2008 - GAME 3

@ Elmore County 37, Saint James 7 

  STJ            0       0       0       7            7
 
 ECO           7     21       3       6          37

SCORING SUMMARY:

ECO  (1)  2:25   Davis 65 pass from Davenport             (D. Stockman kick)    0 -  7
ECO  (2)  6:14   Brown 42 pass from Davenport           (D. Stockman kick)    0 - 14
ECO  (2)  5:26   Freeman 9 run                                       (D. Stockman kick)    0 - 21
ECO  (2)  2:07   Butler 7 run                                           (D. Stockman kick)    0 - 28
ECO  (3)  9:18   D. Stockman 29 FG                                                                    0 - 31
ECO  (4)  7:04   DeJarnett 87 interception return                     (kick failed)    0 - 37
STJ   (4)   0:04   Weldon 14 pass from Ketzler                       (Weldon kick)    7 - 37
September 12, 2008   Burt-Haynie Field   Game conditions:  Partly cloudy, humid   Game temperature:  84  Wind:   Light, variable

Elmore County scored three touchdowns within a span of less than five minutes in the second quarter to break open a close game as again the Trojans could not take advantage of early mistakes handed to them, allowing the Panthers to complete a 37 - 7 region victory at home.

After winning their first coin toss of the season and deferring, the Trojans seemed to have the early advantage.  After a three and out by the Panthers, Saint James came out in a no-huddle offense which apparently caught Elmore County by surprise.  Chase Christian was the recipient of a 32 yard catch and run from Matt Dean on the first play, a pass to Brandyn Baker picked up 6 yards, and an offside penalty gave the Trojans two quick first downs.  However, a bad snap fallen on by Dean and two incomplete passes stalled the drive, but Dean's punt rolled to the 5 yard line, pinning the Panthers.  Not for long, though, as Laron Butler ran for 20, quarterback Adam Davenport ran for 11, and Butler again ran for 12 on the first three plays.  A fourth run of more than 20 yards was negated by a holding penalty.  Despite a sack, another 21 yard gain by Butler and a 12 yard run by Davenport on fourth down earned the first.  Two plays later though, a fumble after a pass completion was recovered by Saint James' Christian at the 19 yard line, ending the first Panther threat.

The Trojans could not advance, and the ensuing punt gave the Panthers a shorter field from their own 41.  Two short runs and a holding penalty lost yardage, but on third down a pass from Davenport over the middle was caught by Colby Davis, and two Trojan defenders tried to hit Davis from each side but moreso hit each other, and Davis broke free behind the defense for a 65 yard catch and run touchdown.  David Stockman's extra point gave the Panthers a 7 - 0 lead late in the first quarter.

A holding penalty on the kickoff return pushed the Trojans back near their own 10, but several plays later Dean connected with Baker on a fantastic catch where Baker's helmet was ripped off by a potential tackler.  Baker held on to the bobbling football and gained 36 yards on the play.  The drive stalled again, but another fine Dean punt went out of bounds at the Elmore County 12.  After one first down, the Panthers were forced to punt, and for the third consecutive week the Trojan opponent had punting issues.  With little pressure, the snap was fumbled and the ball was finally recovered by B.J. Weldon at the Panther 20, giving Saint James excellent field position.  Unfortunately, it did them little good as 4 plays netted only 3 yards, and a 34 yard field goal attempt was blocked.  Panther Tierra Leonard actually caught the ball and began running backwards as if the play was over before his teammates reminded him it wasn't.  He was finally dropped on the 10 yard line.

The next six minutes were all Panthers all the time.  A 90 yard touchdown drive was highlighted by Butler runs of 19, 12, and 11 yards.  Davenport added several long runs, one of which was partially negated by a penalty.  From the 42, Davenport lifted a medium range pass over the middle to JaMal Brown, who broke out of two tackles and wriggled down the far sideline, eventually scoring and quickly changing momentum.  The Stockman extra point gave Elmore County a 14 point lead.

A lost Trojan fumble on the first scrimmage play gave the Panthers a short field, and four plays later Eric Freeman carried in from the 9, and the extra point made it a 21 point lead and 14 points scored in less than a minute of clock time.  The Trojans did make one first down on a nice pass from Dean to Christian on the next drive, but a Butler punt return of 40 yards gave the Panthers another short field.  Despite a sack and a fumble luckily recovered by the offense, the Panthers scored again in only four plays, the fourth a 7 yard run by Butler, his first touchdown of the evening and his sixth career against the Trojans.  The extra point meant a game which had been close only 6 minutes prior was now a 28 point lead headed into halftime as Saint James could get no late first half spark.

Davenport and Butler were mainly absent for the second half for the Panthers, but after holding the Trojans on the opening possession of the second half, Elmore County still drove most of the field for a score.  Primarily behind the legs of Freeman and new quarterback Colby Davis, the Panthers moved down the field before being stalled deep in Trojan territory.  Stockman converted a 29 yard field goal and Elmore County was up 31 - 0 midway through the third quarter.

An interception on the next drive deep in Trojan territory was offset by a Panther lost fumble on the next play, thwarting another Panther scoring opportunity.  Matt Dean carried the team down the field, moreso on his legs than by his arms.  A desperation pass on fourth down was caught by Chase Eley, but apparently his heel was on the back line of the endzone, ruling out a potential first score by the Trojans.  After stopping Elmore County, the Trojans were on the move again as Dean completed passes once more to Christian and Baker, but from the Panther 17, another pass was tipped twice and caught by Panther Trammel DeJarnett, who avoided several Trojans and supposedly at least one step on the sideline, returning the interception 87 yards for a touchdown - the longest such ever by a Trojan opponent.   Daniel Stockman came in to attempt the extra point, which was blocked, but the Panthers were now cruising and aiming for a shutout at 37 - 0.

The second string Trojans got one drive, many in preparation for a junior varsity game to take place on the same field three days later.  John Slayton and Nick Ostrye moved the ball well on the ground, and backup quarterback Lee Ketzler, who had been in the game earlier sparingly, picked up a first down as well by the run.  With time running out, and fourth down from the Panther 14, Ketzler lifted a pass to the back corner of the endzone where B.J. Weldon outjumped two defenders and came down with one foot in bounds for a touchdown with only 3.7 seconds remaining, and Weldon added his own extra point as the Trojans avoided the shutout but continued to fall back in the region race after the 37 - 7 defeat.

GAME THREE SIDELINE STATISTICS 

SAINT JAMES      RUSHING    38 attempts  134 yards  0 TDs  (3.53 yards per carry)

                                30   Freeman        12 / 55        20   Slayton        6 / 26        44   Ostrye         5 / 26
                                14   Dean             10 / 15        32   Christian      3 /   3          6   Ketzler        2 /  9

                               PASSING    10 completions  29 attempts  2 INTs  160 yards  1 TD  (2 sacks of, - 18 yards)

                                14   Dean               9 - 26 - 1   146 yards  0 TDs   (2 sacks, - 18 yards)
                                  6   Ketzler            1 -   3 - 1     14 yards  1 TD

                               RECEIVING

                                45   Baker              4 / 82                 32   Christian     4 / 63
                                  1   Weldon           1 / 14  (TD)        88   Brantley      1 /  1

                               TOTAL YARDS:   294

                               KICKS:  XP  1 / 1                FG  0 / 1   (34 blocked)
                               2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                               KICKOFFS:   2  (47,45)                                           PUNTS:   6  (33,31,44,43,55,28)
                               KO RETURNS:   7  (9,16,18,26,18,15,6)                PUNT RETURNS:  0
                                FIRST DOWNS:   18  (7 rushing, 9 passing, 2 penalty)
                               FUMBLES:  3, lost 1
                               TURNOVER MARGIN:   - 1
                               POINTS OFF OF TURNOVERS:  0
                               PENALTIES:  5 / 30 yards
                               TIME OF POSSESSION:  29:31

ELMORE CO        RUSHING    42 attempts  191 yards  2 TDs  (4.55 yards per carry)
                               PASSING       9 completions  13 attempts  0 INTs  165 yards  2 TDs  (3 sacks of, - 19 yards)
                               TOTAL YARDS:   356

                                KICKS:  XP  4 / 5                FG  1 / 1  (29 made)
                               2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                               KICKOFFS:  7  (47,49,56,54,46,47,52)                     PUNTS:  1  (43)
                               KO RETURNS:  2  (18,16)                                        PUNT RETURNS:  1  (40)
                               INTERCEPTION RETURNS:  2  (24,87TD)
                               BLOCKED FG RETURNS:  1  (- 7)
                               FIRST DOWNS:   17  (13 rushing, 4 passing, 0 penalty)
                               FUMBLES:  5, lost 2
                               POINTS OFF OF TURNOVERS:  14
                               PENALTIES:  6 / 50 yards
                               TIME OF POSSESSION:  17:29

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