GAME 1:   ST. JAMES 10, Houston Academy 9

August 26, 1988   Collier Field.   Game Conditions:   Partly cloudy, low humidity  Temp:  unavailable

St. James overcame an injured quarterback and four lost fumbles, while recovering a key one which led to the Trojans' lone touchdown, as they defeated the visiting Houston Academy Raiders 10-9.

St. James controlled the ball for most of the first quarter, running 22 plays to the Raiders' 6.  However, the 22nd play was a botched punt snap which gave H A the ball at midfield.  Three plays later though, Minho Chung intercepted a pass at the Trojan 22 to end the threat.  After a Trojan punt, the Raiders began their best drive of the first half, getting as deep as the Trojan 19 before losing one of their four fumbles as well.  St. James was again forced to punt, but the Raiders deep back fumbled and the Trojans were in business at the Raider 34.  However, the fumble bug hit St. James three plays later as well.

With time running down in the first half, the Raiders had driven to the Trojan 23 when a bizarre play occurred.  The Raider quarterback was lined up in shotgun formation, and ran around desperately after the snap looking for a receiver.  He was grabbed and fumbled the ball.  Trojan Chance Harris picked up the fumble at the 34 and had apparently run it 66 yards back for a touchdown.  However, the officials conferenced and it was determined an inadvertent whistle, which no one on either team seemed to have heard, blew as the quarterback was being grabbed.  The referees called a replay, negating both the touchdown and the yards lost from the sack.  Several plays later, a sack prevented any further gain, and St. James ran out the first half clock amidst a chorus of boos and worse to the departing referees into a scoreless halftime.

The Raiders came out strong in the third quarter, traveling 68 yards in four plays.  After a 39 yard run advanced the ball to the Trojan 17, Jamey Ormond carried on the next play into the endzone.  Scott Wuertzer's extra point was good, and the first score of the season gave Houston Academy a 7 point lead early in the third quarter.

The Trojans returned the ensuing kickoff to the 38 yard line, and after a first down, a sizeable run by Bryan Skelton was called back on a clipping penalty.  However, Billy Byrd made his first catch of the year, an amazing one handed grab for 27 yards on third down and 24 to keep the drive alive.  After a short run and a defensive pass interference penalty, St. James was threatening to score for the first time before losing another fumble on the Raider 25.

Houston Academy returned the favor by fumbling two plays later.  Wade Hartley, substituting at quarterback for the injured Jay Allen, completed a 12 yard pass to Skelton moving the ball to the 15.  However, three plays netted one yard before a defensive offside penalty moved the ball 5 yards closer, and St. James kicker Jay Robertson kicked a 26 yard field goal to cut the lead to 4 late in the third quarter.

The key play of the game took place five plays later.  After the Raiders had made a first down, they were forced to punt from just inside midfield.  However, the punter muffed the snap and had to fall on the ball at the H A 26, giving St. James a huge opportunity.  However, on the first play of the fourth quarter, as Skelton was stretching the ball out for a first down, it was knocked away and pounced on by the Raiders at the 11 yard line.  As luck would have it, the snap on the next play was bobbled and kicked forward before being recovered by the Trojans at the 14.  This time, the Trojans would not waste the gift.  On the first play, Hartley dropped back and found Billy Byrd open in the endzone for a 14 yard touchdown pass.  Robertson's extra point put the Trojans ahead for the first time by 3 points.

The ball seemed to remain slick, as after the Raiders were forced to punt after three plays, St. James muffed the punt, giving H A a first down at the Trojan 26.  Five plays later, it was first down at the Trojan 7.  Three running plays gained 5 yards.  On fourth down from the 2, the Raiders tried a peculiar double reverse which appeared to be successful as quarterback Blake Daughtry ran into the endzone.  However, a crackback block was called and the Raiders were penalized back to the 17 yard line.  Forsaking a potential tying field goal attempt, a running play just missed doing big damage, as the Raider runner was stopped two feet short of the endzone on fourth and 17 with just under 6 minutes remaining.

The Trojans picked up 5 yards on three rushing plays, but decided to take a delay of game penalty and an intentional safety to run clock, protecting their lead, and they ate nearly 3 minutes off the clock while maintaining a slim one point lead.

The free kick was returned to the Raider 48.  A seven yard rush and a nine yard pass completion gave H A a first down at the Trojan 36.  A crucial holding penalty during a run moved the ball back to the 42, where on the next play Jeff George intercepted a Daughtry pass at the 28 and was one tackle away at the Raider 47 from returning it the distance.  However, with the Raiders down to a final time out, three plays were enough for the Trojans to guard the football as neither team had been able to for most of the game and run out the clock, preserving a hard fought one point win in a somewhat sloppy, but nevertheless exciting game to start the season.