GAME 8:   Montgomery Academy 34, St. James 14

October 28, 1990   Carlisle Field.   Game Conditions:  Clear, light wind   Game Temperature:  55, dropping rapidly

Trey Sippial was nearly a one-man wrecking crew as he plowed for 325 yards and 5 touchdowns as the Eagles paid a visit to Carlisle Field and left the Trojans with visions of # 3 rushing past them in their heads after a 34-14 intracity victory.

St. James garnered the very early momentum as Jeff George ran the opening kickoff back to the Eagle 40 yard line.  Three runs netted 15 yards and a first down, but the Trojans bogged down on a sack and two incomplete passes, turning the ball over on downs.  The Eagles moved quickly down the field, but on first down from the Trojan 9, a pass completion was fumbled into the endzone and St. James recovered, forcing a touchback.

The Trojans again picked up several first downs, but punted upon reaching the Eagle 40.  From their own 24, the Eagles moved 76 yards on 4 plays, 3 of those rushing plays by Sippial of 32, 10, and 31 yards for the first score of the game.  Earl Martin's extra point was good and MA was up 7-0 late in the first quarter.

St. James was lucky to recover its own fumble on their next scrimmage play, but was again forced to punt.  After the punt was returned to the Trojan 43, it took Sippial only one handoff this time before he was in the endzone.  Martin's point boosted the Eagle lead to 14 early in the second quarter.

The Trojans again amassed big yardage on a kickoff return, this time on a reverse from George to Delahay, carrying the ball to the Eagle 47.  This time the Trojans would not be denied on a grueling 13 play drive.  The lone pass, on fourth down and 6, was a 14 yard completion from Wade Hartley to George, moving the ball to the Eagle 6.  It took four plays, but on fourth down Robert Enslen bowled over from his fullback position for the touchdown.  The extra point was blocked, but St. James had cut the lead back to one possession, 14-6, midway through the second quarter.

The Eagles moved down the field once again, advancing all the way to the Trojan 12, but on fourth down a quarterback sack again forced MA to turn the ball over on downs.  The Trojans ran out the clock and preserved their 8 point deficit into the locker room.

Sippial carried twice for 12 yards apiece to start the third quarter, but fumbled on the second carry and the Trojans recovered.  However, they could not manage any yardage and a punt returned the ball to the Eagles on their own 24.  Sippial carried for nine of the ten plays on the next drive for 78 yards (the other run was a two yard loss), and he scurried in from the 9 yard line for his and MA's third touchdown.  Martin's kick gave the Eagles a 21-6 lead midway through the third quarter.

A clipping penalty on the ensuing kickoff return gave the Trojans horrible field position, and after punting the Eagles were quickly on the Trojan 30 yard line.  Another 9 play rushing drive only featured Sippial on the ninth play, a 3 yard touchdown.  A backup kicker converted the extra point and MA was suddenly up by 22 early in the fourth quarter.

The Trojans took to the air with great success on their next drive.  After a disputed "down on the ground" during the kickoff return stopped progress at their own 20, St. James moved 80 yards on 3 consecutive pass completions.  Hartley tossed to Billy Byrd for 25 and 10 yards, and then found Lucas Harris wide open down the sidelines for a 45 yard touchdown on the next play.  As the defensively confused and rattled Eagles tried to regroup, Hartley tossed a two point conversion pass to Stefan Delahay and the margin was down to 14 with still more than 8 minutes remaining in the game.

A Trojan onside kick attempt was recovered by the Eagles at their own 47, and 6 plays later Sippial scored his fifth and final touchdown from 9 yards out.  The failed extra point led to the final score of 34-14.  Three consecutive incomplete passes by Hartley led to a St. James punt, and Montgomery Academy had ample yardage to run out the remainder of the clock as they celebrated the huge performance by their eventual All-City Player of the Year, Trey Sippial.