GAME 5:  ST. JAMES 41, @ Alabama Christian 22

STJ                6     14       8     13         41
 
ACA              7       0       7       8         22

SCORING SUMMARY: 

ACA (1)    8:34   Cobb 36 pass from Dismukes                   (Norton kick)      0 -   7
STJ   (1)    2:51   Armstrong 10 run                                       (kick failed)      6 -   7
STJ   (2)  10:36   Armstrong 2 run                                         (pass failed)    12 -   7
STJ   (2)    0:43   Moss 2 run                                                (Pappas run)    20 -   7
STJ   (3)    6:29   Pappas 5 run                                             (Pappas run)    28 -   7
ACA (3)    2:26   Norton 11 run                                          (Norton kick)    28 - 14
STJ   (4)    9:53   Pate 1 run                                            (Roberson kick)    35 - 14
ACA (4)    8:39   Cobb 12 run                                              (Norton run)    35 - 22
STJ   (4)    3:41   Pate 4 run                                                   (kick failed)    41 - 22
October 1, 1993.  Eagles (new, unnamed) Field.   Game Conditions:  Mostly clear   Game Temperature:  64, dropping steadily   Light wind

St. James made their first trip to Alabama Christian's new west to east football field a successful one, rushing for a school record 69 carries and over 300 yards, 6 of those touchdown, as the Trojans defeated the Eagles in an intra-city and area matchup 41 - 22.

A perfect conclusion to a perfect weather week, clear, cool, and very fall-like set the stage.  On the first drive of the game, it appeared the Eagles would be taking center stage.  Michael Dismukes tossed two key passes, a 16 yarder to Wade Norton and two plays later a 36 yarder to Michael Cobb for a touchdown just 3½ minutes into the game.  Norton's extra point gave ACA early momentum with a 7 - 0 lead.

The Trojans, which attempted only two passes in the game, both in the first quarter, moved as effectively although not as swiftly on a 16 play, 75 yard drive.  The key play in the middle of the drive was a near-midfield fourth down conversion by Cade Armstrong, who picked up 7 yards on fourth and 2.  Armstrong's 9 yard run gave the Trojans a first down at the Eagles 13, and two plays later Armstrong carried in from the 10 for a touchdown.  The extra point was blocked however, and the Eagles maintained a 1 point lead late in the first quarter.

Trojan Brian Brown turned the game early as he intercepted a Dismukes pass and returned it to the Eagle 38.  After a 5 yard run by Armstrong, Ryan Pynes caught the only completed St. James pass of the night from Walter Moss for 18 yards.  Six plays later, on the fourth play of the second quarter, Armstrong carried in for a 2 yard touchdown.  The Trojans attempted a 2 point conversion from the 8 yard line after a penalty, but the pass failed.  However, St. James had its first lead of the game at 12 - 7.

The Eagles were stopped after a sizable kickoff return, and the Trojans took over after a punt on their own 24.  Another 16 play drive ate up 76 yards of field and well over 7 minutes of clock time.  Walter Moss' measured 2 yard carry on fourth and 2 from the Eagle 4 kept the drive alive, and Moss called the same play on the next down for the touchdown.  The Trojans opted for two again, and were successful on Hunter Pappas' carry.  It appeared St. James would cruise into halftime with a 13 point lead.

However, a second consecutive fine kickoff return to the Trojan 39 gave ACA one more chance to score.  Dismukes scrambled, trying to pass, and eventually picked up 11 yards for a first down, but when time out was called only 9 seconds remained on the halftime clock.  Dismukes next pass attempt was incomplete, and his final try only picked up 5 yards, keeping them off the scoreboard in the second quarter.

The Trojans embarked on another time consuming drive, going 66 yards in 12 plays.  Hunter Pappas and Robert Pate, switched to a fullback from the offensive line, were the main workhorses on another all-ground drive.  Cade Armstrong's 5 yard run gave the Trojans a first down at the 15, and two plays later he carried down to the 6, but injured himself, later to be determined a dislocated shoulder, and he would not return.  A Moss keeper for 1, and a 5 yard run by Pappas gave St. James its fourth rushing touchdown, and Pappas added another two point conversion run as St. James had scored 28 consecutive points to take a 3 touchdown lead.

Alabama Christian got its offense on track on the next drive.  Michael Cobb picked up 18 on first down.  Four plays later, on fourth and 4, a long run by Norton was negated in part by a clipping penalty, but the Eagles still had enough yardage for the key first down.  A 31 yard pass on the next play moved the ball to the Trojan 16, and two plays later Norton carried in from the 10 for an Eagle touchdown.  He added his own extra point and cut the lead to 14.

With Armstrong out of the game, Pappas took over in the backfield. He carried 3 times for 27 yards to end the third quarter.  After a 1 yard run, his third down run of 5 yards which would have been short of the first down was aided by a personal foul penalty, moving the ball down to the Eagle 14.  Two more Pappas runs of 1 and 11 yards preceded a Pate run of 2 for a touchdown.  Andy Roberson's extra point boosted the lead back to 21 early in the fourth quarter.

The Trojans basically gave away half the field on their next defensive possession.  On consecutive plays a roughing the passer penalty and a personal foul penalty were called, and an unsportsmanlike conduct flag was added after the second call.  From the 12 on the next play, Cobb carried in against the angered and confused Trojan defenders.  The extra point snap went directly to Norton, the kicker, who carried in for a surprise two point conversion, and the Eagles had closed to within 13 with still nearly 9 minutes remaining in the game.

For the first time in the game, the Trojans were held away from the endzone on their next drive and punted out of bounds to the Eagle 34.  Just as it appeared momentum was switching to the ACA side, the Eagles fumbled on the first play, a quarterback scramble, and the Trojans recovered on the Eagle 20.  Two runs by Pappas picked up 7 yards, and Pate carried for 5, 4, and 4 for his second touchdown.  The extra point failed, but St. James was up a seemingly safe 41 - 22 with less than 4 minutes remaining.

The Eagles were driving, albeit using valuable clock time mostly on the ground, until Brian Brown picked up his second interception of the night on a great catch straddling the sidelines at the Eagle 6.  From there, two Walter Moss carries were enough to run out the clock, and the win gave the Trojans an excellent chance at their first playoff appearance since 1985.

SIDELINE STATISTICS  - GAME FIVE

ST. JAMES      RUSHING    69 rushes  308 yards  6 TDs  (4.47 yards per carry)

                        17   Pappas         25 / 130  (1 TD)     12   Armstrong         20 / 108  (2 TDs)         44   Pate         14 / 45  (2 TDs)
                        10   Moss              9 /  25  (1 TD)     84   Pynes                 1 /    0

                        PASSING      1 completion  2 attempts  0 INTs  18 yards  0 TDs  (no sacks of)

                        10   Moss            1 - 2 - 0        18 yards

                        RECEIVING

                        17   Pappas         1 / 18

                        TOTAL YARDS:   326

                        KICKS:  XP  1 / 3                FG  0 / 0
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  2 / 3
                        KICKOFFS:   7  (46,50,38,42,49,50,46)                   PUNTS:   1  (30)
                        KO RETURNS:  4  (13,21,4,6)                                PUNT RETURNS:  0
                        INTERCEPTION RETURNS:  2  (4,0)
                         FIRST DOWNS:   20  (18 rushing, 1 passing, 1 penalty)
                        FUMBLES:  0
                        TURNOVER MARGIN:  + 3
                        PENALTIES:  5 / 53 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:  32:45

A C A               RUSHING    25 attempts  126 yards  2 TDs  (5.04 yards per carry)
                        PASSING      5 completions  10 attempts  2 INTs  70 yards  1 TD  (no sacks of)
                        TOTAL YARDS:  196

                         KICKS:  XP  2 / 2                FG  0 / 0
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  1 / 1
                        KICKOFFS:  4  (48,47,28,26)                                 PUNTS:  1  (39)
                        KO RETURNS:  6  (15,22,17,43,19,23,16)              PUNT RETURNS:  1  (9)
                        FIRST DOWNS:   11  (5 rushing, 2 passing. 4 penalty)
                        FUMBLES:  1, lost 1
                        PENALTIES:  2 / 30 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:  15:15

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