2020 - GAME 1

Montgomery Academy 24, @ SAINT JAMES 0

M A 0 17 0 7 24

STJ 0 0 0 0 0

SCORING SUMMARY

M A (2)   8:15   Jamal Cooper 73 yard fumble return          (A. Kohn kick)       0 - 7
M A (2)   3:05   A. Kohn 28 FG                                                                               0 - 10
M A (2)   1:05   B. Kohn 1 run                                                 (A. Kohn kick)      0 - 17
M A (4) 8:01   B. Kohn 76 run                                           (A. Kohn kick)    0 - 24

August 21, 2020 Carlisle Field. Game conditions: Cloudy Game Temperature: 84 Wind: Negligble

Tyson Eley makes a juggling catch over an Eagle defender for the longest Saint James offensive play of the game.

Saint James failed to capitalize on an early break, a fumble recovery deep in Montgomery Academy territory, as three plays later a fumble recovery by Montgomery Academy turned into a 70 plus yard touchdown return as the Eagles scored 17 points in the second quarter as they defeated the Trojans 24 - 0.

Neither team could accomplish much offensively in the first quarter, as only three first downs were earned and neither team ran an offensive play in the other team's territory. The Eagles won the coin toss and elected to receive, but the first six possessions each ended in punts where 15 total punts were attempted during the game. Cooper Wright, Trojan punter, just missed a dubious school record with nine punts of his own totalling a believed-to-be school record 349 yards, nearly 39 per punt.

Saint James would be the beneficiary of the first break of the game as on the third play of the second quarter, the ball was ripped from Eagle ball carrier Jamal Cooper and recovered by A.J. Alozie at the Eagle 28 yard line. Two penalties mixed in with some short runs gave Saint James first down at the Eagle 17. However, on the next play, the Montgomery Academy defense did their own ball rip from carrier Cosner Harrison. The ball bounced away from the goal line and into the hands of Jamal Cooper, one of four Eagles surrounding the ball. He picked up the ball at the 27 and raced 73 yards for the first score of the season on a fumble return. Alex Kohn added the extra point and Montgomery Academy posted a 7 - 0 lead.

There were issues with the light fixtures on the east side of the stands, as they alternatingly sputtered throughout the game. However, the referees deemed, despite the cloudy skies, play was never interrupted. Unfortunately, the Saint James offense continued to sputter as they netted one yard of total offense in the first half. The shortest punt of the night gave the Eagles first down just inside Trojan territory. Quarterback Britton Kohn was sacked on first down, but on the next play Jamal Cooper broke loose up the middle for a 43 yard run down to the Saint James 16. The Eagle drive stalled, but Alex Kohn was called in to kick a 28 yard field goal, which he converted - the first successful field goal against Saint James since the 2017 playoffs - and Montgomery Academy had built a 10 point lead with just over three minutes remaining until halftime.

After a second consecutive endzone kickoff, the Trojans could not convert a first down and the Eagles used their timeouts wisely. A punt gave Montgomery Academy the ball on their own 48 yard line with nearly two minutes remaining. On third down from midfield, Kohn completed his first pass of the night, a loft to Carter Wallis, who was just brought down from behind at the one yard line before scoring, Britton Kohn finished up the drive on the following play on a quarterback sneak, and Alex Kohn again added the extra point. The Eagles had scored 17 points in just over 7 minutes, and would take a comfortable 17 - 0 lead into halftime.

The Trojans finally got some momentum to start the third quarter after a 30 yard Ethan Beard kickoff return, a 21 yard run by Harrison, and a 14 yard pass completion from K.J. Jackson to Tyson Eley. However, two incomplete passes and a sack forced yet another punt. Wright delivered, pinning the Eagles at their own 7 yard line. If the Trojans ever needed a stop, it was now, but a 10 yard run on first down by Jashawn Cooper, a 14 yard pass completion to Jamal Cooper, and a costly third down penalty, the only one Saint James would commit in the opening game, advanced the ball to midfield. On the next play, a long run was negated by a holding penalty, and the ensuing drive stalled, but five valuable clock minutes were spent. Harrison picked up 11 yards on first down, but Wright was called in for yet another punt. The Eagles were more interested in running clock, and early in the fourth quarter a 55 yard punt by the multi-talented Britton Kohn pinned Saint James at its own 13. A defensive pass interference penalty gave the Trojans 15 yards and a first down, but they could not convert another and this time it was Wright who pinned the Eagles at their 22 yard line after a sizable punt of his own.

Jamal Cooper picked up 3 on first down, and on the next play Britton Kohn showed off his running ability as he ran toward the far sidelines, turned up through a hole, and raced untouched 76 yards for the clinching score. The extra point gave Montgomery Academy the 24 - 0 lead which would be the final margin of victory.

Saint James did have one chance to avoid the shutout, its first since the 2009 season, as Eley made a nice juggling catch was made after a 36 yard pass reception at the Eagle 11. However, the next two snaps were muffed. The first was recovered for a six yard loss, but the second was recovered by the Eagles, and they essentially ran out the clock as threatening weather was approaching as Saint James looked forward to its first football visit ever to the feisty Reeltown Rebels in week two.

SIDELINE STATISTICS - GAME ONE

SAINT JAMES RUSHING 33 attempts 17 yards 0 TDs (just over ½ yard per carry)

5 Harrison 22 / 48 10 Washington 1 / 1
12 Wright 1 / 1 1 Jackson 9 / - 33

PASSING 4 completions 13 attempts 0 INTs 59 yards

1 Jackson 4 - 13 - 0 59 yards

RECEIVING

6 Eley 2 / 50 21 Thomas 2 / 9

TOTAL YARDS: 76

                              KICKS:      XP 0 / 0 FG 0 / 0
                          2 POINT CONVERSIONS: 0 / 0
                          KICKOFFS: 1 (50)    PUNTS: 9 (40,48,45,33,28,30,32,46,47)
                          KO RETURNS: 3 (0,30,0)                PUNT RETURNS:   5 (0fc,2,0fc,5,11)
                          FIRST DOWNS:   8 (3 rushing, 3 passing, 2 penalty)
                          THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS:   3 / 12
                    FOURTH DOWN CONVERSIONS: 0 / 0
                          FUMBLES: 5, lost 2
                              FUMBLE RETURNS: 1 (0)
                          TURNOVER MARGIN: - 1
                          POINTS OFF TURNOVERS: 0
                          ACCEPTED PENALTIES:   1 / 5 yards
                          TIME OF POSSESSION: 25:13

MONT ACAD      RUSHING    38 attempts 174 yards 2 TDs (4.58 yards per carry)
                          PASSING       2 completions 6 attempts 0 INTs 63 yards 0 TDs
                          TOTAL YARDS: 237

                          KICKS:      XP 3 / 3      FG   1 / 1 (28 made)
2 POINT CONVERSIONS: 0 / 0
KICKOFFS: 5 (EZ,EZ,36,56,42)       PUNTS: 7 (34,27,30,35,55,32,40)
                          KO RETURNS: 1 (22)       PUNT RETURNS: 3 (16,3,0fc)
                          FIRST DOWNS: 9 (6 rushing, 2 passing, 1 penalty)
                          THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS: 2 / 11
                          FOURTH DOWN CONVERSIONS: 0 / 0
                              POINTS OFF TURNOVERS: 7
                          FUMBLES: 1, lost 1
                          ACCEPTED PENALTIES: 7 / 50 yards
TIME OF POSSESSION: 22:37

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