GAME 1: @ Elmore County 41, St. James 7

STJ 0 0 7 0 7

ECO 7 13 7 14 41

SCORING SUMMARY:

ECO (1)    3:46   Worthy 4 run                                        (Rowe kick)       0 -   7
ECO (2)    2:38   Butler 7 run                                          (Rowe kick)       0 - 14
ECO (2)    0:34   Butler 16 run                                 (kick blocked)       0 - 20
ECO (3)    4:07   Stanley 35 pass from Worthy                (Rowe kick)       0 - 27
STJ   (3)    3:01   Sutter 71 pass from Enslen                   (Sutter kick)       7 - 27
ECO (4) 10:12   Butler 14 run                                         (Rowe kick)      7 - 34
ECO (4)    5:45   Butler 14 run                                         (Rowe kick)      7 - 41

September 1, 2006. 7 PM Burt-Haynie Field, Eclectic Game Conditions: Partly Cloudy, humid Game Temperature: 86 Wind: Light, W to NW

St. James could not overcome five turnovers, poor field position, and some unfortunate luck as it seems every game break went the way of the Panthers in their home opener and the season opener for both teams as Elmore County defeated the Trojans 41 - 7. Leron Butler scored four touchdowns for the Panthers in a game which could have been worse scorewise but really was not played as one-sidedly as the score indicated.

The Trojans picked up several first downs on their opening drive, but a Will Martin pass was intercepted by Elmore County's Bo Ayers. His return was all the way down to the Trojan 21, but a block in the back penalty cut off most of the gained yardage. Three plays later, a shanked punt gave St. James their best field position of the night at the Panther 43. After a holding penalty on first down, St. James coughed up a fumble two plays later wasting an early opportunity and Elmore County was back in business.

They travelled 53 yards in 12 plays. Half of the yardage was eaten up on the first play on a pass from Matthew Worthy to backup quarterback Adam Davenport. Later, after a first and goal at the Trojan 8, Elmore County only gained one yard on three plays. A field goal attempt was set up, but when a Trojan lined up in the neutral zone resulting in a half the distance offsides penalty, the Panthers reconsidered and called on Worthy, who carried in from just inside the four for a touchdown. Nick Rowe's kick gave Elmore County a 7 - 0 lead late in the first quarter.

St. James went three and out, but Graham Sutter's 53 yard punt pushed the Panthers back to their own 24. Elmore County later punted, and St. James drove as close as the Panther 30 before turning the ball over on downs. The defenses continued to shine as Elmore County was forced to punt again, but Ayers intercepted another pass on St. James' next offensive play and returned it to the Trojan 33. Another Trojan offside penalty enabled Elmore County to convert a short yardage fourth down, and from seven yards out Leron Butler scored his first of four touchdowns. Rowe's kick gave Elmore County a two touchdown lead late in the half.

Bad luck struck the Trojans as Matt Dean slipped and fell at the Trojan 3 while fielding the ensuing kickoff. Three plays and another punt later, Elmore County had 99 seconds remaining on the clock and 43 yards to travel. Worthy completed two key passes to Willie McDowell for 13 and 14 yard first down receptions, and Butler picked up his second touchdown breaking tackles from the 5 yard line. Chad Crews blocked the extra point, but the Panthers had all the halftime momentum and a 20 point lead.

The bad luck continued for St. James on the opening kickoff as an onside try was attempted. The execution was nearly perfect, except that the kick only advanced 9 yards before rolling dead. However, the Panthers could not take advantage of the good field position and punted, as did the Trojans three plays later. St. James stopped Elmore County for no gain on a fourth down and 3 at the Trojan 30, but Keith Anthony intercepted another St. James pass on the next play.

The fresh legs of Daniel Stanley were featured on the next drive as he caught passes from Worthy of 18 and 15 yards and the Panthers were in business again at the Trojan 31. Two plays later, St. James finally appeared to catch a break as Chad Crews intercepted a pass deep in Trojan territory and returned it out near the 30 yard line, but he was hit and fumbled the ball which was recovered by the Panthers. The play was actually wiped out by penalties on both sides, but two plays later Stanley made a fine catch on a finer throw from Worthy splitting two Trojan defenders just short of the endzone for a 35 yard touchdown. Rowe's kick gave Elmore County a commanding 27 - 0 lead.

Matt Dean's kickoff return of 38 yards was slashed by more than half because of a holding penalty. St. James opted for backup quarterback John Enslen, and his presence was felt immediately. He kept twice for 3 and 9 yards, and then found Graham Sutter on a crossing route executed perfectly. Sutter outran several potential tacklers to the endzone for a 71 yard touchdown pass and the Trojans' first score of the year. After two delay of game penalties because of personnel issues, Sutter still kicked the extra point, and St. James for the first time had some life and were within 20 with more than a quarter to go.

The Panthers were backed up to their own 19 to start the next drive, but sealed the victory with an 81 yard drive. Worthy threw another pass to Stanley for 14 yards and picked up 21 on a keeper before the third quarter horn blew. Butler carried four times to start the fourth quarter, for 1, 21, 0 and 14 yards for his third touchdown, and a 34 - 7 lead after the extra point.

St. James turned the ball over on downs at midfield, and the Panthers drove 50 for another touchdown. Duplicating the last drive, Butler carried in from the 14 for his fourth touchdown and a 41 - 7 lead. Hunter Finklea, a Panthers reserve linebacker, intercepted a pass on the next Trojan scrimmage play and returned it to the St. James 13. The Panthers got as close to the 1 yard line before mercifully running out the last two minutes plus of the clock by downing the ball, but celebrated a convincing victory afterwards, leaving the Trojans to regroup before the start of regional play.

GAME ONE SIDELINE STATISTICS:

ST. JAMES RUSHING 23 attempts 71 yards 0 TDs (3.08 yards per carry)

14 Dean 9 / 27 3 Martin 8 / 24
16 Enslen 5 / 17 19 Newton 1 / 3

PASSING 8 completions 18 attempts 4 INTs 91 yards 1 TD (no sacks of)

16 Enslen 3 - 7 - 1 81 yards 1 TD
3 Martin 5 - 11 - 3 10 yards

RECEIVING

4 Sutter 3 / 75 (1 TD) 32 Christian 2 / 13 14 Dean 1 / 4
19 Newton 1 / 1 16 Enslen 1 / - 2

TOTAL YARDS: 162

                        KICKS: XP 1 / 1                FG 0 / 0
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS: 0 / 0
                        KICKOFFS: 2 (9o,57)                 PUNTS: 3 (53,35,35)
                        KO RETURNS: 7 (15,30,0,12,21,25,10)   PUNT RETURNS: 2 (0fc,4)
                        FIRST DOWNS:   7    (4 rushing, 2 passing, 1 penalty)
                        FUMBLES: 1, lost 1
                        INTERCEPTION RETURNS: 0
                        TURNOVER MARGIN:   - 5
                        PENALTIES: 7 / 53 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION: 17:41

ELMORE CO. RUSHING   47 attempts 151 yards 5 TDs (3.21 yards per carry)
                        PASSING    11 completions 24 attempts 0 INTs 185 yards   1 TD (1 sack of, - 8 yards)
                        TOTAL YARDS: 336

                        KICKS: XP 5 / 6                FG 0 / 0
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS: 0 / 0
                        KICKOFFS:   7 (57,57,57,54,54,53,49)    PUNTS: 4 (18,36,40,41)
                        KO RETURNS: 1 (16)                PUNT RETURNS:   2 (7,3)
                        INTERCEPTION RETURNS: 4 (13,19,0,23)
                        FIRST DOWNS: 18 (9 rushing, 9 passing)
                        FUMBLES: 0
                        PENALTIES: 8 / 53 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:   30:19

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