GAME 2:  ST. JAMES 13, @ Highland Home 6

STJ                 0       0       0     13         13
 
H  H               0       6       0       0           6

SCORING SUMMARY:

H H  (2)  11:16  Foster 22 run                                        (kick failed)       0 - 6
STJ  (4)    5:10   Brown 12 pass from Armstrong      (Darneille kick)       7 - 6
STJ  (4)    0:00   Armstrong 87 interception return        (no attempt)     13 - 6
September 9, 1994.  Highland Home Field.   Game Conditions:  Partly Cloudy   Game Temperature:  84  Wind:  negligible

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Cade Armstrong threw a touchdown pass midway through the fourth quarter, and then returned an interception 87 yards for another touchdown on the last play of the game as Highland Home was threatening a come-from behind victory, leading St. James to its first victory of the season, 13 - 6 over the homestanding Flying Squadron.

After the Trojans were stopped on their opening drive, the Squadron began at their own 40.  Several long runs overcame a pair of penalties, and Highland Home drove as close as the Trojan 14.  However, a 2 yard loss and an incomplete pass stopped the drive.  Again, St. James, which ran only 38 offensive plays in the game, was stopped and the ensuing punt was returned to the Trojan 35.  The Squadron dodged a bullet by recovering a quarterback snap fumble, and were faced with a fourth and 1 on the Trojan 26 as the second quarter started.  A four yard run gave Highland Home a first down, and on the next play Jermaine Foster carried in from 22 yards out for the first score of the game, and the only one it would turn out for the Squadron as the extra point missed wide right.  However, the home team was up 6 - 0 early in the second quarter.

Two illegal procedure penalties kept the Trojans without a first down on their third drive, but a holding penalty pushed Highland Home back, forcing a punt which was returned by Cade Armstrong to the Trojan 41. From there, St. James finally moved the ball, and actually picked up their initial first down on a fumble advancement.  As the half was nearing conclusion, the Trojans converted a fourth down at the Highland Home 37.  However, an interception on the next play which was returned to midfield gave the Squadron another chance to score.  A long scramble resulted in a quarterback sack on the first play and Highland Home was forced to use their final timeout.  From there, a short run and an incomplete pass closed out the first half harmlessly.

The second half didn't start out well for St. James, as a pooch kick bounced out of bounds.  However, the defense stiffened and forced a rather short punt themselves.  Neither team could get much going until Highland Home began moving the ball in the last minute of the third quarter, as they had a second down on the Trojan 10 to start the fourth.  Another fumbled snap proved disastrous for the Squadron, as St. James pounced on the loose ball this time at their own 11 on the first play of the final quarter.  The offensive line seemed to snap awake after the recovery, as they blocked beautifully for Armstrong, Hunter Pappas, and Mark Berry, who were picking up 6 to 8 yards now nearly on every play.  Armstrong crossed midfield on a 4 yard run which was bolstered by a late hit penalty, one of seven fourth quarter penalties the Squadron would commit.  A 15 yard face mask penalty on the next play after a Berry run advanced the ball to the Trojan 13.  St. James lost two yards on two plays, but a defensive encroachment penalty cancelled out the losses.  The Trojans called time out after a third down incompletion, and on fourth down, Armstrong tossed a desperation pass towards Brian Brown, who had fallen and landed on his back in the endzone, but somehow managed to grab the pass for an amazing touchdown.  After an offside penalty, Jason Darneille connected on the very short extra point and the Trojans had their first lead of the game at 7 - 6.

Highland Home returned the kickoff to their own 32 and were determined to score on their drive.  Two penalties, an incomplete pass, and a six yard loss on a reverse led to a third and 33 from the Highland Home 9.  Foster managed to pick up 20 yards on a run against a prevent defense, and the Squadron called their final timeout with 3:15 remaining.  On a play almost as amazing as the previous touchdown, the Squadron picked up 19 yards on fourth down to keep their hopes alive with no timeouts remaining.
Two plays later, a 13 yard completion led to a first down with 2:07 remaining, and two more plays later, a 10 yard run by Foster gave Highland Home a first down at the Trojan 23 with 1:07 remaining and only a field goal needed for the apparent victory.  However, the pressure got to the Squadron as an incomplete pass, a 7 yard loss on a busted play, an offensive offside penalty, and an incomplete pass primarily to stop the clock left a fourth down and 22 with only 5 seconds remaining.  The Squadron decided against attempting the field goal, going for the first down and/or touchdown instead.

On the deciding fourth down play, a pass was intercepted by Cade Armstrong at the Trojan 13 and he outraced the defenders, who virtually dropped back at midfield, all the way to the opposite endzone as time expired, and the more than modest Trojan crowd was going wild.  No extra point was attempted as it meant nothing to the game outcome, and St. James had pulled off what many considered a significant upset despite a minimal offensive performance, save one drive, after Highland Home had manhandled Alabama Christian the week before, 43 - 12.

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SIDELINE STATISTICS  - GAME TWO

ST. JAMES      RUSHING    33 rushes  84 yards  0 TDs  (2.55 yards per carry)

                        12   Armstrong     16 / 54         17   Pappas        5 / 15            69   Berry         6 / 12
                        42   Somerville       2 /  9          21   Webber       4 / - 6

                        PASSING      2 completions  5 attempts  1 INT  10 yards  1 TD  (1 sack of, - 4 yards)

                        12   Armstrong     2 - 5 - 1   10 yards  (1 sack, - 4 yards)

                        RECEIVING

                        88   Klinger          1 / 12  (TD)   19   Adams       1 / - 2

                        TOTAL YARDS:   94

                        KICKS:  XP  1 / 1                FG  0 / 0
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                        KICKOFFS:   2  (OB,42)                                        PUNTS:   5  (34,29,30,30,16)
                        KO RETURNS:  2  (12,13)                                     PUNT RETURNS:  2  (11,4)
                        INTERCEPTION RETURNS:  1  (87TD)
                         FIRST DOWNS:   8  (5 rushing, 1 passing, 2 penalty)
                        FUMBLES:  2, lost 0
                        TURNOVER MARGIN:  + 1
                        PENALTIES:  4 / 20 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:  20:35

HIGHLAND H  RUSHING    42 attempts  188 yards  1 TDs  (4.48 yards per carry)
                        PASSING      2 completions  9 attempts  1 INT  32 yards  0 TDs  (2 sacks of, - 9 yards)
                        TOTAL YARDS:  220

                         KICKS:  XP  0 / 1                FG  0 / 0
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                        KICKOFFS:  4  (52,47,51,40)                                 PUNTS:  4  (40,4,28,53)
                        KO RETURNS:  1  (14)                                         PUNT RETURNS:  1  (5)
                        FIRST DOWNS:   14  (10 rushing, 4 passing)
                        FUMBLES:  2, lost 1
                        PENALTIES:  11 / 92 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:  27:45

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