GAME 2:   Highland Home 26, St. James 13

Highland Home converted two St. James turnovers directly into touchdowns, built up a big lead, and held the advantage as the Flying Squadron ruined the home opener for the Trojans with a 26 - 13 victory.

The Trojans surprised most everyone by opening the game with an onside kickoff attempt after losing the coin toss.  Everyone except Highland Home's Robert Bowman, who fell on the kick at the Squadron 43.  Highland Home pulled just as much of a surprise by running a no huddle offense.  A 28 yard pass from Kelly Rhodes to Randal Beasley moved to ball deep into Trojan territory, and two plays later Cecil Osborne carried in from 18 yards for the first touchdown of the game.  The Squadron attempted a two point conversion, but the pass intended for Beasley fell incomplete.  However, Highland Home had a six point lead barely two minutes into the game.

Matt Thomas picked up a first down on the Trojans' initial drive, but a sack and two pass incompletions led to a punt.  Mickey Pittman boomed a 40 yarder, and a clipping penalty on the return, one of many Squadron penalties, moved the ball back to their own eleven.  Tracy Shannon ran for first downs on 17 and 20 yard carries, and Rhodes completed a 16 yard pass to Beasley as Highland Home was moving swiftly downfield again.  However, Gabe Harris intercepted a pass at the Trojan 30, stopping the drive.  St. James moved again into Squadron territory, but eventually had to punt, downing the ball inside the 20 yard line.

Three Squadron carries netted seven yards, and on fourth down a punt snap was botched and fumbled.  Highland Home recovered two yards behind the line of scrimmage, but a mysterious flag late in the play led to an extended officials discussion.  Finally, the penalty was ruled to be an illegal substitution by Highland Home during the play, obviously declined by St. James, giving them the ball at the Squadron 22.  On first down, Jeff George took the handoff and the Squadron, perhaps still confused about the results of the previous penalty, could not tackle George before he ran into the endzone.   Gabe Harris' extra point gave the Trojans their first lead of the season at 7 - 6.

The Trojans again called for the onside kick, and this time they were successful, as Matt Thomas fell on the loose ball at the Squadron 44.  A quick pass from Hartley to Barry Nave for 12 yards moved the Trojans closer, but two short runs and two incomplete passes stopped the drive.  From their own 27, Highland Home marched 73 yards in 11 plays, consisting of ten runs and a two yard screen pass mixed in.  Shannon's fifteen yard run was followed by an eight yard touchdown sprint.  The two point conversion pass intended for Shannon was again incomplete, but Highland Home had regained the lead, 12 - 7, with 3½ minutes remaining in the first half.

The Trojans took over on their own 37 after the kickoff return, but on the first play Randal Beasley stepped in front of a Hartley pass at the Trojan 39 and returned it untouched to the endzone for a quick touchdown.  After two timeouts were called prior to the two point conversion attempt, Rhodes completed a pass to his fullback Deshaun Merritt for the conversion, and quite suddenly the game was 20 - 7 Squadron, with less than three minutes remaining until halftime.

George returned the ensuing kickoff to the Trojan 35.  After a 4 yard run by Thomas, Hartley completed a 31 yard pass to Billy Byrd to move the ball down to the Highland Home 30.  A third down 9 yard completion to Byrd and a quarterback sneak by Hartley gave the Trojans first down at the 20 with 59 seconds remaining.  Quick runs by George of 8 yards and Hartley of 3 yards gave St. James first down and goal at the 9.  After an incomplete pass, the Trojans brought in Sean Kennedy to try and repeat his one running play of the previous week.  However, the Squadron were prepared and Kennedy was stopped for a 3 yard loss, forcing the Trojans to use their last time out.  After a third down incompletion, a fourth down screen pass to Parker came up two yards short of the endzone as time expired.

Each team fumbled within the first three minutes of the third quarter on their initial second half possessions.  St. James took over at their own 37 after Billy Lindsey recovered a wayward Squadron pitch.  A 10 yard run by George and a 7 yard run by Parker boosted by a 5 yard face mask penalty advanced the ball to the Highland Home 41.  Three more plays, including a sack, lost two net yards and the Trojans were forced to punt.  The Squadron kept the ball for over four minutes on their next drive, but could only gain sixteen yards.  St. James took over on their own 23 and picked up several first downs, one thanks to a 15 yard face mask penalty, before the end of the third quarter.

St. James later earned two more first downs, one on a defensive offsides and another on a half the distance unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, giving the Trojans first and goal at the Highland Home seven.  Two three yard runs moved the ball to the one before disaster struck.  Hartley attempted a quarterback sneak, but did not handle the snap and the ball popped out loose behind him.  Reggie Harris picked up the ball at the four and raced untouched and unthreatened 96 yards down the field for a game-clinching touchdown.  A two point pass failed, but the damage had been done as the lead had grown to 19 with less than nine minutes remaining in the game.

After a short kickoff, a Squadron personal foul face mask penalty, and a 5 yard face mask penalty two plays later, an angry Squadron coach pulled all his defensive starters off the field and relegated them to bench duty.  Several short passes and runs and a pass interference penalty moved the ball deeper into Highland Home territory, and Hartley eventually completed an 18 yard pass to Gabe Harris for a touchdown.  Parker attempted a two point run which failed, and the score was 26 - 13 with 5½ minutes left.

A Trojan squib kickoff against an onside prevent defense traveled out of bounds, and the Squadron ran six plays and more importantly three minutes off the clock before turning the ball over on downs.  St. James would have two more chances to score, but eight consecutive incomplete passes for all intents and purposes used up the remaining clock time before Highland Home celebrated their road victory.

SIDELINE STATISTICS  - GAME TWO

ST. JAMES      RUSHING:     38 carries  143 yards   1 TD  (3.76 yards per carry)

                        28   George           11 / 61  (1 TD)     34   Parker         13 / 60           44   Thomas         5 / 26
                        19   Harris               1 /  5                 32   Lee                1 /  5            61   Kennedy       1 / - 3
                        10   Hartley             7 / -11

                        PASSING:    25 attempts   6 completions  1 INT  88 yards  1 TD  (2 sacks of, 14 yards)

                        10   Hartley           6 - 25 - 1    88 yards    1 TD    1 INT

                        RECEIVING:  

                        80   Byrd              2 / 40                   19   Harris           1 / 18  (TD)    84   Nave          1 / 12
                        34   Parker            1 / 10                   32   Lee               1 /  8

                        TOTAL YARDS:  231

HIGHLAND H  RUSHING   40 attempts  195 yards   2 TDs   (4.88 yards per carry)
                        PASSING    5 attempts  3 completions  1 INT  60 yards  0 TDs  (no sacks of)
                        TOTAL YARDS:   255