9-6-02 ST. JAMES 24, Southside-Selma 8

SCORING SUMMARY:

STJ (1) 6:34 Gantt 1 run (Nelson kick) 7 - 0
S S (2) 4:05 Watts 26 pass from Coston (Myles run) 7 - 8
STJ (3) 8:51 Nelson 37 FG 10 - 8
STJ (3) 5:14 Howell 11 pass from Gantt (Nelson kick) 17 - 8
STJ (3) 2:48 Gantt 7 run (Nelson kick) 24 - 8

September 6, 2002 Carlisle Field, Montgomery Game conditions: Partly cloudy/hazy breezy Game temperature: 88 Wind E 10

Brett Gantt ran for two touchdowns and passed for another to Alex Howell, who gained nearly 130 all-purpose yards. Taylor Nelson also added three extra points and his third field goal of the year as the Trojans overcame a halftime deficit by scoring on their initial three third quarter possessions in the opening regional matchup of the season to defeat a first time football opponent, the Panthers of Southside-Selma, 24-8.

St. James marched 71 yards to paydirt on the first drive of the game. Ted Brewer runs of 10 and 12 yards provided two of the six first downs on the drive, as a Gantt to Howell pass completion for 15 yards provided another. On third and goal from inside the 1, Gantt snuck over for the touchdown. Taylor Nelson's extra point made the score 7-0 after an impressive sustained drive of nearly 5½ minutes.

The Panthers got into Trojan territory on their first two drives but each time lost the ball on downs. St. James elected to punt on their ensuing two drives. Midway through the second quarter, Southside took over on their own 40. On the first play of the drive, a Quinton Coston pass to halfback Tony Myles, who was pesky throughout the evening while handling the ball, gained 32 yards. Two plays later it was another pass, this time to Darryl Watts and for 26 yards and a touchdown. The Panthers elected to go for two, and Myles scored rather easily on a sweep, giving the Trojans their first come-from-behind situation of the season as they trailed 8-7 with just over 4 minutes remaining in the half.

After a Trojan punt, the Panthers were moving again down the field with ease, but a nice diving interception by Forrest Hull at the Trojan 22 with 74 seconds left in the half stopped the momentum. A 23 yard pass and run to Howell advanced the ball over midfield with 41 seconds remaining, and St. James shifted into one minute drill mode. A quarterback sack was sandwiched by two completions, the second to Chris Roberts for a first down. Another brilliant catch by Howell while surrounded by Panthers gave St. James another first down at the Southside 14 with 7 seconds remaining. After an incomplete pass, Taylor Nelson's 32 yard last second field goal try was just wide right, and Southside took a perhaps surprising 8-7 lead into halftime.

However, the Trojans scored on each of their next three possessions to regain command of the game. The Panthers gained 23 on the first scrimmage play of the half on a pass completion, but three plays later Coston was stuffed on an attempted option play and fumbled. Another Gantt to Howell completion was boosted by a personal foul penalty, one of very few penalties in the game, and the ball was suddenly on the Panther 25. The drive stalled after a 5 yard Brewer run, but Nelson came in and booted a 37 yard field goal returning the lead to the Trojans at 10-8, with 8:51 left in the third quarter..

Southside was 3 and out, and a spectacular 25 yard punt return by Howell with minimal blockers available had the Trojans threatening again at the Panther 40. Howell caught two passes on the ensuing drive, of 7 and 11 yards, the second for a touchdown. Nelson's extra point was good and the lead jumped to a two score margin at 17-8 with 5:14 remaining in the third quarter.

Another 3 and out and a second fine Howell punt return put the ball on the Panther 45. A bruising run by Brewer picked up 38 yards, and Gantt quickly finished up the drive with a 7 yard sweep scamper for the touchdown. Nelson's third extra point finalized the scoring at 24-8.

Southside could never regain threatening field position. The Trojans did have two chances to score late in the fourth quarter. A Will Thrasher interception and return set the ball up on the Panther 25, but a fourth and five pass was incomplete. After a Southside quarterback sack and a desperation failed fourth down attempt, the Trojan second team was called in with over a minute to go from the Panther 8. Two Tyler Wahl runs moved the ball down to the three, but a last second field goal try by the backup placekicking team failed. However, St. James did pick up that vital first region win of the year with a dominant third quarter showing.

PASSING 13 completions 23 attempts 1 INT 122 yards 1 TD (2 sacks of, - 17 yards)

11 Howell 7 / 90 (1 TD) 6 Roberts 2 / 19 3 Nelson 2 / 6
80 Thompson 1 / 6 5 Barganier 1 / 1

SOUTHSIDE RUSHING   30 attempts 40 yards   (1.33 yards per carry)
                        PASSING    17 completions 35 attempts 2 INTs 196 yards 1 TD (3 sacks of, - 31 yards)
                        TOTAL YARDS: 236

                        KICKS: XP 0 / 0                FG 0 / 0
                              2 POINT CONVERSIONS: 1 / 1
                      KICKOFFS: 2 (45,49)                              PUNTS: 3 (33,26,22)
                        KO RETURNS: 5 (24,14,27,10,-3)          PUNT RETURNS: 1 (9)
                        FIRST DOWNS: 13 (5 rushing, 8 passing)
                        FUMBLES: 2, lost 1
                        PENALTIES: 3 / 29 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION: 27:33

GAME 2: ST. JAMES 24, Southside-Selma 8