GAME 5: @ Montgomery Academy 27, St. James 13

STJ                 0        7        0       6          13
 
M A                7       14       6       0          27

SCORING SUMMARY:

M A  (1)  1:16   Cobb 64 run                                     (Massey kick)      0 -   7
STJ   (2)  9:47   Dean 5 run                                      (Hankins kick)      7 -   7
M A  (2)  9:30   Cobb 80 run                                     (Massey kick)      7 - 14
M A  (2)  1:19   Cobb 52 run                                     (Massey kick)      7 - 21
M A  (3)  4:38   Cobb 22 run                                        (pass failed)      7 - 27
STJ   (4)  9:47   Christian 10 run                               (kick blocked)    13 - 27
September 28, 2007   McLemore Field.   Game Conditions:  Clear, occasionally breezy, very low humidity   Game Temperature:  74    Wind:  NE  2 - 10

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For the second year in a row, a Montgomery Academy running back terrorized the Trojans.  This time, it was Pierce Cobb, whose breakaway speed led to four long touchdown runs as he carried for a near MA record, and near STJ opponent record 319 yards as the Eagles finally won at home against the Trojans, their first such win since 1995,  with a convincing 27 - 13 victory.

Cobb nearly had a 63 yard touchdown run to his credit on the third scrimmage play of the game, but it was negated by an illegal formation penalty.  St. James stopped the Eagles after several first downs, but a pair of penalties after a punt forced the Trojans to start their first possession of the game at their own 6 yard line.  St. James had driven for a score on their initial drive in the three previous games, but failed to do so this night.  In fact, the Trojans would not even produce a first down in the first quarter.  The Eagles drove as deeply as the Trojan 28, but failed to convert a fourth down and four on an incomplete pass.  Another costly major penalty and a sack pushed the Trojans back again, and Clark Hankins' punt was fair caught at the 36 yard line.

On first down, Cobb took the handoff and broke through some initial containment before streaking 64 yards for his first of four game touchdowns.  Matthew Massey's extra point gave the Eagles a 7 - 0 lead late in the first quarter.

After two negative yardage plays to end the first quarter, St. James needed a spark.  And they got one.  Brandyn Baker caught a nice pass from Will Martin for 18 yards on the near sidelines.  On the next play, Matt Dean was wide open across the middle, and chugged down the field for 46 yards before Eagle tacklers finally brought him down at the 15 yard line.  Unfortunately, it would be the last pass completion of the game to a Trojan.  However, two runs by Chase Christian picked up 10 yards, and Dean was rewarded with the touchdown on a superb carry, breaking two tacklers and avoiding stepping on the sidelines before he tipped into the endzone.  Hankins' extra point tied the game up at 7 early in the second quarter.

For only 17 seconds.  After a Hankins endzone kickoff (each of his three were), Cobb took the handoff on first down and was virtually untouched after the first 5 yards on his way to an 80 yard touchdown and another 7 point lead for M A.

St. James picked up one first down on their next possession, but M A began driving again.  However, a big sack led to another stoppage on downs at the St. James 38.  The Trojans tried to tie the game in two minute drill fashion, but J.J. Sewell intercepted a Martin pass and returned it to the Eagle 48 with 95 seconds remaining in the half.  It did not take nearly that long for M A to add to their lead, as Cobb broke loose again, just escaping the desperation tackle attempt of Wes Davis, for a quick 52 yard touchdown and a devastating 21 - 7 lead late in the first half.  The Trojans picked up a first down on their last possession of the second quarter, but two penalties kept them basically deep in their own side of the field, thwarting any scoring opportunity whatsoever.

Each team picked up several first downs on their opening third quarter possessions, but the Trojans were deep in their own territory again after a personal foul penalty following a downed punt.  On the second play of the drive, the Eagles recovered a fumble at the St. James 22, and the second turnover led to another touchdown.  It took Cobb only one play to score his fourth of the game.  The extra point snap was bad and led to a missed two pont pass conversion, but the Eagles seemed to be in control with a 20 point lead and less than 17 minutes remaining.

St. James finally got the benefit on a personal foul late hit out of bounds to start their next drive, and from then on Will Martin, Matt Dean, and Chase Christian alternated ball carries.  Freeman picked up a key first down on fourth and 3 on the opening play of the fourth quarter, and four runs later it was Christian from 10 yards out reaching the endzone.  The extra point was blocked, but the Trojans had cut the lead to 14 with most of the final quarter remaining.  They would get no closer on the scoreboard.  After forcing an Eagle punt, the Trojans moved downfield, but used up nearly four minutes of clock time before being stopped on downs at the Eagle 18.  Cobb was within inches of breaking another long run for a touchdown several plays later, but his first down near midfield gave M A plenty of time to run out the clock and celebrate their first home win over St. James in a dozen years.

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SIDELINE STATISTICS  - GAME FIVE

ST. JAMES      RUSHING    46 attempts  202 yards  2 TDs  (4.40 yards per carry)

                        32   Christian       14 / 83  (1 TD)       30   Freeman     11 / 74
                        14   Dean              7 / 26  (1 TD)         3   Martin        14 / 19

                        PASSING    4 completions  13 attempts  1 INT  75 yards  0 TDs  (4 sacks of, - 24 yards)

                           3   Martin        4 - 13 - 1   75 yards   (4 sacks, - 24 yards)

                        RECEIVING

                         14   Dean             1 / 46                   45   Baker           1 / 18
                           8   Dubois          1 / 12                   11   Joyner          1 / - 1

                        TOTAL YARDS:   277

                        KICKS:  XP  1 / 2                FG  0 / 0
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                        KICKOFFS:  3  (all EZ)                                           PUNTS:   4  (41,29,37,41)
                        KO RETURNS:  3  (17,8,33)                                   PUNT RETURNS:  2  (0,0fc)
                         FIRST DOWNS:   17  (13 rushing, 2 passing, 2 penalty)
                        FUMBLES:  1, lost 1
                        TURNOVER MARGIN:  - 2
                        PENALTIES:  7 / 65 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:  27:30

M A                 RUSHING    39 attempts  362 yards  4 TDs  (9.28 yards per carry)   8  Cobb  22 / 319
                        PASSING      3 completions  5 attempts  0 INTs  24 yards  0 TDs  (1 sack of, - 13 yards)
                        TOTAL YARDS:   386

                         KICKS:  XP  3 / 3                FG  0 / 0
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 1
                        KICKOFFS:  5  (53,47,EZ,57,EZ)                            PUNTS:  3  (36,40.30)
                        KO RETURNS:  0                                                   PUNT RETURNS:  2  (both 0fc)
                        INTERCEPTION RETURNS:  1  (11)
                        FIRST DOWNS:   13  (12 rushing, 1 passing)
                        FUMBLES:  1, lost 0
                        PENALTIES:  5 / 45 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:  20:30

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