2008 - GAME 1

@ Trinity 7, Saint James 2 

STJ            0       0       0       2            2
 
TPS            0       7       0       0            7

SCORING SUMMARY:

TRI  (2)  10:26   Poundstone 7 run                                      (Pappanastos kick)        0 - 7
STJ  (4)  10:46   Safety, punter tackled in own endzone                                            2 - 7
THURSDAY, August 28, 2008   Boykin Field   Game conditions:  Variably cloudy, humid  Game temperature:  83  Wind:  Light, variable



Chase Christian (#32) tries to run between Wildcats Josh Watkins (# 5) and Josh Teel (#14).
Jenn Ireland's photo courtesy of The Montgomery Advertiser

Both teams committed turnovers and both teams missed scoring opportunities, but it was Trinity who was able to convert one interception into a short touchdown drive, which proved to be enough to win.  The Trojans could not sustain any significant offensive drives after their initial possession, and never really threatened the endzone, as the Wildcats won a hard-fought game as usual between these two rivals by a 7 - 2 final.

The Trojans' best drive of the evening was their first, as they advanced from their own 21 to the Trinity 21.  Matt Dean completed two passes to Chase Eley for first downs; Saint James converted a fourth down and short near midfield, but they could not penetrate the red zone.  On the first play after the mid-quarter heat time out, Saint James lined up for a 38 yard field goal which was blocked by Trinity's Mitchell Reilly.

Trinity moved backwards on a penalty and a bad quarterback snap, a persistent problem all evening for the Wildcats.  The teams traded punts, and Trinity was moving the ball after consecutive passes from Josh Watkins to Wilson Van Hooser of 12 yards each.  However, several plays later, Trojan Crawford Steinberg intercepted a Watkins pass and returned it to the Trojan 35.  A late hit on the return advanced the ball to the 50.  But later, after a holding penalty, Trinity's Blake Barrow intercepted a pass on the final play of the first quarter and returned it to the Trojan 36. 

From there, Trinity would score their only touchdown.  After several short passes and a 19 yard run by Brandon Scarborough, quarterback Jack Poundstone broke through the line and dove just into the endzone on a 7 yard touchdown run.  Andy Pappanastos' extra point was good, and the Wildcats were up 7 - 0 early in the second quarter.

Saint James appeared to have shaken off the score with a good kickoff return and a face mask penalty, one of 11 accepted against the Wildcats, tacked on.  However, a fumble on the first play gave Trinity the ball back near midfield.  Trinity could not convert a first down, and while trying to punt the snap went way over the punter's head and he was lucky to cradle the loose ball at the 33, giving Saint James excellent field position.  Four plays netted a loss of two yards, and the Wildcats gained possession again.  Not for long, as Trinity was stopped on a fourth and 3 by a quarterback sack at midfield.  The Trojans however punted again, and Trinity mounted a mini-drive at the end of the half.  Passes from Poundstone to Alex Adams and Kyle Shaw each picked up first downs, but the Trojan defense stood tall as Will Spivey intercepted a Poundstone pass at the Trojan 23 with less than 30 seconds remaining, ending a Trinity threat and allowing Saint James to run out the first half clock.

Trinity's best, although non-scoring, drive may have been their initial possession of the second half.  Poundstone connected on a 32 yard pass to Wilson Van Hooser and 2 plays later followed up with a 12 yard pass to Josh Teel.  However, two consecutive Trojan sacks, again after bad snaps, pushed Trinity all the way back to midfield.  A sack by the Wildcats thwarted the Trojans' opening second half drive, and Trinity was on the move again.  The Wildcats had a fourth and long at the Trojan 26 and opted for a punt to pin Saint James deep, but the snap again was bobbled and Saint James had decent field position at their own 36.  Quarterback Dean picked up 19 yards on the first play of the drive, but once more the Trojans could not string together first downs.  A fine punt by Dean was fair caught by Trinity at their own 11 late in the third quarter.

The teams traded minor penalties, but a quarterback sack forced Trinity back to their own 4 yard line.  Another punt snap was bobbled; the punter failed in an attempt to kick the ball back through the endzone, and just fell on it before Trojans rushed in - resulting in a Saint James safety.  After the free kick, Saint James had momentum, especially after Christian converted a crucial third down.  However, an interception three plays later stalled the Trojans again.  Trinity managed to eat up 4 minutes of precious fourth quarter clock while making virtually no net progress on their next possession.  The Trojans finally began moving the ball on the ground against a tiring defense, but on third and short, the bad snap bug bit the Trojans as a fumble was lost and Trinity took over with 2:39 remaining in the game.

Saint James used their remaining timeouts and forced an endzone punt, allowing the Trojans one last chance to travel 80 yards for a touchdown.  On a pass play where offsetting penalties occurred, Saint James picked up a first down because of a late hit dead ball foul.  However, after an incomplete pass and a desperation quarterback scramble was downed in the field of play, a spike of the ball with 13 seconds remaining gave Saint James one last chance, but a bad snap led to an immediate downing of the quarterback, and Trinity ran one play before celebrating a hard-fought well-earned city victory.

GAME ONE SIDELINE STATISTICS 

SAINT JAMES      RUSHING    39 attempts  79 yards  0 TDs  (2.03 yards per carry)

                                32   Christian        12 / 55       30   Freeman        11 / 17         14   Dean          16 /  7  

                               PASSING    5 completions  13 attempts  2 INTs  38 yards  0 TDs  (1 sack of, - 13 yards)

                                14   Dean               5 - 13 - 2   38 yards  0 TDs   (1 sack, - 13 yards)

                               RECEIVING

                                 4   Eley               3 / 38       32   Christian          1 /  3          30   Freeman     1 / - 3

                               TOTAL YARDS:   117

                               KICKS:  XP  0 / 0                FG  0 / 1  (38 blocked)
                               2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                               KICKOFFS:   1  (41)                                            PUNTS:   4  (29,19,42,28)
                               KO RETURNS:   3  (6,36,3)                                 PUNT RETURNS:  1  (0fc)
                               INTERCEPTION RETURNS:  2  (6,0)
                                FIRST DOWNS:   9  (6 rushing, 2 passing, 1 penalty)
                               FUMBLES:  5, lost 2
                               TURNOVER MARGIN:   - 2
                               POINTS OFF OF TURNOVERS:  2
                               PENALTIES:  5 / 30 yards
                               TIME OF POSSESSION:  24:03

TRINITY               RUSHING    38 attempts  11 yards  1 TD  (< 1 yard per carry)
                               PASSING     16 completions  27 attempts  2 INTs  126 yards  0 TDs  (4 sacks of, - 32 yards)
                               TOTAL YARDS:   137

                                KICKS:  XP  1 / 1                FG  0 / 0
                               2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                               KICKOFFS:  3  (45,49,F50)                                      PUNTS:  4  (25,28,36,40EZ)
                               KO RETURNS:  1  (12)                                            PUNT RETURNS:  3  (13,14,0fc)
                               INTERCEPTION RETURNS:  2  (12,0)
                               FIRST DOWNS:   14  (4 rushing, 8 passing, 2 penalty)
                               FUMBLES:  2, lost 0
                               POINTS OFF OF TURNOVERS:  7
                               PENALTIES:  11 / 85 yards
                               TIME OF POSSESSION:  23:57

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