GAME 7:  ST. JAMES 21, @ Ashford 14

STJ                   0       7       7       7          21
 
ASH                 0       0       6       8          14

SCORING SUMMARY:

STJ   (2)  11:12  Christian 3 run                                         (Hankins kick)       7 -   0
ASH  (3)   8:18   Ray 19 run                                                (kick blocked)       7 -   6
STJ   (3)   1:51   Dean 1 run                                               (Hankins kick)      14 -   6
STJ   (4)   2:14   Christian 1 run                                         (Hankins kick)      21 -   6
ASH  (4)   0:56   Ray 45 pass from Pope                  (Ray pass from Pope)      21 - 14
October 12, 2007   W.H. Brown Stadium.   Game Conditions:  Clear, cool   Game Temperature:  66    Wind:  None

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The St. James ground game churned out its most impressive performance this year, if not in several years, especially in the second half the Trojans commandeered time of possession by more than double as they won their third game in three tries at Ashford by defeating the Yellow Jackets 21 - 14.

After stopping the Yellow Jackets on their opening drive, the Trojans chewed up most of the first quarter while advancing the ball primarily on the ground.  However, a holding penalty at the Jacket 40 slowed the drive, and a punt was downed at the Ashford 15.  The Trojan defense held Ashford to a 3 and out, and had good field position after the Jacket punt went out of bounds at the St. James 48.  On the opening play of the second quarter, Wes Davis caught a nice slant pass from Will Martin for 11 yards and a first down.  Chase Christian broke a long run on the next play for 31 yards down to the Ashford 6.  An offside penalty led to another Christian carry for 3 yards and a touchdown.  Clark Hankins' extra point gave St. James a 7 - 0 lead early in the second quarter.

Ashford's Mike Ray broke away on a long run into Trojan territory several plays later, but the ball was ripped away and recovered by St. James again at the Trojan 48.  Eight plays, two first downs, nearly four minutes, but only 15 yards later a long run by Martin was negated by a holding penalty.  A deep pass was intercepted by the Jackets on the next play but the interceptor was ruled out of bounds.  Eventually, Hankins nailed Ashford deep in their own territory with a punt which rolled dead at the 4.  The Jackets did pick up several first downs, but an incomplete pass on fourth down and 8 from the Trojan 33 with 33 seconds left in the half gave the Trojans one more chance to score.  However, on second down, Ray intercepted for the Jackets and a long return was negated in great part by a block in the back penalty, leading Ashford to run out the first half clock.

St. James started a drive to begin the third quarter, but another interception by Ray on a deflected pass and his subsequent 31 yard return set Ashford up at the Trojan 28.  Three plays netted nine yards, and on fourth down Ray veered left, broke early contain, shifted toward the center, and escaped tackles before breaking away for a 19 yard touchdown.  The extra point attempt was blocked by several onrushing Trojans, and St. James retained the lead at 7 - 6.

A squib kickoff was returned by Wes Davis to the Trojan 36.  From there, St. James used up most of the third quarter clock staying exclusively on the ground.  Two defensive encroachment penalties, along with sizable runs by Dean and Christian, and key fourth down conversions by Martin and Christian led to a first down at the Ashford 15.  From there, Martin kept on a wide sweep and was stopped just short of the goal line, and Dean went off left tackle on the next play for a touchdown.  Hankins' extra point gave the Trojans an 8 point lead late in the third quarter after a 13 play drive. 

Ashford committed a holding penalty on the final play of the third quarter to thwart their next drive, but a curious block in the back penalty pushed the Trojans back to their own 18 to start their opening drive of the final quarter.  Fourteen plays and more than 7½ minutes later, after a half the distance personal foul penalty from inside the Jacket 1, Christian carried for the final few feet and what appeared to be the clinching touchdown for the Trojans as Hankins' extra point gave St. James a 15 point lead with just over 2 minutes remaining.  However, Ray returned the kickoff 30 yards to the Ashford 36.  Several plays including a sack and a fortunately recovered fumble by quarterback Charlton Pope necessitated Ashford to call all three of their second half timeouts.  From the Trojan 45, Pope rared back and found Ray at the 5 yard line on a pass where he trotted into the endzone.  Pope then found Ray on a two point conversion pass to the same side, and suddenly with still 56 seconds remaining, Ashford had cut the lead to a mere 7.

The Yellow Jackets lined up for the onside kick, but it was lined out of bounds and the Trojans took over at midfield.  After a defensive personal foul penalty while the Trojans were downing the ball, and a delay of game penalty, Martin only had to down the ball once and the Trojans had captured their second win of the season, their second regional win, both on the road, and their third consecutive victory in Ashford as what were once faint playoff hopes began to flicker again.

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SIDELINE STATISTICS  - GAME SEVEN

ST. JAMES      RUSHING    52 attempts  235 yards  3 TDs  (4.52 yards per carry)

                        32   Christian       19 / 113  (2 TDs)   14   Dean        14 / 32  (1 TD)      30   Freeman       6 / 44
                          3   Martin          11 /   37                 11   Joyner        1 /  5                    9   Crews           1 /  4

                        PASSING    3 completions  6 attempts  2 INTs  37 yards  0 TDs  (no sacks of)

                          3   Martin          3 - 6 - 2   37 yards

                        RECEIVING

                           9   Crews           1 / 22                     7   Davis         1 / 11                  11   Joyner           1 / 4

                        TOTAL YARDS:   272

                        KICKS:  XP  3 / 3                FG  0 / 0
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                        KICKOFFS:  4  (52,38,54,54)                                  PUNTS:   2  (30,34)
                        KO RETURNS:  2  (28,3)                                        PUNT RETURNS:  0
                         FIRST DOWNS:   21  (18 rushing, 2 passing, 1 penalty)
                        FUMBLES:  2, lost 1
                        TURNOVER MARGIN:  - 1
                        PENALTIES:  5 / 40 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:  30:11

ASHFORD       RUSHING    32 attempts  149 yards  1 TD  (4.66 yards per carry)
                        PASSING      4 completions  8 attempts  0 INTs  68 yards  1 TD  (two sacks of, - 12 yards)
                        TOTAL YARDS:   217

                         KICKS:  XP  0 / 1                FG  0 / 0
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  1 / 1
                        KICKOFFS:  3  (43,27,OB)                                      PUNTS:  3  (21,35,34)
                        KO RETURNS:  4  (21,13,19,30)                              PUNT RETURNS:  1  (0fc)
                        INTERCEPTION RETURNS:  2  (13,31)
                        FIRST DOWNS:   9  (8 rushing, 1 passing)
                        FUMBLES:  2, lost 1
                        PENALTIES:  10 / 63 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:  17:49

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