GAME 3:   ST. JAMES 20, @ Elmore County 14

St. James overcame a game of occasionally sloppy play, most notably on special teams, capitalizing on a special teams return of their own as they weathered a 14 point comeback to defeat the Elmore County Panthers in Eclectic, 20-14, in the first ever varsity football matchup between these two teams.

Each team was forced to punt on its first drive.  However, St. James muffed their punt return and set up the Panthers with a first down on the St. James 8 yard line.  Three plays netted no yardage, and on fourth down the Elmore County field goal attempt was blocked by the onrushing Trojan defenders.  A.Z. Holloway picked up the ball on the 24 yard line and dashed 76 yards for a touchdown.   The Lawton Webb extra point gave the Trojans a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

On the Trojans' next drive, a 60 yard touchdown run by Nathan Yates was denied by a holding penalty, one of only two accepted penalties St. James would commit the entire game.  After punting, on Elmore County's third possession, a tipped pass was intercepted by Holloway and returned to the Trojan 47.  A Nathan Yates 6 yard run, a Nigel Guntharp 9 yard run, a Daniel Winn 7 yard run, and a 16 yard quarterback sweep by Alan Craft, plus a half the distance late hit penalty gave the Trojans first down at the Panther 8.  Two plays later, Yates carried over from the 5 for a touchdown.  The extra point gave the Trojans a seemingly safe 14-0 lead exactly halfway through the second quarter.

Two drives later, Elmore County cashed in on a botched Trojan punt which more resembled an onside kick - returning it to the Trojan 34.  Six plays later, Chase Hornsby lofted a pass downfield to Jason Brown which he snagged for a touchdown.  The extra point cut the lead in half at 14-7.  The Panthers had a chance to score in the last minute of the half after Brown caught a 38 yard pass down to the Trojan 22, but three incomplete passes and a foiled quarterback draw kept the halftime score at 14-7.

On the Trojans' first possession of the second half, a pass was intercepted by Bryan Goldman and returned to midfield.  Time ticked quickly in the third quarter as the Panthers advanced deliberately for three first downs.  The first play of the fourth quarter had Elmore County fourth and one at the Trojan 1, where quarterback John Leonard just snuck in.  The extra point tied the score at 14-14.

Neither team could move the ball on their next possessions.  St. James took over at their own 31 with just over 6 minutes remaining.   Four plays netted 13 yards.  On second and 11 from the 44, Yates took the second handoff on a reverse counter play, broke through the line, and darted 56 yards for a touchdown.  The extra point was blocked, which momentarily tempered the emotion, but St. James still had a 20-14 lead with 4:44 to go in the game.

Elmore County returned the ensuing kickoff to their own 42, and managed one first down, but a costly holding penalty on a run which would have earned a second first down led to an eventual failed fourth down conversion on fourth and two from the Trojan 33.  The Trojans earned one first down and practiced good time management to run out the clock, claiming a hard earned 20-14 region victory.

GAME THREE SIDELINE STATISTICS:

ST. JAMES      RUSHING   37 attempts  195 yards  2 TDs  (5.27 yards per carry)

                       34   Yates       11 / 90  (2 TDs)      2   Guntharp   16 / 70        22   Winn         3 / 18
                       10   Craft          5 / 14                   4   Holloway     1 /  2        44   Salvia         1 /   1

                        PASSING      1 completions  11 attempts   1 INT   8 yards  (no sacks of)

                       10   Craft          1 - 11 - 1      8 yards

                        RECEIVING

                         2   Guntharp         1 / 8

                        TOTAL YARDS:   203

                        KICKS:  XP  2 / 3                FG  0 / 0
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                        KICKOFFS:   4  (9,30,42,33)                                PUNTS:  5 (37,25,-3,42,38)
                        KO RETURNS:  3  (4,16,0)                                  PUNT RETURNS:  2 (0f,6)
                        BLOCKED FG RETURN:  1  (76TD)
                        INTERCEPTION RETURN:  1  (5)
                        FIRST DOWNS:   12  (10 rushing, 1 passing, 1 penalty)
                        FUMBLES:  2, lost 1
                        TURNOVER MARGIN:  - 1
                        PENALTIES:  2 / 25 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:  19:55

ELMORE CO.  RUSHING   49 attempts  156 yards  1 TD  (3.18 yards per carry)
                        PASSING      2 completions  11 attempts  1 INT  66 yards  1 TD  (1 sack of, - 9 yards)
                        TOTAL YARDS:  212

                        KICKS:  XP  2 / 2                FG  0 / 1  (missed 26-blocked)
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                        INTERCEPTION RETURN:  1 (6)
                        FIRST DOWNS:  12  (9 rushing, 2 passing, 1 penalty)
                        FUMBLES:  1, lost 0
                        PENALTIES:  8 / 63 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:  28:05