GAME 5:   @ Notasulga 13, Saint James 0

September 25, 1987   Notasulga Stadium.    Game Conditions:  Clear   Game temperature 72.  Winds N 6, decreasing

---

The Saint James defense played tough for 2½ quarters before Notasulga connected on a long scoring pass midway through the third quarter and added a second touchdown midway through the fourth quarter as the Blue Devils shut out the Trojans 13 - 0.

Saint James controlled the ball for nearly the first ten minutes of the game and picked up five rushing first downs.  There were no breakaway rushes; the two longest carries were of only seven yards apiece.  Mark Kitchens' six yard run gave the Trojans first down on the Blue Devil three.  However, the Devils stiffened, holding Saint James to minus one yard on the next three carries.  On fourth down, a pass attempt to the endzone was incomplete, and Notasulga got their first turn on offense.  After several personal foul penalties going both ways, the Devils were back near the goal line forced to punt.  However, Saint James muffed the kick and Notasulga had respectable field position at their own 38.  However, another major penalty left the Devils with a fourth down and long which they did not convert.

Neither team threatened during the second quarter.  Saint James got just into Notasulga territory before punting in the last minute of the half, and the teams went to their respective locker rooms, or endzones as the case may have been, scoreless.

The Trojans got a huge break as the Notasulga runner fumbled on his kickoff return to start the second half, and Kitchens recovered at the Devil 33.  However, three plays netted only one yard and a 45 yard field goal attempt fell short.  Notasulga took over on their own 20 and traveled 80 yards in seven plays.  Three plays had the Devils on the Trojan 30.  On fourth and 8 from the 28, Steve Gordon lofted a pass toward the endzone which Jeffrey Moss wrestled down among defenders for the first score of the game.  Robert Richardson added the extra point and Notasulga was up 7 - 0.

Saint James picked up two first downs on their next drive, but were stopped on a reverse play on a fourth and two from the Devil 46.  The teams traded punts on their first drives of the fourth quarter, but Notasulga's punt return of 13 yards gave the Devils the ball on the Saint James 47.  Andav Swanson carried the ball on the opening play of the drive twelve yards for a first down, and on the fifth play twelve yards for a touchdown.  The extra point failed, but Notasulga had a 13 point lead with just over seven minutes remaining in regulation.

The Trojans were intercepted on their next drive, but Notasulga gave the Trojans one last chance to score by failing on a fourth down and one at the Saint James 27.  A defensive penalty and a 25 yard completion to John Fleming moved the ball into Notasulga territory, but Notasulga intercepted a desperation pass on the last play of the game to seal the shutout victory in Saint James' first, and very possibly last, varsity football trip to the north Macon County community.

---