GAME 6:   ST. JAMES 23, @ Saint Jude 15

St. James recovered from three potential St. Jude touchdowns called back by penalties, one on the first scrimmage play of the game, and overcame the dynamic running of Anthony Belser with some offensive moves of their own, most notably three Mark Kitchens touchdowns, as the Trojans held off the Pirates 23 - 15.

A clipping penalty on St. Jude's first running play negated a touchdown on an 80 yard reverse by Myron Perry.  However, the drive moved along and Anthony Belser would eventually score a touchdown from 24 yards out.  Kevin Jones' kick gave the Pirates a 7-0 lead.

The teams would battle back and forth without much success for the remainder of the half.  Two more Pirate touchdowns were called back by holding and clipping penalties, respectively.  Late in the first half, a Pirate fumble gave the Trojans the ball at the St. Jude 31.  Four plays later, Mark Kitchens took the ball in from 6 yards for a Trojan  touchdown.  Yardage from a defensive penalty on the touchdown moved the ball near the one yard line, and the Trojans opted to go for two.  Kitchens again converted, giving St. James a one point lead at halftime.

St. James took advantage of a nice Kitchens kickoff return to the Trojan 40, and scored 8 plays later to conclude a 60 yard drive.  Kitchens ran for 31 yards to the Pirate 15, and after a Ben Freeman run of 5 yards, three straight Kitchens runs for 5, 1, and 4 yards had the ball in the endzone again.  The Trojans lined up in a wide formation prior to kicking the extra point, but confusion in the Pirate defense led to a direct snap to the holder, who passed to Tom Smith in the endzone for a second two point conversion, and a two possession lead.

Anthony Belser, who rushed for nearly 200 yards in the game, broke loose on a 53 yard scamper for the Pirates, advancing the ball to the Trojan 10 on the next drive.  However, the defense stiffened as St. James held St. Jude for no gain on fourth down at the two yard line.  A penalty cost the Trojans a yard, but from the one Kitchens responded with a 32 yard carry of his own to give the Trojans some breathing room.  However, after failing to convert on the ensuing third down, the Trojan punter dropped the long snap and simply fell on the football with Pirate defenders rushing in, giving St. Jude great field position at the Trojan 26.  Five plays later, on the third play of the fourth quarter, Belser carried in from the 2 for the Pirates' second touchdown.  St. Jude then tried some trickery of their own on their extra point attempt, as holder William Rodrick passed to a wide open Douglas Jones in the endzone for a two point conversion, and the gap was quickly reduced to 1, at 16 - 15.

The Trojans tried to run out most of the fourth quarter clock, and were greatly successful.  Long runs by Kitchens overcame two penalties, but the Trojans had to punt upon reaching Pirate territory.  Mickey Pittman's punt was beautiful, going out of bounds on the Pirate 3 with 5 minutes remaining in the game.  A half the distance penalty slowed St. Jude, but Belser's 9 yard run to the 12 gave St. Jude a short fourth down opportunity, which they risked.  Belser up the middle was stopped inches short, and the Trojans took over.  Five plays eating up clock and thirteen yards were fantastic for the Trojans, as Kitchens bowled in from the one.  Gavin Finklea's extra point gave the Trojans an 8 point lead with just over 100 seconds remaining.

However, the Pirates were not finished yet.  A squib kickoff was returned to the St. Jude 36, and a 23 yard pass on the next play had the Pirates only 41 yards from the endzone.  An offensive pass interference penalty on the next play, which would have been a 26 yard completion, drove a dagger into the final Pirate drive, and on the next play Jay Allen intercepted a pass at the Trojan 29.  Afterwards, only one kneeldown play was needed for the Trojans to secure a victory against their city rival.