10-16-98 ST. JAMES 30, @ John Carroll 18

SCORING SUMMARY:

STJ (1) ---- McMillan 14 run       (Ritch kick) 7 - 0
STJ (1) ---- McMillan 32 run       (Ritch kick) 14 - 0
STJ (2) ---- Reid 18 run (Ritch kick) 21 - 0
J C (2) ---- Rivers 40 FG 21 - 3
STJ (2) ---- Reid 8 pass from Murphy (Ritch kick)    28 - 3
J C (3) ---- Brimage 1 run ( kick) 28 - 10
J C (3) ---- Carbonie 24 yard pass from Buczek ( pass) 28 - 18
STJ (4) ---- Safety, Ingle tackles runner in endzone 30 - 18

October 16, 1998 John Carroll Field, Birmingham Game conditions: not yet available

St. James, ranked 10th in 3A in the latest AHSAA polls, visited 5A football territory for the first time ever, traveling to suburban Birmingham and surprising the John Carroll Cavaliers 30-18.

St. James piled up 405 yards in total offense (313 rushing), and scored touchdowns on their first four possessions, breaking some of the offensive doldrums the team had suffered earlier in the season. Jake McMillan, who finished with 186 yards rushing (a season high) on 32 carries, scored twice on TD runs of 14 and 32 yards. Michael Reid scored the other two touchdowns, on an 18 yard run and an 8 yard reception from Lee Murphy, all in the first half. Reid finished the game with 125 yards on 19 carries.

John Carroll closed the margin slightly with a second quarter 40 yard FG from Todd Rivers, and second half touchdowns from Michael Brimage on a one yard run, and a 24 yard TD pass from Chris Buczek to Jerry Carbonie. St. James nearly scored a late touchdown, but turned the ball over on downs. However, on first down in the last minute of the game, Jeremy Ingle tackled a John Carroll runner in the endzone for a safety and the final margin of 30-18.

The game recap was again thankfully provided by metro-Birmingham correspondent William Richardson.

GAME 8: ST. JAMES 30, @ John Carroll 18