2015 - GAME 5

Andalusia 42, Saint James 25
 AND       0     35       0       7        42
 
  STJ        6       0       6      13       25
SCORING SUMMARY:

STJ    (1)    4:56   Underwood 8 run                                           (kick failed)     6 -   0
AND  (2)  10:44   Hourel 19 run                                            (Hopkins kick)     6 -   7
AND  (2)    6:59   Wilson 1 run                                              (Hopkins kick)     6 - 14
AND  (2)    4:42   Wilson 1 run                                              (Hopkins kick)     6 - 21
AND  (2)    3:05   McQueen 72 pass from Griffin                (Hopkins kick)     6 - 28
AND  (2)    0:01   Hourel 43 run                                            (Hopkins kick)     6 - 35
STJ    (3)    3:06   Cherry 19 pass from Collier                     (kick blocked)   12 - 35
AND  (4)    9:06   Hourel 6 run                                              (Hopkins kick)   12 - 42
STJ    (4)    5:25   Collier 1 run                                                 (Taylor kick)   19 - 42
STJ    (4)    0:00   Villageois 15 pass from Garnett                (time expired)   25 - 42

September 18, 2015.  Carlisle Field.    Game Conditions:  Mostly clear, low humidity.   Game temperature:  84   Wind:  NE  2 - 5
 

If the second quarter of this game could magically disappear, Saint James could quite possibly still be undefeated in their Region.  However, for the first time ever an opposing team scored five touchdowns in a single quarter (and were mere feet away from a sixth) as Andalusia overcame a rough start and a six point deficit to score 35 points in 18 offensive snaps in the second quarter on their way to a 42 - 25 defeat over the Trojans in a game not as close as the score might indicate.

Neither team could generate a first down on their respective opening drives.  Saint James took over at their own 39 and drove 61 yards for the game's opening score.  A fumbled punt recovered by Reid Woodson gave the Trojans a second chance, and they took quick advantage.  From the Bulldog 22, workhorse Blake Underwood carried four consecutive times, the final carry for eight yards and a touchodnw - his seventh of the season.  The extra point was called no good, but Saint James had an early 6 - 0 lead.

After an offside penalty on the kickoff, and a face mask penalty on the ensuing return, Andalusia had good field position at the Trojan 46.  Two plays later, Ethan Wilson, one of two alternating Bulldog quarterbacks and more so the "runner", broke loose for a 37 yard scamper down to the Trojan 9.  However, Saint James' defense stiffened and a 24 yard field goal attempt was deflected and wobbled harmlessly into the endzone.  The Trojans could not earn a first down and punted where a fair catch was made at the Andalusia 45 with about 10 seconds remaining in the first quarter.  The next 12 minutes and 10 seconds would like to be quickly forgotten by many a Trojan player, coach, and supporter.

Despite a holding penalty on the first play of the second quarter, "passing" quarterback Kenneth Griffin tossed a 34 yard strike to his tall receiver Jaxon Rudolph for a 34 yard gain down to the Trojan 24.  Two plays later, Jamal Hourel scored the first of his three rushing touchdowns from 19 yards out.  Chase Hopkins converted the first of all six of his extra point tries, and the Bulldogs had taken a 7 - 6 lead early in the second quarter.

Hopkins himself became a weapon as, with the help of a very slight northerly wind, boomed the first of five consecutive kickoffs into the endzone, forcing Saint James to start at their own 20 yard line.  A sack led to a punt which rolled dead at the Trojan 41.  Hourel broke loose for a 24 yard run on the second play of the drive, and James Montgomery converted a key third down and 10 with a 12 yard run being stopped just short of the goal line.  On the next play, Wilson called his own number for the first of two consecutive quarterback sneak/keepers, and the Hopkins kick gave Andalusia a 14 - 6 lead with just under seven minutes remaining until halftime.

Connor Collier attempted a long pass on the next drive, but it was tipped and intercepted by Jaylon Washington and returned 33 yards to the Trojan 10.  Two Hourel runs gained nine yards, and Wilson kept for the final yard and the Bulldogs' third score which boosted the lead to 21 - 6.  Saint James again failed to make a first down, but it appeared a decent Collier punt would pin the Bulldogs as they started their next drive at their own 27.  However, after a one yard gain, Griffin looked for and found Derrick McQueen open on a pattern over the middle which he caught and outraced a defender to the endzone for a 72 yard catch and run touchdown.  The extra point made the score 28 - 6 with still three minutes left until a halftime which could not arrive quickly enough.

Another three and out followed up by a good punt gave Andalusia the ball on their own 33 with 44 seconds left on the clock.  The Bulldogs wanted more, and got it.  Hourel picked up 12 on a carry, and then Griffin found Rudolph for a 17 yard pass to the Trojan 38.  A false start penalty backed the ball up 5 yards, but on the next play Hourel broke through the weary Saint James line and outraced defenders for a 43 yard touchdown with less than a second remaining on the clock.  The extra point capped off a career quarter for the Bulldogs as they would take a 35 - 6 lead into halftime.   However, it almost didn't happen that way.

After an endzone kick, Saint James took over on their own 20, yet again, with 0.9 seconds remaining until halftime.  A simple handoff to Underwood was designed to run out the clock.  However, the ball was knocked loose and picked up by Bulldog Antonio Gurley.  Fortunately for the Trojans, they were able to catch him and stop him inside the two yard line preventing a 22 yard fumble return touchdown to end the half, and the horn could not sound quickly enough.

The Trojans kicked off to start the third quarter, and after a short pooch kickoff and an offsides penalty, the Bulldogs were set up to drive again at their own 47.  However, the Trojans held for the first time in six possessions, and forced a punt by Hopkins which was beautifully downed at the Saint James 1.  Underwood picked up 10 yards on first down to give Saint James some breathing room and their first first down since the first quarter, but the Trojans were forced into another punt.  A sack and a wayward pitch by Andalusia marched them backwards, and after a punt the Trojans took over at their own 29.  Collier, who had not yet completed a pass, began to click in the third quarter with a 14 yard pass to Atchison Hubbard and a 19 yard pass to Stephen Sadie sandwiched around a roughing the passer penalty.  Three plays later, Collier found Wes Cherry over the middle for a 19 yard touchdown.  The extra point was deflected, but the Trojans had managed double digit scoring to cut the lead to 35 - 12.

The teams traded possessions to end the third quarter.  Saint James' ended on a fake punt run which did not gain enough yardage, and Andalusia took over at their own 41.  Griffin, the "passing" quarterback, scampered for runs of 33 and 22 against a tiring Trojan defense, and on the next play Hourel scored his third touchdown from 6 yards out.  Hopkins' sixth consecutive extra point gave the Bulldogs a 42 - 12 lead and would end the scoring on their side of the ball.

Saint James drove 57 yards, still against mostly first team defenders, with the benefit of a face mask penalty and a horsecollar tackle penalty on the next drive.  After a 14 yard completion from Collier to Hubbard, Underwood carried four consecutive times down to the one yard line where Collier carried in himself for a touchdown.  This time there was no doubt McKay Taylor's extra point was good, and Saint James had cut the lead to 42 - 19.  Several press outlets listed this as the final score of the game, which was not correct, as the Trojans would add one more very very late score.

On fourth down and 14, Collier connected with a pass to Caton Oswalt which only gained 13 of the necessary yards, and Andalusia took over with less than a minute remaining on the clock.  The Trojans chose to use all three of their remaining timeouts while Andalusia was trying to kneel and run out the clock to get one more possession, which they did.  Hopkins' punt was deflected and only traveled to the Bulldog 46 with 21.6 seconds remaining in the game.  After two incomplete passes, Collier lofted a long pass down to Ivan Villageois, who wrestled the ball from a defender at the 15 yard line for a first down with just under 3 seconds remaining.  Collier was knocked down on the play and was helped off the field.  With no timeouts left and the clock set to begin as soon as Collier was escorted off the field, backup Josh Garnett rushed in for the final play.  He found Villageois in the endzone, despite good coverage, who leaped and brought in a 15 yard touchdown catch after the horn had sounded.  No extra point was attempted as it would have had no effect on the outcome where Andalusia solidified itself as the 4A Region 2 favorite for 2015 as they defeated the Trojans 42 - 25.

Saint James, for the first time since 2004 thanks to Hurricane Ivan, and for the first scheduled time since 1992, had an off week (and well-timed) to look forward to before Homecoming against Headland two weeks later.


SIDELINE STATISTICS - GAME FIVE

 SAINT JAMES    RUSHING   41 attempts   82 yards   2 TDs   (2.00 yards per carry)

                                1   Underwood        31 / 78  (1 TD)      12   Collier        9 / 2   (1 TD)       34   Barkley         1 /  2

                              PASSING   9 completions  21 attempts  1 INT  138 yards  2 TDs

                              12   Collier                8 - 20 - 1      123 yards    1 TD
                              14   Garnett               1 -   1 - 0        15 yards    1 TD

                              RECEIVING

                                8   Villageois            2 / 46  (1 TD)       15   Hubbard          3 / 32             16   Cherry          2 / 28  (1 TD)
                              23   Sadie                   1 / 19                    82   Oswalt             1 / 13

                              TOTAL YARDS:  220

                              KICKS:      XP  1 / 3      FG   0 / 0
                              2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                              KICKOFFS:   4  (32,28,44,59)                               PUNTS:  6  (38,40,31,48,46,42)
                              KO RETURNS:  2  (40,19)                                     PUNT RETURNS:   1  (0fc)
                              FIRST DOWNS:   16   (6 rushing, 6 passing, 4 penalty)
                              THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS:  3 / 14
                              FOURTH DOWN CONVERSIONS:  2 / 4
                              FUMBLES:  1, lost 1
                              TURNOVER MARGIN:   - 1
                              POINTS OFF TURNOVERS:  6
                              ACCEPTED PENALTIES:   6 / 48 yards
                              TIME OF POSSESSION:  27:16

ANDALUSIA       RUSHING    39 attempts  252 yards  5 TDs  (6.46 yards per carry - 5  Hourel  17 / 179)
                              PASSING       4 completions  9 attempts  126 yards  0 INTs  1 TD
                              TOTAL YARDS:  378

                              KICKS:      XP  6 / 6      FG   0 / 1   (24 missed)
                              2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                              KICKOFFS:  7  (54,EZ,EZ,EZ,EZ,EZ,56)          PUNTS:  6  (38,41,52,34,33,15)
                              KO RETURNS:  3  (10,16,8)                               PUNT RETURNS:  2  (0F,0fc)
                              FIRST DOWNS:  14  (11 rushing, 3 passing)
                              THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS:   3 / 10
                              FOURTH DOWN CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                              FUMBLES:  2, lost 1
                              FUMBLE RETURNS:  1  (20)
                              INTERCEPTION RETURNS:  1  (33)
                              POINTS OFF TURNOVERS:  7
                              ACCEPTED PENALTIES:  8 / 95 yards
                              TIME OF POSSESSION:  20:44

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