2020 - GAME 4

  SAINT JAMES 41, @ Straughn 0
STJ           7     14       6     14           41
 
STR          0       0       0       0             0
SCORING SUMMARY

STJ  (1)    8:10   Russell 26 punt return                         (H. Harrison kick)     7 - 0
STJ  (2)  11:50   C. Harrison 1 run                                 (H. Harrison kick)   14 - 0
STJ  (2)    2:15   C. Harrison 48 run                               (H. Harrison kick)   21 - 0
STJ  (3)    7:30   H. Harrison 40 yard FG                                                         24 - 0
STJ  (3)    5:00   H. Harrison 38 yard FG                                                         27 - 0
STJ  (4)    6:55   C. Harrison 1 run                                 (H. Harrison kick)   34 - 0
STJ  (4)    2:00   July 72 interception return                  (H. Harrison kick)   41 - 0
Saturday Night, September 19, 2020.   7:00 PM  Tiger Stadium   Game Conditions:  Steady rain, breezy, cool   Game Temperature:  71  Wind ENE 10-20 MPH
 

Saint James participated in its first Saturday game since its first varsity season of 1973, its eighth game overall, and did not duplicate the performance until its 500th game overall, a visit to Straughn on its Homecoming Night celebration which was pushed back one day by, of all things, weather concerns.

Cosner Harrison, named WSFA Fever Star Athlete of the Week the previous week for his five touchdown performance added three more this week as part of his 227 yards rushing, sandwiched by two non-offensive touchdowns, and the Trojan defense completely dominated taking advantage of field position, turnovers, and special teams play in a dreary rainfall to defeat the previously undefeated Tigers 41 - 0.

The Trojans won the toss and decided to receive and plow ahead on the moist field.  Despite a fine kickoff return by Zac Russell, Saint James could not convert a first down, but Braxton Berrey pinned Straughn deep with a punt to their own 9 yard line.  The Tigers were lucky to escape a safety as quarterback Mason Turner just escaped the endzone during a sack.  It might have been a favorable outcome for Straughn however, as Turner who also served as punter was given less room in the endzone and pressure forced a short punt which was received by Zac Russell at the 26 yard line.  He avoided several early tackles and broke free at the 20 yard line for a 26 yard punt return touchdown - likely the shortest punt return for a touchdown on a non-deflected punt in Saint James history.  Holt Harrison continued his perfect season as place kicker by booting the first of five extra points, and the Trojans were up 7 - 0 less than four minutes into the game.

Straughn's rushing workhorse Trey Strickland picked up 14 yards on his first carry of the next drive, and the Tigers actually moved into Trojan territory but were stopped on fourth down just inside Trojan territory.  Saint James methodically drove 54 yards down the field, primarily on the legs of Cosner Harrison.  On the first play of the second quarter, he rammed through the Straughn defensive line for a touchdown, and the extra point doubled the lead to 14 - 0.  Straughn, who had shut out their first three opponents and allowed only 14 points in their fourth game allowed an equal number of points in one quarter and one play versus the Trojans.

The teams traded drives without first downs, and Straughn had driven across midfield when a fumble was recovered by Malik Melton at the Trojan 46.  An offside penalty enabled the Trojans to convert a first down.  After an offensive false start, Cosner Harrison broke loose on his longest run of the night, a 48 yard touchdown as the first half wore down.  Holt Harrison added the extra point, and Saint James boosted their lead to 21 with just over 2 minutes remaining until halftime and a chance to dry out.  The Trojans may have had a chance to score again as a deflected punt rolled dead at the Tiger 45 with under a minute remaining.  However, long passes were difficult at best with the slippery conditions, and after two long pass attempts fell incomplete, Saint James opted to run out the clock and the Tigers graciously allowed them to do so.

Saint James nearly suffered disaster on the first offensive play of the third quarter as Strickland broke loose for a 78 yard touchdown run.  However, a personal foul penalty behind, and fortunately during the play, negated the touchdown and pushed the ball all the way back to the Tiger 18.  A holding penalty on the next play pushed Straughn further back, but on the following play a defensive personal foul penalty helped the Tigers regain most of the lost penalty yardage.  After being unable to convert the first down, a muff on the punt handle led to a desperation pass which was incomplete.  Numerous lineman were downfield expecting to cover a punt, so an ineligble receiver(s) downfield penalty was declined, and the Trojans took over with great field position at the Tiger 27.  A sideline warning penalty and a false start promptly backed Saint James up to the 37, and the Trojans could only regain 14 of the needed 20 yards.  Holt Harrison was called in to attempt a 40 yard field goal with favorable wind conditions.  The kick was a low line drive, but was straight and cleared the crossbar by several feet, giving Saint James a 24 - 0 lead midway through the third quarter as the perfect placekicking season continued.

Straughn fumbled on the second play of the ensuing drive, but again Saint James could not convert a first down.  Harrison was called in again, this time to attempt a 38 yard field goal.  This kick was stronger and easily cleared the post giving Saint James a four possession lead at 27 - 0 with exactly 5 minutes remaining in the third quarter.  The Tigers converted one first down on a 15 yard pass from Turner to Abram Guilford, but was forced to punt.  Saint James took over on its own 35.  Cosner Harrison caught his second pass of the night - a catch and run for 20 yards moving the ball into Tiger territory.  However, a holding penalty and an offensive pass interference penalty gave Saint James a second down and 40.  Difficult to overcome.  Harrison did pick up 24 yards on second down, but Berrey once again pinned the Tigers on a punt at their own 11 yard line.  After a Tiger holding penalty (there were 17 accepted penalties, several offsetting, and several more declined), another short punt gave Saint James first down at the Straughn 35.  Harrison ended his night with a 4 yard run, a 30 yarder where he was tackled just short of the endzone, and his second 1 yard touchdown plunge of the night.  The extra point sealed the game at 34 - 0 with just under 7 minutes remaining.  It would be the last offensive play the Trojans would run.

The Tigers moved into Trojan territory for one of the few times thanks to several passes and a horsecollar tackle penalty, one of five major distance penalties committed by Saint James in the fourth quarter alone.  However, on fourth down a pass over the middle was intercepted by number 28 Ariel July at the 28 yard line, and he scooted through the lineman and broke away for a 72 yard interception return touchdown and the extra point resulted in the final 41 - 0 margin.

Straughn earned two first downs, both by defensive penalties, late in the game but a last ditch desperation pass fell incomplete short of the goal line, and the soggy Trojans marched out of Tiger Stadium with a big region road win and an eye forward to a rescheduled region and Capital City Conference matchup against Alabama Christian with big stakes looming as the winner would be the front runner for a region championship.

SIDELINE STATISTICS - GAME FOUR

SAINT JAMES    RUSHING   33 attempts   218 yards   3 TDs   (6.61 yards per carry)

                                5   Harrison            28 / 217  (3 TD)     1   Jackson             4 / 5         23   Craft            1 / - 4

                              PASSING   2 completion  9 attempts  0 INTs   24 yards

                                1   Jackson               2 - 9 - 0  24 yards

                              RECEIVING

                                5   Harrison             2 / 24

                              TOTAL YARDS:  242

                              KICKS:      XP  5 / 5      FG   2 / 2   (40, 38 made)
                              2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                              KICKOFFS:   8 (51,49,48,49,51,52,OB,EZ)     PUNTS:  3  (43,28,33)
                              KO RETURNS:  1  (24)                                     PUNT RETURNS:   2  (26TD,10)
                              FIRST DOWNS:   10   (9 rushing, 1 passing)
                              THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS:   3 / 9
                              FOURTH DOWN CONVERSIONS:  1 / 1
                              FUMBLES:  0
                              TURNOVER MARGIN:  + 3
                              FUMBLE RETURNS:  2  (0,0)
                              INTERCEPTION RETURNS:  1  (72TD)
                              POINTS OFF TURNOVERS:  17
                              ACCEPTED PENALTIES:   9 / 110 yards
                              TIME OF POSSESSION:  20:45

STRAUGHN        RUSHING    39 attempts  96 yards  0 TDs   (2.46 yards per carry)
                              PASSING       4 completions  11 attempts  1 INT   51 yards  0 TDs
                              TOTAL YARDS:  147

                              KICKS:      XP  0 / 0      FG   0 / 0
                              2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                              KICKOFFS:  1  (42)                                          PUNTS:  5  (25,40,16, 27,19)
                              KO RETURNS:  6  (22,13,19,10,4,0)                PUNT RETURNS:  1  (0fc)
                              FIRST DOWNS:  7  (1 rushing, 3 passing, 3 penalty)
                              THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS:  1 / 10
                              FOURTH DOWN CONVERSIONS:  0 / 3
                              FUMBLES:  3, lost 2
                              POINTS OFF TURNOVERS:  0
                              ACCEPTED PENALTIES:  6 / 46 yards
                              TIME OF POSSESSION:  27:15

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