2023 - GAME 11

  SAINT JAMES 41, Opp 7  
 
OPP         0        7        0        0             7

 STJ        14      13        7        7           41


Thursday, November 9, 2023   Carlisle Field   Game Conditions:  Mostly Cloudy   Game Temperature:  71   Wind:  none

Saint James got off to a quick start, then appeared sluggish at times and committed penalties - several of the peculiar kind, but the defense held Opp to 160 total yards - 70 on one play, as the Trojans again advanced to the second round of the playoffs with a 41 - 7 defeat of the visiting Bobcats.

SCORING SUMMARY

 STJ  (1)    9:07   Houser 21 pass from Jackson                   (Huff kick)      7 - 0
 STJ  (1)    8:10   Houser 9 pass from Jackson                     (Huff kick)    14 - 0
 STJ  (2)  10:26   Offord 41 pass from Jackson                    (Huff kick)    21 - 0
OPP  (2)    1:18   Hall 70 run                                               (Sasser kick)    21 - 7
 STJ  (2)    0:46   Offord 30 pass from Jackson                  (kick failed)    27 - 7
 STJ  (3)    3:29   Houser 65 pass from Jackson                   (Huff kick)    34 - 7
 STJ  (4)  11:18   Houser 33 run                                            (Huff kick)    41 - 7


Saint James continued its streak of winning coin tosses, winning its tenth in twelve tries this season, and elected to play offense.  A short kickoff was returned by Clint Houser to the 40 yard line, and it took the Trojans only six plays to reach the endzone on its first try.  Houser rushed for 21 yards on the first play, but Saint James was then faced with a fourth down at the Opp 31.  Pruitt Conner converted with a 10 yard gain, and on the next play Jackson tossed a pass to Houser who scored from 21 yards out, his first of four touchdowns on the night.  Jake Huff's extra point gave the Trojans a 7 - 0 lead less than 3 minutes into the contest.

Disaster struck the Bobcats as they fumbled on their first offensive play giving Saint James stellar field position at the Opp 21.  Conner converted a third down with a 7 yard run, and on the next play Houser caught his second touchdown pass from Jackson, a 9 yarder, and Huff's extra point doubled the lead to 14 less than a minute after their previous score.

A deep kickoff was only returned by Opp to the 14 yard line.  Nelson Hall converted a pair of first downs on a rare pass attempt and completion and a short run, but the drive stalled short of Trojan territory, forcing a punt.  Saint James suffered a rare three and out and punted back just before the end of the quarter.  Berrey's punt pinned the Bobcats back at their own 5 yard line, and after a short punt, Saint James took over on the Opp 41.  On first down, Jackson looked downfield and found Tabor Offord about 15 yards downfield.  After the catch, he reversed field and outran several pursuers for a 41 yard touchdown.  The Huff extra point boosted the lead to 21 early in the second quarter.

Another deep kickoff and short return led to another Opp three and out.  Saint James was driving down the field, and appeared to have converted a fourth down with a 25 yard pass completion to Wils Johnson.  However, a blindside block was called negating most of the yardage, and Berrey's punt again pinned the Bobcats inside their own 15 yard line.  On third down from the 30, Hall received the snap and found a rare gaping hole on the near side of the Trojan defense and sprinted down the sidelines, pulling away from Saint James chasers giving the Opp fans something to cheer about finally after a 70 yard touchdown.  Saban Sasser's extra point cut the lead to 21 - 7 with just 78 seconds remaining until halftime.

The Trojans tried to amass a late second quarter drive and succeeded.  Houser returned the kickoff to the Saint James 39.  What appeared to be a gain on a defensive pass interference penalty on a deep first down pass was negated by a holding penalty.  On second down Jackson took matters into his own hands and scrambled for 31 yards.  On the next play, it was Offord again on the receiving end of a 30 yard touchdown pass for the score.  His touchdown reception was the 15th of the season, tying the school record set the previous year by Ethan Beard.  There was some confusion after the play and before the extra point attempt.  A roughing the passer penalty and an offensive unsportsmanlike conduct foul were called.  It appeared the fouls would offset.  The extra point attempt followed, which was missed, but Saint James held a 20 point lead with less than a minute remaining before halftime.  There were several discussions about where to spot the ball for the next kickoff.  The eventual placement would be the 25 yard line.  In essence, the roughing the passer penalty was declined giving Saint James the touchdown, but the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was ruled a dead ball foul and was enforced on the kickoff.  Nevertheless, Huff boomed a 60 yard plus kick which Hall returned to the Opp 40.  A false start penalty seemed to take the wind out of the Bobcat sails and they simply chose to run out the clock with the 20 point deficit.

The second half started off peculiarly as well.  Saint James executed what appeared to be a perfect onside pooch kick which was caught in midair by a Trojan 14 yards down the field.  However, flags flew and it was determined another Trojan committed kick catch interference, blocking a potential kick returner from reaching the ball.  The 15 yard penalty gave Opp great field position at the Saint James 39.  After one first down, the Bobcats tried to convert a fourth and 3 from the Saint James 22.  A false start pushed the ball back five yards, and the fourth down pass completion only gained 6 yards, turning the ball over on downs.

In a game which seemed to zoom by in the first half, until the last minute, the third quarter would drag.  Saint James again punted, and Opp was the benefactor of a roughing the passer call giving them a first down at the Saint James 37.  However, an incomplete pass three plays later halted yet another drive at the 35, and then Jackson looked on first down and found a sprinting Houser flying past his defender.  The pass was a dime and Houser caught it in stride and raced for a 65 yard touchdown - his third touchdown catch of the night and the fifth such pass for Jackson, again tying the school record of five in one game.  The extra point gave the Trojans a 34 - 7 lead as the third quarter faded.  A quick three and out gave the ball back to Saint James, and another nifty quarterback scramble by Jackson was negated by a holding penalty on the final play of the quarter.  A 14 yard run by Houser and a 13 yard completion to Offord gave Saint James a first down, and on the next play Houser swept around left end and went untouched into the endzone for a 33 yard scamper - his fourth score of the evening.  The Huff extra point gave Saint James a comfortable 41 - 7 lead which would end up being the final score.

At that time it was agreed the remainder of the game would be played under running clock, and Saint James unloaded the reserves into the game.  Neither team made much headway on their final drives, but it would be Saint James advancing to the second round of the playoffs yet again hoping for four more contests in 2023 as they awaited to see their opponent, and their venue, for round two.

PRESS BOX STATISTICS - GAME ELEVEN

SAINT JAMES   RUSHING   23 attempts  145 yards  1 TD   (6.30 yards per carry)

                                 7   Houser             4 / 67 yards  (1 TD)       1   Jackson        3 / 42         16   Conner            6 / 25
                                 8   Pollard             4 /   8                            15   Perry            2 /  3          31   Phillips           4 /   0

                              PASSING    11 completions  17 attempts  0 INTs  211 yards  5 TDs

                                1   Jackson             10 - 16 - 0   197 yards   5 TDs
                              15   Perry                   1 -   1 - 0     14 yards

                              RECEIVING

                                7   Houser                6 / 105 yards  (3 TDs)     10   Offord            3 / 94  (2 TDs)
                              28   Catchings            1 /  14                                4   Johnson         1 /   8

                              TOTAL YARDS:   356

                              KICKS:      XP  5 / 6      FG   0 / 0
                              2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                              KICKOFFS:  7  (EZ,59,56,54,14,EZ,EZ)      PUNTS:  4  (51,37,34,32)
                              KO RETURNS:  2  (15,15)                            PUNT RETURNS:   0
                              FIRST DOWNS:  13  (4 rushing, 9 passing)
                              THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS:  4 / 8
                              FOURTH DOWN CONVERSIONS:  1 / 1
                              FUMBLES:  none
                              TURNOVER MARGIN:  + 1
                              POINTS OFF TURNOVERS:   7
                              ACCEPTED PENALTIES:   9 / 95 yards
                              TIME OF POSSESSION:  20:14  (approximate due to fourth quarter running clock)

OPP                       RUSHING    37 attempts  136 yards  1 TDs  (3.68 yards per carry - 70 on one rush)
                              PASSING        3 completions  6 attempts  0 INTs  0 TDs  24 yards
                              TOTAL YARDS:  160

                              KICKS:      XP  1 / 1      FG   0 / 0
                              2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                              KICKOFFS:  2  (25,36)                                   PUNTS:  5  (23,32,38,33,48)
                              KO RETURNS:  3  (13,4,34)                          PUNT RETURNS:  0
                              FIRST DOWNS:  7  (3 rushing, 2 passing, 2 penalty)
                              THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS:  3 / 11
                              FOURTH DOWN CONVERSIONS:   2 / 4
                              POINTS OFF TURNOVERS:  0
                              FUMBLES:  1, lost 1
                              ACCEPTED PENALTIES:  6 / 30 yards
                              TIME OF POSSESSION:  27:46  (approximate)

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