GAME 6: ST. JAMES 40, Calhoun 6

CAL 0 0 0 6 6

STJ 14 7 6 13 40

SCORING SUMMARY:

STJ   (1)   -----    Herring 18 run                        (Horn kick)     7 - 0
STJ   (1)   -----    Herring 19 pass from Cole          (Horn kick)   14 - 0
STJ   (2)   -----    Webber 6 pass from Cole            (Horn kick)   21 - 0
STJ   (3)   -----    Herring 4 pass from Cole        (kick blocked)   27 - 0
STJ   (4)   -----    Smith 14 run                               (Horn kick)   34 - 0
CAL (4)   -----    Medlock 1 run                          (pass failed)   34 - 6
STJ   (4)   -----    Herring 2 run                             (kick failed)   40 - 6

October 6, 1995. Carlisle Field. Game Conditions: Clear, breezy Game Temperature: 74 Wind NW 10

In a game which was originally scheduled to be played at Calhoun in Lowndes County, but was moved because of power and light-related issues due to the previous week's problems revolving around the advance of Hurricane Ivan through south and central Alabama, St. James took control early and maintained it throughout the game as they claimed an area victory over the visiting, yet homestanding, Tigers by a score of 40 - 6.

Calhoun tried to open the game with a surprise onside kick, but the look wasn't much of a surprise, and the squib was recovered by Matt Powell at the Trojan 47. Three consecutive runs by Sequon Herring of 12, 23, and 18 had the Trojans in the endzone quickly as Herring was on his way to 160 yards rushing. Keith Horn's extra point gave St. James an early 7 - 0 lead. Hurricane Ivan had rendered all of the Carlisle Field scoreboard unworkable, except for the score digits, thus time was kept on field.

After a squib kickoff which was returned to their own 42, Calhoun began a good-looking drive as well. However, after a long screen pass and run deep into Trojan territory, the tackler knocked the ball loose and it was recovered by St. James on its own 15 yard line. Herring shouldered most of the load again, picking up more rushing yards and catching a 23 yard pass to get the Trojans back into Tiger territory. However, after a sack on third and 1, St. James turned the ball over on downs. Calhoun went 4 and out as well, unable to convert from midfield.

On the next drive, the Trojans covered 50 yards in 4 plays - a short pass reception by Jay Robertson, a 16 yard run by Herring, an 8 yard run by Jason Smith, and a 19 yard touchdown pass reception from Rob Cole to Herring. Horn's extra point gave the Trojans a two touchdown lead late in the first quarter.

The Tigers once again drove into Trojan territory, but a very costly offensive pass interference penalty pushed them back into their own half of the field, and a shanked punt again gave St. James possession at midfield. The ensuing drive was littered with five yard penalties by both sides, but key runs by Berry and Herring gradually moved them downfield, and Cole found Will Webber from his fullback position on the receiving end of a six yard touchdown pass. Horn's kick gave St. James a 21 - 0 lead midway through the second quarter.

Calhoun again benefited from a short kickoff, a decent return, and a 15 yard face mask penalty to get deep into Trojan territory. In fact, a 14 yard touchdown pass was called back due to an ineligible receiver downfield on one play. From there, with the clock running out, Calhoun became increasingly disorganized and had to settle for a desperation pass on fourth down from the Trojan 22 which was intercepted by Webber in the endzone on the final play of the first half.

To start the second half, a deep Trojan kickoff nevertheless was returned to the Tiger 40. The next two plays went backwards, however, and a lost fumble on the second gave the Trojans possession at the Calhoun 31. A 15 yard catch by Robertson and a 10 yard run by Berry quickly had St. James down to the Calhoun 6, but a penalty and two quarterback sacks eventually led to the Trojans turning the ball over on downs. However, the Tigers, being the hospitable visiting hosts, returned the favour as Leigh Kennedy intercepted a deep pass and returned it all the way to the Tiger 11. Three plays later, Cole tossed his third touchdown pass of the game, a 4 yarder, to Herring. This time the extra point was blocked, but the Trojans were in control at 27 - 0 toward the end of the third quarter.

A Trojan face mask penalty on the kickoff return once more gave Calhoun good field position, but Herring intercepted a pass on the next play turning the ball back over. Herring picked up a first down on the first play, but later two quarterback sacks led to another turnover on downs. Two Tiger penalties on one play led to another short Calhoun punt, and the Trojans travelled 53 yards for a touchdown despite a clipping penalty on the opening play of the drive. Jason Smith had three of the runs as Herring was given some time at the quarterback position. Smith's final run of 14 yards was good enough for the touchdown and the Horn kick gave St. James a 34 - 0 lead.

Calhoun finally got on the scoreboard as quarterback Carlos Medlock completed two passes of 32 and 28 yards, the latter coming up just short of the goal line. Medlock called his own number on the next play on a sneak for Calhoun's first and only score. A two point conversion pass was caught, but a foot was on the backline of the endzone so it was waved incomplete, leaving the score at 34 - 6.

With offensive reserves and junior varsity players in for St. James, except for Herring at quarterback, he lofted a first down pass to a wide open J.B. Edwards for his first touch of the season, a 58 yard pass reception down to the 2 yard line. Herring kept for his fourth touchdown of the game on the next play, and despite a muff on the hold of the extra point, St. James had a commanding 40 - 6 lead late in the ballgame.

An unknown Trojan up from the Junior Varsity picked off a Calhoun pass on the next scrimmage play, but the referees allowed the "sideline clock" to run out before any more offensive plays could be run, and the Trojans began their pursuit of another area championship with homecoming and area foe Keith due at Carlisle the following week.

SIDELINE STATISTICS - GAME SIX

ST. JAMES RUSHING 36 attempts 259 yards 3 TDs (7.19 yards per carry)

11 Herring 18 / 160 (2 TDs) 20 Berry 8 / 58
17 Smith 4 / 41 (1 TD) 12 Cole 6 / - 10

                        PASSING     7 completions 8 attempts 0 INTs 128 yards 3 TDs (5 sacks of, - 22 yards)

                       12   Cole            6 - 7 - 0   80 yards   3 TDs   (4 sacks of, - 18 yards)
                         11   Herring        1 - 1 - 0   58 yards                 (1 sack of, - 4 yards)

RECEIVING

30 Edwards 1 / 58 11 Herring 3 / 46 (2 TDs)
44 Roberson 2 / 18 21 Webber 1 / 6 (1 TD)

TOTAL YARDS: 387

                        KICKS: XP 4 / 6 FG 0 / 0
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS: 0 / 0
                        KICKOFFS: 7 (30,37,43,50,47,27,EZ)    PUNTS: 0
                        KO RETURNS: 2 (0,0)                              PUNT RETURNS: 0
                        INTERCEPTION RETURNS: 4 (0,31,0,0)
                        FIRST DOWNS:   21 (14 rushing, 7 passing)
      FUMBLES: 0
                        TURNOVER MARGIN: + 6
                        PENALTIES: 5 / 55 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION: not available (clock not functioning)

CALHOUN RUSHING   18 attempts 40 yards 1 TD (2.22 yards per carry)
                        PASSING   7 completions 18 attempts 4 INTs 113 yards 0 TDs   (no sacks of)
                        TOTAL YARDS: 153

                        KICKS: XP 0 / 0                FG 0 / 0
2 POINT CONVERSIONS: 0 / 1
KICKOFFS: 2 (13,20)       PUNTS: 2 (8,21)
                        KO RETURNS: 6 (12,20,21,30,20,6)       PUNT RETURNS: 0
                        FIRST DOWNS:   8 (4 rushing, 3 passing, 1 penalty)
                        FUMBLES: 2, lost 2
                        PENALTIES: 7 / 45 yards
TIME OF POSSESSION: not available (clock not functioning)

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