2012 - GAME 11

@ UMS-Wright 49, Saint James 42
 STJ           6     14     15      7        42
 
UMS        14     21       7      7        49
SCORING SUMMARY:

UMS  (1)    9:14   Troy Dixon 1 run                                (Taylor kick)       0 -  7
STJ    (1)    5:31   Woodson 5 run                                 (kick blocked)       6 -  7
UMS  (1)    0:20   Troy Dixon 1 run                                (Taylor kick)       6 - 14
STJ    (2)  11:16   Duncan 24 run                    (Duncan pass to Olsey)     14 - 14
UMS  (2)    9:49   Troy Dixon 43 run                              (Taylor kick)     14 - 21
UMS  (2)    5:33   T.J. Dixon 14 pass from Roach           (Taylor kick)     14 - 28
STJ    (2)    2:45   Moody 30 run                                      (kick failed)     20 - 28
UMS  (2)    0:12   Roach 1 run                                        (Taylor kick)     20 - 35
STJ    (3)    7:29   Moody 25 run                                       (Alter kick)     27 - 35
STJ    (3)    2:35   Duncan 34 run                    (Duncan pass to Olsey)     35 - 35
UMS  (3)    0:28   Troy Dixon 65 run                               (Taylor kick)    35 - 42
STJ    (4)  10:46   Duncan 1 run                                        (Alter kick)     42 - 42
UMS  (4)    6:06   Roach 12 run                                       (Taylor kick)    42 - 49

November 9, 2012   Erwin S. Cooper Stadium.   Game Conditions:  Clear   Game Temperature:  57   Wind:  SE 5

Troy and T.J. Dixon accounted for 467 of UMS-Wright's 578 total yards in a game which featured over 1050 yards of offense, and both teams repeatedly marched down the field on the other before Saint James was stopped at the 30 yard line in the last minute of the game which resulted in a wild first round playoff victory for the Bulldogs as they defeated the Trojans for the fifth consecutive time by a 49 - 42 score.

Unlike the last meeting in 2009 where the Bulldogs scored on an opening kickoff return, it took seven plays to first light up the scoreboard.  The highlights of the drive were a 21 yard run by Troy Dixon, a 20 yard pass reception by T.J. Dixon, and a 26 yard run by Troy which moved the ball down to the Trojan 1, where Troy scored on the next play.  Tom Taylor's extra point, the first of all seven of his successful attempts, gave the Bulldogs a 7 - 0 lead less than three minutes into the game.

However, the Trojans answered on their opening drive.  One of the few areas in the game where one team had a decisive advantage over the other was in the kickoff department, and that belonged to Saint James as the first Bulldog kickoff went out of bounds.  On first down, C.J. Duncan found William Olsey open behind the UMS-Wright defense for a 36 yard pass and run.  Three plays later Frank Moody converted a third and five with a six yard carry down to the Bulldog 18.  After an incomplete pass and two Moody runs netted seven yards, Duncan picked up five yards to convert an early fourth down.  On the next play from the five, Walker Woodson rushed for the touchdown.  Matthew Alter's extra point attempt was blocked, so the Bulldogs retained a narrow 7 - 6 lead.

It appeared the Bulldogs would repeat their opening touchdown drive as they moved the ball 71 yards in 10 plays down to the Trojan 2, including a 12 yard completion to T.J. Dixon on fourth and 9.  However, the ball was knocked loose from Dixon and Kane Davenport recovered the loose ball for Saint James at the 1 on a rare defensive stop for either team.  The Trojans were the hospitable guest on the next play, as Moody was hit in the endzone and the ball was knocked loose out of the endzone where the Bulldogs recovered at the Trojan 3.  Two plays later, Troy Dixon scored from the 1 and Taylor's extra point bumped the lead to 14 - 6 still with time remaining in the opening quarter.

Moody returned the kickoff to the Trojan 40, and on the first play of the second quarter Duncan found Olsey again for another long pass, this one of 44 yards to put the Trojans back into the red zone.  After a penalty, Duncan called his own number and weaved through Bulldog linebackers and safeties for a 24 yard touchdown run.  Being down by two, Saint James opted for the two point conversion and Olsey was wide open in the endzone for a reception which tied the score at 14 and gave the numerous Trojan supporters, perhaps the most boisterous traveling crowd in years, much to celebrate.

The tie was short-lived.  T.J. Dixon caught a 30 yard pass and was tackled at the Trojan 43, but on the next play Troy Dixon broke four or five tackles near the Bulldog sidelines on his way to a 43 yard score, and the extra point gave UMS-Wright a 21 - 14 lead with still nearly 10 minutes remaining in the half.

A short kickoff was again returned by Hunter Smith to the Trojan 40, and after a penalty a 17 yard pass to Jalen Harris had the Trojans moving again.  However on third down, a deep Duncan pass was intercepted by Kyle Pugh and returned to the Bulldog 45.  Two plays after catching a 15 yard pass, T.J. Dixon was the recipient on what would be the only touchdown pass of a game, a 27 yarder from Gunner Roach.  The extra point gave the Bulldogs a 28 - 14 lead and Trojan fans that uh-oh feeling.

Only briefly.  After another fine kickoff return, Duncan wiggled for 20 yards on first down.  Jonathan Robinson picked up a first down on a 9 yard carry several plays later, and on third down from the 30, Moody powered his way into the secondary and outran Bulldog pursuers for a touchdown.  The extra point attempt had a higher trajectory to avoid a second block, but it came up about a yard short of the crossbar and thus was no good, but the Trojans had closed to within one possession at 28 - 20 with just under three minutes remaining until halftime.

Plenty of time for more scoring.  Three plays after an endzone kickoff, Thomas Harmon joined in the offensive parade as he picked up 25 on a Roach pass and run.  On the next play, T.J. Dixon looked as if he would score on a long pass, but he was just brought down at the Trojan 5.  After an incomplete pass on first down and a four yard run by Troy Dixon on second down, Roach scored on a keeper with 12½ seconds remaining on the clock.  Taylor's extra point gave the Bulldogs what would be the largest lead of the game at 35 - 20, but amazingly there would be another scoring opportunity.

The Bulldogs tried a line drive low kickoff which bounced off a Trojan upman and was recovered by UMS-Wright's Hamilton Phillips at the Trojan 40 with 8½ seconds remaining.  On first down, T.J. Dixon caught a 17 yard pass from Roach which moved the ball down to the Trojan 23 with 2.6 seconds remaining after the Bulldogs used their last timeout.  On the next play, Roach looked for D'Andre Smith deep and what could have easily been a touchdown was not thanks to a defensive pass interference penalty.  On a play permitted despite the expired clock because of the penalty, a pass intended for Jaylon Jones was nicely defended by Saint James and an amazing half of football finally came to an end with no further scoring and major defensive adjustments needing to be made by each squad.

Saint James was recipient of the second half kickoff, a pooch kick which was fielded by Chase Ritter on the sideline at the Trojan 32.  For the third consecutive start of a quarter, William Olsey was the targeted receiver of a Duncan pass and this one clicked for 12 yards.  After a no gain and a penalty, Duncan rushed twice for 25 yards as part of his 144 yard rushing performance for a first down.  A Moody rush, part of his 175 yard evening, and a Hunter Smith rush gave the Trojans a first down at the Bulldog 25.  Two plays later, still at the 25, Moody made arguably the play of the season for Saint James.  On a run designed to go off right end, he was grabbed by two Bulldog defenders at the line of scrimmage.  In the words of a Bulldog sideline fan - "They tried to be cute and sling him down to look good."  He was slung all right, right out of the tackle and free to gallop 25 yards into the endzone with at least two defenders gasping in amazement.  Matthew Alter kicked the extra point, and once again the Trojans were within striking distance at 27 - 35 midway through the third quarter.

The defense fed off the offensive energy of the touchdown and stopped the Bulldogs for the first time on a three and out.  A very poor snap on the punt, which went maybe 15 feet up in the air and almost landed short of the punter, led to a deflected kick which nevertheless traveled forward for 18 yards before being downed, and Saint James had fine field position to start at the Bulldog 44.  A holding penalty on first down slowed the drive, and three plays later the Trojans had fourth and 9 on the 43.  A pass to Olsey was complete but for only 7 yards, the only pass completion of the game for either team which went for less than double digit yardage, and Saint James had turned the ball over on downs.  However, the defense forced another three and out.  On fourth and seven, UMS-Wright curiously tried a fake punt by snapping directly to the upman.  He had a receiver on the end of the line about 5 yards downfield, and had the pass been completed only the punt returner would have been able to stop a potential touchdown.  However, the throw was rushed and behind the intended receiver, and Saint James itself took over on downs at the Bulldog 39.  This time they would not be denied.  Moody picked up five on first down, and Duncan with one of his magical weaving runs polished off the drive by carrying for a 34 yard touchdown.  Down by two, the Trojans again opted for the two point conversion and once more, although considerably more difficult than the previous attempt, Olsey managed to cradle in a bullet pass in the endzone for the two points and the Saint James crowd was going wild as they had erased the 15 point deficit to tie UMS-Wright at 35 with still over 14 minutes remaining in the game.

A short kickoff return fueled the Trojan supporters fire as the Bulldogs, which moved the ball freely in the first half, could not even earn a first down in the third quarter.  Finally, they did earn one as T.J. Dixon caught a 14 yard pass on the far sideline to move the ball to the 35.  On the next play, Troy Dixon broke loose through the middle against a defense likely gearing up for a sideline pass and rushed 65 yards for a score.  Taylor's extra point gave the Bulldogs the lead back, again, at 42 - 35 with still seconds remaining in the third quarter.  Another pooch kickoff was fielded similarly by Ritter at the 35, and a 7 yard run by Moody was the last play before the teams changed sides for the final stanza.  Woodson carried for two yards on second down, and on the next play, Moody broke loose on a play which looked exactly like the Dixon run just minutes earlier.  It appeared he had rushed 56 yards for the touchdown, but an official said he was brought down about 4 inches short of the goal line, necessitating another play.  A defensive offside moved the ball two inches closer, before Duncan dove in off right tackle for the score.  Alter's extra point was good, and Bulldog fans were genuinely stunned as the heavy underdog Trojans were giving them a most unexpected fight as the score was tied at 42.

The ensuing kickoff was fielded by Sam Pettway, but his knee was on the ground and the ball was marked at the UMS-Wright 6.  Dixon picked up 17 yards on a pair of carries to give the Bulldogs some breathing room.  After two incomplete passes, the play of the game and the play which possibly extended the Bulldog season occurred.  Roach lofted a pass to Jaylon Jones on the far sideline.  Despite tight coverage, he turned his shoulders from away from the incoming ball to towards it and made what both sides referred to as an incredible catch just inbounds at the Trojan 40.  The play seemed to inspire the Bulldogs, and six plays later Roach kept the ball after a fake handoff and swept around left end for a 12 yard touchdown.  The extra point gave the Bulldogs the lead yet again at 49 - 42 with still over six minutes remaining.

The Bulldogs finally made good on a deep kickoff, with Moody being stopped at the Trojan 12, meaning Saint James would have to traverse 88 yards for the tying and possible game winning score.  Duncan picked up 11 yards on consecutive carries, and after a short gain, Woodson hauled in a 20 yard pass on a rather impressive catch of his own where he was sandwiched between defenders and caught the ball on a pinball-like deflection off of shoulder pads.  Two plays later, a 16 yard run by Moody moved the ball down to the Bulldog 33.  Three runs gained 8 yards, and the Trojans called timeout with fourth and 2 at the UMS-Wright 25 and 69 seconds remaining on the clock.  After the players had lined up and Duncan was making his quarterback calls, the defensive line began pointing and encouraged the referees to throw a flag for a false start penalty.  A flag was thrown, and the referees discussed the situation for a few seconds and indeed issued a five yard penalty against Saint James, much to their dismay and obvious upset.  On fourth down and seven, Duncan was unable to find a receiver open or run the necessary yardage for the first down, and the Bulldogs regained possession able to run out the clock.  The Trojans were praised for their strongest performance of the season in a game where few gave them any chance of success, and work would begin on betterment for the 2013 season as many of the pieces of an improving team would return the following year.


SIDELINE STATISTICS - GAME ELEVEN

SAINT JAMES   RUSHING   42 attempts  340 yards  6 TDs  (8.10 yards per carry)

                          20   Moody        17 / 175  (2 TDs)       5   Duncan          17 / 144  (3 TDs)      3   Robinson         3 / 9
                            4   Woodson          3 / 7   (1 TD)      44   Smith              2 /  5

                          PASSING   6 completions  11 attempts  1 INT  136 yards  0 TDs

                            5   Duncan       6 - 11 - 1    136 yards

                          RECEIVING

                            7   Olsey              4 / 99                    4   Woodson         1 / 20                      9   Harris              1 / 17

                          TOTAL YARDS:   476

                          KICKS:  XP  2 / 4                FG  0 / 0
                          2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  2 / 2
                          KICKOFFS:  7  (EZ,59,55,EZ,EZ,54,54)        PUNTS:  0
                          KO RETURNS:  7 (36,10,18,0f,0,0,8)            PUNT RETURNS:  0
                          FIRST DOWNS:  18  (13 rushing, 5 passing)
                          FUMBLES:  3, lost 2
                          TURNOVER MARGIN:  - 2
                          POINTS OFF TURNOVERS:  0
                          PENALTIES:  6 / 42 yards
                          TIME OF POSSESSION:  23:40

UMS-WRIGHT   RUSHING    42 attempts  312 yards  6 TDs  (7.43 yards per carry)
                          PASSING      11 completions  22 attempts  0 INTs  267 yards  1 TD  (all 11 completions for first downs)
                          TOTAL YARDS:  578

                          KICKS:  XP  7 / 7                FG  0 / 0
                          2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                          KICKOFFS:  8  (OB,54,35,46,20,28,25,56)     PUNTS:  1  (18)
                          KO RETURNS:  4  (26,22,12,0)                     PUNT RETURNS:  0
                          FIRST DOWNS:  23  (11 rushing, 11 passing, 1 penalty)
                          INTERCEPTION RETURNS:  1  (18)
                          FUMBLES:  2, lost 1
                          POINTS OFF TURNOVERS:  14
                          PENALTIES:  4 / 10 yards
                          TIME OF POSSESSION:  24:20

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