2015 - GAME 4

SAINT JAMES 38, @ Catholic 17
STJ           7      14      3      14          38
 
CAT          9       0       0       8          17
SCORING SUMMARY:

STJ  (1)  10:55   Underwood 60 run                                        (Taylor kick)     7 -   0
CAT (1)    6:36   Wright 30 FG                                                                           7 -   3
CAT (1)    3:10   Johnson 1 run                                             (kick blocked)     7 -   9
STJ  (2)  11:19   Underwood 4 run                                          (Taylor kick)   14 -   9
STJ  (2)    4:56   Underwood 10 run                                        (Taylor kick)   21 -   9
STJ  (3)    6:42   Taylor 37 FG                                                                           24 -   9
STJ  (4)    9:28   Underwood 2 run                                          (Taylor kick)   31 -   9
STJ  (4)    3:41   Hubbard 27 run                                            (Taylor kick)   38 -   9
CAT (4)    2:23   Ferrall 62 pass from Johnson                    (Johnson run)   38 - 17



On the third play from scrimmage, Blake Underwood breaks loose for the first of his four touchdown runs, a 60 yarder.
(Photo courtesy of the Montgomery Advertiser)

September 11, 2015   Catholic Field.   Cloudy, cool, wet field (rain earlier)  Game Temperature:  76  Wind:  virtually none
 

Blake Underwood rushed for career bests of 254 yards and four touchdowns as part of a 400 + yard offense onslaught by Saint James as they overcame a brief Catholic lead and pulled away in the second half to a dominating 38 - 17 victory over the homestanding Knights.

As has been the case in each of the three previous 2015 contests, Saint James has lost the coin toss but the winning team deferred, so the Trojans would again end up with the first possession of the night.  It was not a long one.   Underwood ran the opening kickoff back to the Saint James 37.  After an incomplete pass and a short gain, Underwood took a handoff straight up the middle and cleared the Knight secondary just past midfield and pulled away from pursuing tacklers for a 60 yard scamper and score.  McKay Taylor had his best night as a kicker, converting the first of five consecutive extra points, giving the Trojans a 7 - 0 lead just 65 seconds into the game.

Catholic's opening drive was more methodical, but would result in a score as well.  After an out of bounds kickoff, the drive was highlighted by a 24 yard catch and run from Blake Johnson to Michael Collins, and several plays later a half the distance last hit penalty gave the Knights first down at the Trojan 10.   A fumble on the next play pushed the ball back to the 15, and several plays later Catholic had to settle for a 30 yard field goal attempt which Winston Wright converted, cutting the lead to 7 - 3.

The Trojans were stymied on their next offensive drive, and while attempting a punt a low snap was fielded by the punter but the official designated his knee was on the ground at the time, stopping the play, and giving the Knights superb field position at the Trojan 22.  Johnson completed a 13 yard pass on first down, and several plays later he called his own number on a quarterback keeper for a one yard touchdown.  The extra point attempt was blocked, but Catholic had earned their first, and what would be their only lead of the game, at 9 - 7.

After a Catholic out of bounds kickoff, Saint James drove 65 yards of their own.  A deep pass intended for Ivan Villageois was incomplete, but both pass interference and a dead ball personal foul were called on the play against the Knights defense, giving Saint James 30 free yards in penalties from midfield to the Catholic 20.  Four plays later, on the second play of the second quarter, Underwood rushed in from two yards out for his second touchdown, and the successful conversion put Saint James back on top to stay with a score of 14 - 9.

Catholic moved into Trojan territory on their next possession, but three penalties and a sack stalled it greatly, and the Trojans took over on their own 35.  On the fourth play of the drive, Underwood broke loose for a 47 yard scamper down to the Knight 9, but a lost fumble on the next play thwarted a Trojan touchdown.  The Knights, being generous hosts, lost a fumble themselves two plays later recovered by Sam Edwards on the Knight 18.  Underwood carried twice more, for 8 and 10 yards, for his third touchdown of the half.  The extra point gave Saint James a 21 - 9 lead with just under five minutes remaining until halftime.  Catholic advanced on a 34 yard pass from Johnson to Trey Downes on the first play of the ensuing drive, but a costly intentional grounding penalty on the next play slowed the momentum.  The Knights eventually pinned in the Trojans with a punt to the 11 yard line, but Saint James managed two first downs and punted as time expired to prevent the Knights from having another possession in the first half.

The Knights could not convert a first down on their opening drive of the third quarter; they only converted six the entire game.  A minimal punt gave the Trojans the ball at their own 45 and they promptly traveled for another score.  Christian Barkley and Connor Collier joined the rush brigade as they and Underwood moved the ball down the field in chunks.  However, a holding penalty slowed the drive and McKay Taylor was called on to attempt a 37 yard field goal, which he converted nicely, and Saint James was up 24 - 9 midway through the third quarter.

Catholic punted on the fourth play of their drive.  Saint James gave them the ball back with a lost fumble on the second play, but Catholic could not convert a fourth down pass play despite a 15 yard defensive late hit penalty giving them a chance.  The Trojans took over on their own 48 and took 10 plays to go 52 yards.  Collier completed only two passes all night, but an 8 yarder to Villageois and a 24 yarder to Atchison Hubbard on third down and 21 each converted big first downs.  After the Hubbard catch, Underwood ran for 13 and 2 yards, the second run for his fourth touchdown of the game and Taylor's kick boosted the lead to a safe 31 - 9 early in the fourth quarter.

Once again no first down for the Knights, and Saint James took over on their on 34 yard line for a 66 yard march toward their final touchdown of the game.  A peculiar play restarted the drive for Saint James.  Collier fumbled on a quarterback carry and the ball was picked up by a Knight defensive lineman who began running the other way.   Collier virtually stole the ball back from the lineman and then began running in the other direction for a 13 yard advance of what had been originally his own fumble.  The double change of possession, not to mention the sufficient yardage, gave the Trojans a first down at the Catholic 27.  On the next play, Atchison Hubbard took the ball off of left end through a dejected Catholic defense for a 27 yard touchdown.  Taylor's extra point gave Saint James its season high of 38 points.

The Knights did score a mop up touchdown against Trojan defensive reserves on a 62 yard touchdown pass from Johnson to Hunter Ferrall.  Johnson kept the ball on a two point conversion to cut the Saint James lead to 38 - 17, but the Trojans recovered an onside kick and after Christian Barkley's 17 yard run on first down, Saint James had enough time and yardage to exhaust the clock and earn their second consecutive 2 - 0 Region start in advance of a huge matchup against the huge Andalusia Tigers.

SIDELINE STATISTICS - GAME FOUR

SAINT JAMES    RUSHING   57 attempts   373 yards  5 TDs   (6.54 yards per carry)

                                1   Underwood           33 / 254  (4 TDs)      12   Collier             11 / 55       34   Barkley          8 / 36
                              15   Hubbard                  3 /   33   (1 TD)       14   Garnett             2 / - 5

                              PASSING   2 completions  8 attempts  0 INTs   32 yards

                              12   Collier                     2 - 8 - 0    32 yards

                              RECEIVING

                              15   Hubbard                  1 / 24                       8   Villageois            1 / 8

                              TOTAL YARDS:  405

                              KICKS:      XP  5 / 5      FG   1 / 1  (37 made)
                              2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                              KICKOFFS:  7  (OB,OB,OB,47,52,47, OB)     PUNTS:  1  (36)
                              KO RETURNS:  3  (25,19,0)                             PUNT RETURNS:   2  (4,0fc)
                              FIRST DOWNS:   21   (18 rushing, 2 passing, 1 penalty)
                              THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS:  5 / 11
                              FOURTH DOWN CONVERSIONS:  1 / 1
                              FUMBLES:  4, lost 3
                              FUMBLE RETURNS/ADVANCES:  1  (13)
                              TURNOVER MARGIN:  - 1
                              POINTS OFF TURNOVERS:  7
                              ACCEPTED PENALTIES:   7 / 71 yards
                              TIME OF POSSESSION:  28:26

CATHOLIC          RUSHING    20 attempts  33 yards  1 TD  (1.65 yards per carry)
                              PASSING     10 completions  20 attempts  0 INTs   173 yards  1 TD
                              TOTAL YARDS:  206

                              KICKS:      XP  0 / 1      FG   1 / 1  (30 made)
                              2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  1 / 1
                              KICKOFFS:  4  (48,41,OB,11)                          PUNTS:  5 (33,23,26,37,46)
                              KO RETURNS:  3  (19,25,14)                           PUNT RETURNS:  0
                              FIRST DOWNS:  6  (1 rushing, 4 passing, 1 penalty)
                              THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS:  1 / 8
                              FOURTH DOWN CONVERSIONS:  0 / 1
                              FUMBLES:  4, lost 2
                              FUMBLE RETURNS/ADVANCES:  1  (2)
                              POINTS OFF TURNOVERS:  0
                              ACCEPTED PENALTIES:  9 / 75 yards
                              TIME OF POSSESSION:  19:34

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