32   Christian       13 / 86        14   Dean        11 / 75  (2 TDs)      30   Freeman       7  / 28
                          3   Martin            5 / 15        35   Ostrye        1 /  2

                        PASSING    3 completions  3 attempts  0 INTs  77 yards  1 TD  (no sacks of)

                           3   Martin          3 - 3 - 0    77 yards    1 TD

                        RECEIVING

                         30   Freeman        1 / 46  (TD)      32   Christian    1 / 22         4   Eley         1 / 9

                        TOTAL YARDS:   283

                        KICKS:  XP  3 / 4                FG  0 / 0
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                        KICKOFFS:  5  (57,59,54,EZ,52)                             PUNTS:   3  (38,34,32)
                        KO RETURNS:  3  (0fc,0fc,86TD)                          PUNT RETURNS:  1  (0fc)
                         FIRST DOWNS:   13  (11 rushing, 2 passing)
                        FUMBLES:  2, lost 2
                        TURNOVER MARGIN:  - 1
                        PENALTIES:  12 / 94 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:  23:02

A C A               RUSHING    49 attempts  216 yards  1 TD  (4.41 yards per carry)
                        PASSING      2 completions  8 attempts  0 INTs  12 yards  0 TDs  (no sacks of)
                        TOTAL YARDS:   228

                         KICKS:  XP  1 / 1                FG  1 / 2  (missed 32, made 26)
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                        KICKOFFS:  3  (25,29,46)                                       PUNTS:  3  (42,30,33)
                        KO RETURNS:  4  (24,21,25,21)                             PUNT RETURNS:  1 (8)
                        FIRST DOWNS:   14  (12 rushing, 1 passing, 1 penalty)
                        FUMBLES:  2, lost 1
                        PENALTIES:  4 / 38 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:  24:58

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