GAME 9:  Opp 14, St. James 7

OPP                7       0       0       7         14
 
STJ                  0       0       0       7           7

SCORING SUMMARY:

OPP  (1)   0:18   Scarbrough 1 run                                (Jones kick)      0 -  7
STJ   (4)   5:34   Christian 1 run                               (Hankins kick)       7 -  7
OPP  (4)   1:28   Blair 2 yard fumble return                  (Jones kick)      7 - 14
October 26, 2007.  Carlisle Field.  Game Conditions:  Clear, cool   Game Temperature:  58  Wind:  Light, variable

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In a game which was quite honestly lethargic, albeit at a very quick pace, for three quarters, the St. James offense finally generated a fourth quarter drive to tie the score, and then lost all their hard work had gained them as Opp returned a fumble for a touchdown with 88 seconds remaining to clinch a playoff berth as the Bobcats defeated the Trojans in heartbreaking 14 - 7 fashion.

Opp took the opening drive down the field with relative ease.  Cody Hall completed passes to Josh Dunn and Albert Wilson for first downs, and carried for one himself.  However, on first down from the Trojan 21, Hall was sacked for a 6 yard loss.  Two incomplete passes and a 6 yard run turned the ball over to St. James.  The Trojans could gain no yardage, in fact losing a net of 7.  After a punt, Opp took over at the St. James 42.  A face mask penalty and a first down run by Quadir Kincade moved the ball to the 25.  Two plays later, a Hall to Donald Jones pass picked up 13, and three plays later Josh Scarbrough carried in from the one yard line.  Hunter Jones' extra point was good, and Opp had a 7 point lead late in the first quarter.  St. James only ran four offensive plays in the first quarter, and converted their first game first down on the final play of the quarter on a 6 yard run by Chase Christian after a defensive penalty.

The Bobcat defense forced a punt, but they were backed up inside their own 15 yard line.  A 14 yard run by Scarbrough allowed Opp some breathing room before they punted.  The Trojans converted a first down on a 22 yard pass from Will Martin to Brandyn Baker, but several plays later they failed on a fourth down attempt from the Bobcat 33.  Neither team made a first down until the final play of the half where Blaine Joyner took a pitch from Martin and delivered a strike to Clinton Freeman.  However, offsetting fouls after the play simply led to halftime.

St. James took the opening kickoff and drove into Bobcat territory, but they only picked up 5 yards on a fake punt run attempt which required 7.  Opp quickly responded with several passes deep into Trojan territory, but the defense again held as Opp was stifled on third and fourth down from the Trojan 16.  A holding penalty on the next play which was not marked half the distance as it should have been put St. James in a hole, but an 11 yard run by Clinton Freeman and a 22 yarder by Blaine Joyner had the Trojans moving the ball.  A long pass play was negated by an ineligible receiver, and then a Trojan punt was blocked straight up in the air and recovered by Opp at the St. James 21 yard line.  However, for the fourth time deep in Trojan territory, the defense stood tall and after a sack an incomplete pass on fourth and long gave the ball back to St. James with minimal time left in the third quarter.

Finally, the Trojan offense began to click consistently.  Matt Dean carried for a first down, and several plays later another face mask penalty pushed the ball back into Opp territory.  Freeman picked up two more first downs, and after a defensive offsides penalty, his 6 yard run moved the ball down to the Opp 2.  Chase Christian was stopped on the next play for no yardage, but a dead ball foul cut the distance in half.  On the next play, Christian barged into the endzone off left end for St. James' first score, and Clark Hankins' extra point tied the score at 7 midway through the fourth quarter and obviously raised the excitement level tenfold at Carlisle Field.

Opp managed to enter Trojan territory, but was forced to punt with less than two minutes remaining, pinning the Trojans back inside their 20.  A sack on first down cost St. James 7 yards.  After an Opp timeout, disaster struck on the next play as a pitch was fumbled and attacked by Opp pursuers.  Garrett Blair picked up the ball at the 2 and stumbled into the endzone for a touchdown which shocked everyone.  Jones converted his extra point, and Opp had a 14 - 7 lead with just more than a minute remaining. 

Martin ran for one first down when the Trojans opened their last drive, but threw an interception on the next play allowing Opp to run out the clock and begin their playoff victory dance while the Trojans walked off the field awaiting their final game of the season the following week against Highland Home.

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SIDELINE STATISTICS  - GAME NINE

ST. JAMES      RUSHING    39 attempts  125 yards  1 TD  (3.21 yards per carry)

                        30   Freeman      12 / 69          11   Joyner         2 / 30       32   Christian         9 / 29  (1 TD)
                        14   Dean             7 / 14            9   Crews         1 / - 5         3   Martin          8 / - 15

                        PASSING    3 completions  11 attempts  1 INT  42 yards  0 TDs  (2 sacks of, - 17 yards)

                          3   Martin           2 - 10 - 1     25 yards    (2 sacks, - 17 yards)
                        11   Joyner           1 -   1 - 0     17 yards

                        RECEIVING

                        45   Baker            1 / 22           30   Freeman             1 / 17

                        TOTAL YARDS:   169

                        KICKS:  XP  1 / 1                FG  0 / 0
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                        KICKOFFS:   2  (57,OB)                                        PUNTS:   4  (28,29,37,-8bk)
                        KO RETURNS:   3  (14,20,27)                               PUNT RETURNS:  2  (2,0fc)
                         FIRST DOWNS:   13  (10 rushing, 2 passing, 1 penalty)
                        FUMBLES:  2, lost 1
                        TURNOVER MARGIN:   - 2
                        PENALTIES:  6 / 56 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:  23:07

OPP                 RUSHING    39 attempts  128 yards  1 TD  (3.28 yards per carry)
                        PASSING      5 completions  12 attempts  0 INTs  69 yards  0 TDs  (4 sacks of, - 24 yards)
                        TOTAL YARDS:   197

                         KICKS:  XP  2 / 2                FG  0 / 0
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                        KICKOFFS:  3  (38,39,59)                                       PUNTS:  4  (35,36,20,30)
                        KO RETURNS:  1  (18)                                           PUNT RETURNS:  2  (0,0fc)
                        FUMBLE RETURNS:  1  (2TD)
                        INTERCEPTION RETURNS:  1  (0)
                        FIRST DOWNS:   11  (7 rushing, 4 passing)
                        FUMBLES:  0
                        PENALTIES:  7 / 36 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:  24:53

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