2009 - GAME 1

Trinity 30, St. James 12 

TRI          14       3       6       7         30
 
STJ          12       0       0       0         12
SCORING SUMMARY:

STJ   (1)   8:28   Slayton 46 run                                              (run failed)    6 -   0
TRI   (1)   4:52   White 25 pass from Poundstone       (Pappanastos kick)    6 -   7
STJ   (1)   3:31   Slayton 49 run                                         (kick blocked)   12 -   7
TRI   (1)   2:53   White 59 pass from Poundstone       (Pappanastos kick)   12 - 14
TRI   (2)   4:23   Pappanastos 32 FG                                                           12 - 17
TRI   (3)   4:43   White 47 punt return                                   (pass failed)   12 - 23
TRI   (4)   9:28   White 10 pass from Poundstone       (Pappanastos kick)   12 - 30
THURSDAY, August 27, 2009.  Carlisle Field.   Game Conditions:   Steady rain, drizzle   Game Temperature:  77   Wind:  SW to NE, 10 mph

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Brandyn Baker (45) celebrates as John Slayton (20) finishes up a long breakaway run for a first quarter Trojan Touchdown
(photo courtesy of The Montgomery Advertiser)

Mark White scored all four Trinity touchdowns, three on pass receptions from Jack Poundstone, and one on a punt return, as Trinity overcame a 100 yard rushing performance in the first quarter by St. James' John Slayton as their defense tightened on the way to a 30 - 12 season-opening Capital City Conference victory.

Although the rain had been steadily falling for over two hours, the Trojans' hopes were anything but dampened on their first drive of the season.  After Slayton returned the kickoff to the 33, the Trojans moved 67 yards on 8 plays.  A defensive encroachment penalty helped ease the first third down conversion of the season.  After an illegal procedure penalty, Lee Ketzler completed a 10 yard pass to B.J. Weldon, leaving the Trojans a 4th and 1 on the Trinity 46.  Slayton took the handoff up the middle, and after breaking through the initial line, wove through and around the secondary and broke away for a 46 yard touchdown.  A high snap on the extra point was taken by holder Taylor Wachs, and unable to find a potential receiver in the endzone, he dove and came up short of the goal line for officially a failed two point conversion.  However, St. James was up 6 - 0 just 3½ minutes into the game.

A sizable Trinity kickoff return was hampered by a block in the back penalty, and then a 34 yard pass completion on the first scrimmage play was negated by an ineligible receiver downfield.  Two consecutive passes by Jack Poundstone, part of a new record 18 completed passes in one game against the Trojans, picked up 16 yards and the first down.  After another penalty, the next pass was intercepted by Stephen van Arcken and the Trojans were in business again at the Trinity 34.  After a short loss and a 5 yard defensive penalty, the Trojans returned the favor as a wayward pitchback was fallen upon by the Wildcats.  This time Trinity would not be denied.  Poundstone passed to White for 4 yards, ran for 19, 12, and 0 consecutively, and from the Trojan 25 Poundstone passed again to White, who skillfully avoided tackles and broke loose inside the 10 yard line for the Wildcats' first touchdown of the year.  Andy Pappanastos' extra point kick was good, and Trinity had taken a 7 - 6 lead.

However, there were plenty more first quarter fireworks in store.  After Crawford Steinberg's nifty kick return, a short Slayton run was followed by a Ketzler to Brandyn Baker pass for 14 yards into Trinity territory.  On the next play, Slayton again got the handoff up the middle and broke through even more tackles before outrunning pursuers to the endzone again.  This time the Trojans tried an extra point kick; it was blocked, but St. James had regained a 12 - 7 lead late in the first quarter.

White, the do-all for Trinity in this game, returned the ensuing kickoff 45 yards.  After a holding penalty on first down, Poundstone found White again on the outside and he ran through two potential tacklers, and used his blockers as shields as he again raced for a touchdown, this one for 59 yards.  Pappanastos added the extra point and with still nearly 3 minutes remaining in the first quarter, Trinity was back on top at 14 - 12.

The first punt of the evening was finally forced by the Trinity defense, and the offense was moving until St. James' B.J. Weldon intercepted a Poundstone pass and returned it from his own endzone out to the Trojan 17.  St. James could not take advantage, and a shanked punt gave Trinity great field position again.  However, on second down from the 12, a snap well over the head of the quarterback pushed Trinity out of scoring position and they eventually turned the ball over on downs.

On the next drive, the Trojans committed another turnover on a bad pitch, and Trinity took over on the Trojan 31.  They drove as far as the 5 before Jacob McCurdy sacked Poundstone for a 10 yard loss.  Two plays later, Pappanastos attempted and converted a 32 yard field goal, and the Trinity lead was up to five points late in the first half.  The Trojans kept the ball for the final four minutes plus in the first half, but could only get as close as the Trinity 40 before time ran out.

Trinity took the opening drive of the second half down to the Trojan 43 before punting.  However, J.D. Strawbridge's punt was nearly perfect, bouncing straight up when landing at about the 3 yard line, and then being downed by Wildcat defenders at the 1 yard line, leaving the Trojans 99 yards of field to traverse.  Three runs netted nine yards, and the Trojans actually converted a fourth and 1 from their own 10 yard line to continue the drive.  Baker snagged an 18 yard pass from Ketzler for another first down, but after a quarterback sack, St. James could go no further.  Weldon's punt was fielded at the Trojan 47 by White, and he again worked his magic avoiding and escaping potential tacklers.  Navigating through heavy traffic, he broke through finally at the 15 yard line and cruised into the endzone for the first punt return touchdown against St. James since 2003.  With a lead of 11, Trinity opted to go for two, but a pass toward the corner of the endzone was incomplete, leaving the score at 23 - 12.

After another Trojan punt, Trinity moved downfield primarily on the legs of Poundstone, but they were stopped at the Trojan 25.  A 42 yard field goal by Pappanastos came up just short and to the right, and St. James had avoided another Wildcat scoring opportunity.  Four plays later, early in the fourth quarter, new Trojan-killer Mark White was at it again, intercepting a Ketzler pass and returning it to the Trojan side of midfield.  Five plays later, Poundstone sealed the outcome with a 10 yard slot pass to White, his third TD pass and his third TD reception, respectively.  Pappanastos' extra point led to the eventual final margin of 30 - 12.

The teams, both playing with mostly reserves, traded possessions basically during the fourth quarter.  Trinity was stopped two yards short of the goal line in the last minute of the game as many of the fans had decided to seek somewhere drier.  The Trojans moved away from the goal line, thanks in great part to a face mask penalty, but had too many yards and too little time to mount a final scoring threat as Trinity won for the fourth consecutive time these two teams have met.

SIDELINE STATISTICS  - GAME ONE

ST. JAMES      RUSHING    37 attempts  84 yards  2 TDs  2.27 yards per carry

                        20   Slayton        18 / 108 yards  (2 TDs)   9   Pattie            1 /   0 yards     7   Olsey          8 / - 2 yards
                          3   Handey         1 /  - 3 yards                14   Poe              2 / - 7 yards     6   Ketzler        7 / - 12 yards

                        PASSING    9 completions  16 attempts  2 INTs  96 yards  0 TDs  (3 sacks of, - 15 yards)

                          6   Ketzler              5 - 12 - 2    50 yards    (3 sacks of, -15)
                        14   Poe                   3 -   3 - 0    34 yards
                          7   Olsey                1 -   1 - 0    12 yards

                        RECEIVING

                          1   Weldon          4 / 44                        45   Baker            2 / 32             10   Wachs       1 / 12
                        20   Slayton           1 /  9                          7   Olsey             1 / - 1   

                        TOTAL YARDS:   180

                        KICKS:  XP  0 / 1                FG  0 / 0
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 1
                        KICKOFFS:   4  (OB,51,54,40)                               PUNTS:   5  (28,18,26,30,32)
                        KO RETURNS:  6  (25,18,4,10,15,22)                     PUNT RETURNS:  0
                        INTERCEPTION RETURNS:  2  (2,17)
                         FIRST DOWNS:   10  (5 rushing, 3 passing, 2 penalty)
                        FUMBLES:  5, lost 2
                        TURNOVER MARGIN:   - 2
                        PENALTIES:  5 / 35 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:  27:39

TRINITY         RUSHING    32 attempts  121 yards  0 TDs  (3.78 yards per carry)
                        PASSING     18 completions  29 attempts  2 INTs  241 yards  3 TDs  (3 sacks of, - 29 yards)
                        TOTAL YARDS:   362

                         KICKS:  XP  3 / 3                FG  1 / 2  (32, 42 missed)
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 1
                        KICKOFFS:  6  (52,42,52,48,45,54)                         PUNTS:  1  (42)
                        KO RETURNS:   3  (32,45,13)                                PUNT RETURNS:  3  (4,47TD,10)
                        INTERCEPTION RETURNS:  2 (13,0)
                        FIRST DOWNS:   17  (9 rushing, 9 passing)
                        FUMBLES:  2, lost 0
                        PENALTIES:  13 / 110 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:   20:21

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