Neither team generated much offense in the first quarter and a half of the game.  Each team's first three drives ended in punts.  With 7:35 to go in the half, the Trojan offense took over on their own 15 yard line.  The next eight plays, all rushing, netted 3 first downs and 45 yards.  From the Eagle 40 yard line, the Trojans tried their first pass of the game (after 21 consecutive rushes), a completion from Ryan Sexton to Logan Markham for 19 yards.  After two runs netted losses and a delay of game penalty occurred as the half wore down, a 3rd and 18 call demanded the second pass for the Trojans, and this one went the distance.  Sexton hooked up with Matt Grooms for 29 and the first Trojan score of the season.  Nigel Guntharp's extra point made the score 7-0 with less than a minute remaining in the first half.

On three consecutive plays after the kickoff, ACA completed passes of 15 and 16 yards, and added another 15 on a roughing the passer penalty.  With 13 seconds to go, ACA was threatening on the Trojan 20.  After an incomplete pass in the endzone, QB/K Hamp Russell missed a field goal wide left, keeping the score at 7-0.   The Eagles would not seriously threaten to score again.

ACA converted several first downs immediately after the second half kickoff, but could get no closer than the Trojan 33 and had to punt.  St. James struck quickly on a 7 play 88 yard drive.  The fifth play of the drive was the highlight, as Grooms broke loose on the left side on a counter cut play for 57 yards, advancing the ball to the Eagle 13.  Two plays later, Ryan Sexton called his own number on a QB sweep right from 12 yards out, impressively diving through ACA potential tacklers the final 4 yards into the endzone.  Guntharp's extra point boinked off the right upright, but went through, giving the Trojans a 14-0 lead midway through the third quarter.

St. James nearly scored on its next possession as well.  In fact, they reached the endzone twice - once on a Sexton to Guntharp pass and again on a Sexton QB sweep - but both plays were called back on penalties.  Faced with fourth and four from the Eagles 6, Guntharp attempted his first field goal of the year from 23 yards, but it drifted wide left.

ACA, which did not make a first down after their initial drive of the third quarter, never threatened again and St. James eventually ran out the clock to seal the 14-0 victory.

There were no turnovers by either team, sparkling for a first game of the season, but St. James' penalties (12 for 67 yards) hindered offensive drives.  The Trojan defense sparkled, holding ACA to minus 1 rushing yard net, and only 88 yards passing.

SIDELINE STATISTICS - GAME ONE

ST. JAMES      RUSHING   51 attempts  257 yards   1 TD  (5.04 yards per carry)

                        21  Grooms      9 /   98     1   McDonald    9 / 51    17   Sexton         9 / 41  (1 TD)
                        33   Snipe       10 /   31     2   Guntharp      9 / 31     4   Holloway      5 /  5

                        PASSING     2 completions  3 attempts  0 INTs  48 yards  1 TD  (1 sack of, - 7 yards)

                        17  Sexton         2 - 3 - 0       48 yards   1 TD   (1 sack, - 7 yards)

                        RECEIVING

                        21  Grooms        1 / 29  (TD)     91  Markham  1 / 19

                        TOTAL YARDS:  305

                        KICKS:  XP  2 / 2                FG  0 / 1  (29 missed)
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                        KICKOFFS:  3 (51,24ob,52)                                  PUNTS:  5 (37EZ,53,17,15,29)
                        KO RETURNS:  1 (28)                                         PUNT RETURNS:  3 (7,0fc,0)
                        FIRST DOWNS:   16  (12 rushing, 4 passing)
                        FUMBLES:  1, lost 0
                        TURNOVER MARGIN:  0
                        PENALTIES:  12 / 67 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:  31:02