2022 - GAME 11

  SAINT JAMES 54, Walter Wellborn 7 
W W          0        0        0        7            7
 
 STJ          14        7      14      19          54

November 4, 2022   Carlisle Field   FIRST ROUND 3A STATE PLAYOFFS  Game Conditions:  Almost clear   Game Temperature:  72  Wind:  negligible
 

Saint James ran and passed for over 500 total yards of offense, led by K.J. Jackson's four touchdown passes, scoring almost at will including an amazing two touchdowns within two clock seconds at the end of the game while the defense virtually shut down the opposing Panthers as the Trojans advanced to the second round of the playoffs with a 54 - 7 defeat of first time opponent Walter Wellborn.  (I know, run on sentence.)

SCORING SUMMARY

STJ  (1)   9:25   Beard 55 pass from Jackson                          (Huff kick)       7 - 0
STJ  (1)   0:58   Holloway 20 pass from Jackson                    (Huff kick)     14 - 0
STJ  (2)   8:56   Houser 50 pass from Jackson                        (Huff kick)     21 - 0
STJ  (3) 11:06   Beard 53 pass from Jackson                          (Huff kick)     28 - 0
STJ  (3)   5:57   Harrison 3 run                                                (Huff kick)     35 - 0
STJ  (4)   5:56   Anderson 9 run                                          (Redden kick)     42 - 0
WW (4)   1:17   Williams 2 run                                                 (Gay kick)     42 - 7
STJ  (4)   0:02   Williams 79 run                                             (kick failed)     48 - 7
STJ  (4)   0:00   Alozie 14 fumble return                               (no attempt)     54 - 7

The Panthers won the opening coin toss and elected to receive.  After a decent kickoff return however, the Trojan defense forced the first of several three and outs and the first of seven punts.  From their own 38, Cosner Harrison carried to midfield on the first play.  After an incomplete pass and an ineligible receiver downfield penalty, Jackson looked deep to his favorite receiver and found Ethan Beard streaking past the last line of Wellborn defense for a 55 yard touchdown.  Jake Huff, whose five made extra points extended his season long perfect streak, gave the Trojans a 7 - 0 lead less than three minutes into the game.

Walter Wellborn did make one first down on their next drive, but punted once more.  On second down, Jackson lofted a pass which was nimbly intercepted by Carlos Hubbard at the Panther 45.  However, another three and out led to another punt and this time Beard returned the punt for 43 yards all the way to the Wellborn 34.  Clint Houser rushed for 12 on first down, and two plays later Jackson found Ziggy Holloway for a 20 yard slant catch and run touchdown to double the score to 14 - 0 with just under a minute still remaining in the opening stanza.

After yet another Panther punt, the Trojans drove 72 yards in four plays.  Beard caught a pass for 15 yards and Harrison ran for 12 more.  After a first down run by Jackson was negated by a holding penalty, he found Houser on the near sidelines with a short pass where he managed to escape two impending tacklers and rushed 50 yards for the touchdown reception of the game and a 21 - 0 lead early in the second quarter.  The offenses slowed down leading to three consecutive punts.  Saint James took over on its own 27 yard line with just under two minutes to go.  They drove down to the 25 yard line where Huff had just enough time to attempt a field goal from 43 yards which was just wide right, and Saint James maintained their shutout lead at halftime.

Beard returned Wellborn's first kickoff of the night to the Trojan 38 to start the third quarter.  After Harrison picked up 9 yards on first down, it was Beard time again as he beat his defenders on a nifty slant pattern for a 53 yard touchdown and a 28 - 0 lead.

The Wellborn kickoff receiver luckily knocked the following kick out of bounds before a Trojan could recover the deep pooch onside.  Still, after another solitary Panther first down, Saint James took over on its own 40 and it was the Cosner Harrison show.  Four consecutive carries of 43, 11, 3, and 3 yards had the Trojans in the endzone once more and continuing the shutout at 35 - 0.  The Panthers had one of their best plays of the night, a 16 yard run by Xavier Parker on a fake punt to temporarily sustain a drive, but several plays later Trojan Paxton Wingard wrestled the ball away from Wellborn quarterback Grayson Johnson in a scrum and Saint James regained possession.  Once again, the teams traded punts, and once again an Ethan Beard punt return inspired the second string Trojans to add to the score.  This time, it was Cole Anderson given five consecutive carries.  The fifth carry overcame a penalty deep in Panther territory, and Saint James was well in control at 42 - 0 with just under half a quarter remaining.

A penalty after the ensuing kickoff forced Wellborn to start at their own 10 yard line for the next drive, but Trojan starters with helmets off were on the bench, and the Panthers ground out a 90 yard drive to eliminate the shutout.  Jabari Williams, the workhorse on the most productive Panther drive of the night, was rewarded with a 2 yard touchdown and it appeared the game would end up at 42 - 7 with only 1:17 remaining.

Not so fast!   Saint James likely could have downed the ball three times and ended the game with a more than respectable victory.  However, backup quarterback Chase Perry carried for no gain and then the ball was handed off to Derrion Williams who had seen some spotty carries in some of the earlier huge wins.  He took the handoff, bounced off the line and roared towards midfield.  At that point he changed directions and galloped toward the visiting sidelines and somehow amazingly got past at least three potential tacklers and eventually raced all the way into the endzone, a 79 yard touchdown with 1.2 seconds left in the game which had the Trojan War Zone erupting.  The on field celebration led to a celebration penalty which forced Jackson Clifford, third string placekicker, to attempt an NFL length extra point, which came up just short, and it appeared 48 - 7 would be the final score.

Being a proper playoff game, the Trojans had to come out and attempt the kickoff.  Clifford drilled it inside the 15 yard line toward a returner who was trying to make something good happen for the Panthers.  Unfortunately, the ball was knocked loose and grabbed at by several Trojans before A.J. Alozie picked up the ball at the 14 yard line and ran in for a touchdown well after the final horn had blown - but the touchdown stood.  Obviously no extra point was attempted, but the Trojans celebrated one of their largest playoff victories ever at 54 - 7.  Not long after the game, it was learned despite the win Saint James would be traveling in the second week of the playoffs to face another first time football opponent, the W.S. Neal Eagles, a team which pulled the upset over the Opp Bobcats in their first round matchup, in East Brewton.

SIDELINE STATISTICS GAME ELEVEN

SAINT JAMES   RUSHING   26 attempts  303 yards   2 TDs   (11.65 yards per carry)

                                5   Harrison            15 / 147  (1 TD)     35   Williams                1 / 79 (TD)   21   Anderson          5 / 54  (1 TD)
                                1   Jackson               2 /   18                    7    Houser                  2 /   5            15   Perry                 1 /   0

                              PASSING    10 completions  14 attempts  1 INT  247 yards  4 TDs

                                1   Jackson             10 - 14 - 1    247 yards   4 TDs

                              RECEIVING

                                2   Beard                  4 / 134   (2 TDs)      7   Houser                 4 / 82  (1 TD)
                                6   Holloway            1 /   20   (1 TD)     12   Wright                  1 / 11

                              TOTAL YARDS:   550

                              KICKS:      XP  6 / 7      FG   0 / 1  (43 missed)
                              2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                              KICKOFFS:  8  (34,EZ,21,38,41,54,EZ,47)    PUNTS:  2  (38,41)
                              KO RETURNS:  2  (16,0)                                PUNT RETURNS:   4  (0,43,1,13)
                              FIRST DOWNS:   20  (15 rushing, 5 passing)
                              THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS:  1 / 3
                              FOURTH DOWN CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                              FUMBLES:  1, lost 0
                              FUMBLE RETURNS:  2  (0,14TD)
                              TURNOVER MARGIN:  + 1
                              POINTS OFF TURNOVERS:   6
                              ACCEPTED PENALTIES:   8 / 70 yards
                              TIME OF POSSESSION:  19:03

WELLBORN        RUSHING    43 attempts  205 yards  1 TD  (4.77 yards per carry)
                              PASSING       4 completions  8 attempts  0 INTs  0 TDs  24 yards
                              TOTAL YARDS:  229

                              KICKS:      XP  1 / 1      FG   0 / 0
                              2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                              KICKOFFS:  2  (39,39)                                  PUNTS:  7  (38,32,24,30,30,23,31)
                              KO RETURNS:  6  (9,0fc,21,0,20,2f)            PUNT RETURNS:  0
                              FIRST DOWNS:  10  (7 rushing, 2 passing, 1 penalty)
                              THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS:  2 / 9
                              FOURTH DOWN CONVERSIONS:   1 / 1
                              POINTS OFF TURNOVERS:  0
                              FUMBLES:  2, lost 2
                              INTERCEPTION RETURNS:  1  (0)
                              ACCEPTED PENALTIES:  4 / 30 yards
                              TIME OF POSSESSION:  28:57

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