2009 - GAME 6
ST.
JAMES 15,
Holtville 14 
HOL 7 7 0 0 14
STJ
0
7
0 8
15
SCORING SUMMARY:
HOL (1) 2:43 Taunton 10 pass from Arant (Arant kick) 0 - 7
HOL (2) 11:01 Taunton 66 pass from Arant (Arant kick) 0 - 14
STJ (2) 5:05 Baker recovered blocked punt in endzone (Weldon kick) 7 - 14
STJ (4) 7:12 Ketzler 4 run (Weldon run) 15 - 14
October 2, 2009.
HOMECOMING
Carlisle
Field. Game Conditions: Partly Cloudy
Game Temperature: 77 Wind: SW 8
B.J. Weldon (# 1) readies for what would have been a game-tying extra point, but with no defenders except the referee and Jordan Boston (# 5) - Weldon
keeps and runs up the middle for a two point conversion to take the lead over the surprised Bulldogs. (Photo courtesy of Kevin and Mary Ann Ostrye)
B.J. Weldon (# 1) readies for what would have been a game-tying extra point, but with no defenders except the referee and Jordan Boston (# 5) - Weldon
keeps and runs up the middle for a two point conversion to take the lead over the surprised Bulldogs. (Photo courtesy of Kevin and Mary Ann Ostrye)
St. James' Crawford
Steinberg blocked two
Holtville punts, one of them directly leading to a score, and
one
changing field
position eventually leading to a fourth quarter drive, but it
was B.J.
Weldon's keeper on an extra point attempt where most of the
line had
lined up to the left and he was left virtually uncovered as he
ran into
the endzone for a winning two point conversion, and St. James
was the
winner at its third straight homecoming, further strengthening
its
region lead to 4 - 0 with a 15 - 14 victory over the Bulldogs.
This game was about as opposite as its 2008 predecessor between the same two teams as possible. That game featured well over 900 yards of total offense, while the two teams this night could not reach the 350 yard mark between them. Holtville, after fair catching the opening kickoff, managed one first down early but Justin Boston's punt was downed at the 2 by the Bulldogs, setting a theme of poor field position for the Trojans throughout the first half. And, a shanked punt after failing to earn a first down gave Holtville a short field which they took advantage of. From the Trojan 25, three plays netted a first down at the St. James 10. On fourth down, still from the 10, Daniel Arant threw his fifth career touchdown pass against St. James (four in 2008), finding his favorite receiver Justin Taunton wide open on a post pattern across the middle to open game scoring. Arant added his own extra point, and Holtville was up 7 - 0 late in the first quarter.
The Trojans finally moved the ball on their second drive on the legs of John Slayton, Nick Ostrye, and Lee Ketzler. However, on the first play of the second quarter, St. James turned the ball over on downs at the Bulldog 32. After a 2 yard run on first down, Arant threw his second touchdown pass of the game on a deep crossing route to Taunton, who outran the coverage on the far sideline for a 66 yard score. Arant's kick gave Holtville a 14 - 0 lead and early control. It is unlikely anyone would have guessed the Bulldogs would never seriously threaten to score again.
After an out of bounds kick off, St. James picked up a first down on a Ketzler 9 yard run and a personal foul penalty afterwards. However, a sack and a delay of game penalty, one of only two called on the Trojans, slowed the drive and B.J. Weldon's punt rolled dead at the Holtville 13. The Bulldogs converted a third and 14 with an exactly 14 yard pass completion, but a holding penalty stalled the drive. On fourth down from their own 18, a punt was called for but three Trojans broke through the protection and Crawford Steinberg reached through for a punt block. The ball rolled backwards into the endzone and was finally fallen upon by Brandyn Baker, one of the rushers, and St. James had its first touchdown of the night thanks to special teams. Weldon's extra point cut the Holtville lead in half with just over 5 minutes remaining in the second quarter.
The quick momentum swing was heightened as Holtville fumbled a pass completion on first down, and St. James was back in business at the Bulldog 44. However, their drive went backwards, and even though each team had two late possessions in the second quarter, neither team could score. LaMilton Bennett's interception for Holtville stopped the most signficant scoring threat. The third quarter was just as unproductive for both teams. St. James fumbled on the first scrimmage play of the third quarter, but Holtville returned the favor three plays later. The Trojans punted before making a first down, and after a holding penalty negated a sizable Bulldog run, a second punt was blocked by Steinberg, which later earned him the Alabama Sportswriters Association Special Teams Player of the Week for the entire state of Alabama. This time Baker returned the blocked punt four yards to the Holtville 33. The Trojans picked up two first downs on Slayton runs, but on first and goal from the 10, another fumble cost the Trojans a golden scoring opportunity.
St. James stopped the Bulldogs, forcing a punt on the first play of the final quarter. The ball was downed at the Trojan 26, and again it seemed St. James was stymied by poor field position. However, the Trojans began finding holes in the bigger defensive line of Holtville, and a key play, a double reverse to B.J. Weldon, picked up 38 yards on third down for a huge first down. Weldon took a direct handoff on the next play for 12 yards, and St. James was suddenly threatening at the Holtville 18. A Slayton run for 4, a Nick Ostrye run for 4, and another Slayton run gave the Trojans first down at the Bulldog 5. Lee Ketzler saw a hole on first down but was grabbed from behind and downed at the 4. He called his own number again and dove off the left side for a St. James touchdown, cutting the lead to 1. As St. James often does, they line up a majority of their offensive lineman to the left side of the field prior to the extra point attempt, leaving only the long snapper, the holder, and the kicker between the goalposts. This time, Holtville chose to leave only one defender against the snapper, and he was off to the left side. The ball was snapped perfectly to Weldon's # 1 and he grabbed the ball and followed two blockers into the endzone for a two point conversion the Bulldogs were most unprepared for, and suddenly the Trojans had taken the lead at 15 - 14, but there was still almost half of the fourth quarter remaining.
The Bulldogs took over at their own 34 yard line, but Arant was sacked for a 12 yard loss on first down, and two plays later after a short pass completion, a dead ball personal foul penalty pushed the ball back a further 15 yards, and a punt gave St. James good field position at the Bulldog 48. Slayton's 18 yard run on first down moved the ball down to the 30, but several losses and a penalty and a Holtville time out stalled the drive. A pooch punt down to the 15 yard line gave Holtville one last chance, and after a 10 yard catch and run for a first down, two plays followed which made each side breathe deeper. On first down from the 25, Arant was looking at the crossing route for Taunton, but Trojan Crawford Steinberg read the route and had the ball thrown directly to him, but he couldn't hold it. Two plays later, Arant sent Taunton deep down the middle, and he had outraced both very deep safeties, but the ball was just a shred overthrown and Taunton dropped what would have almost certainly been a go-ahead touchdown catch. On fourth down, Arant's pass was intercepted by Weldon and returned to the Holtville 20. With 2½ minutes remaining, and only one Bulldog time out remaining, Slayton's 3 yard carry for a first down was enough so that the Trojans could run out the clock, something they had little opportunity to do in their three previous last minute wins. The win gave the Trojans a 4 - 0 region record and almost assured them of their first playoff appearance in five years.
This game was about as opposite as its 2008 predecessor between the same two teams as possible. That game featured well over 900 yards of total offense, while the two teams this night could not reach the 350 yard mark between them. Holtville, after fair catching the opening kickoff, managed one first down early but Justin Boston's punt was downed at the 2 by the Bulldogs, setting a theme of poor field position for the Trojans throughout the first half. And, a shanked punt after failing to earn a first down gave Holtville a short field which they took advantage of. From the Trojan 25, three plays netted a first down at the St. James 10. On fourth down, still from the 10, Daniel Arant threw his fifth career touchdown pass against St. James (four in 2008), finding his favorite receiver Justin Taunton wide open on a post pattern across the middle to open game scoring. Arant added his own extra point, and Holtville was up 7 - 0 late in the first quarter.
The Trojans finally moved the ball on their second drive on the legs of John Slayton, Nick Ostrye, and Lee Ketzler. However, on the first play of the second quarter, St. James turned the ball over on downs at the Bulldog 32. After a 2 yard run on first down, Arant threw his second touchdown pass of the game on a deep crossing route to Taunton, who outran the coverage on the far sideline for a 66 yard score. Arant's kick gave Holtville a 14 - 0 lead and early control. It is unlikely anyone would have guessed the Bulldogs would never seriously threaten to score again.
After an out of bounds kick off, St. James picked up a first down on a Ketzler 9 yard run and a personal foul penalty afterwards. However, a sack and a delay of game penalty, one of only two called on the Trojans, slowed the drive and B.J. Weldon's punt rolled dead at the Holtville 13. The Bulldogs converted a third and 14 with an exactly 14 yard pass completion, but a holding penalty stalled the drive. On fourth down from their own 18, a punt was called for but three Trojans broke through the protection and Crawford Steinberg reached through for a punt block. The ball rolled backwards into the endzone and was finally fallen upon by Brandyn Baker, one of the rushers, and St. James had its first touchdown of the night thanks to special teams. Weldon's extra point cut the Holtville lead in half with just over 5 minutes remaining in the second quarter.
The quick momentum swing was heightened as Holtville fumbled a pass completion on first down, and St. James was back in business at the Bulldog 44. However, their drive went backwards, and even though each team had two late possessions in the second quarter, neither team could score. LaMilton Bennett's interception for Holtville stopped the most signficant scoring threat. The third quarter was just as unproductive for both teams. St. James fumbled on the first scrimmage play of the third quarter, but Holtville returned the favor three plays later. The Trojans punted before making a first down, and after a holding penalty negated a sizable Bulldog run, a second punt was blocked by Steinberg, which later earned him the Alabama Sportswriters Association Special Teams Player of the Week for the entire state of Alabama. This time Baker returned the blocked punt four yards to the Holtville 33. The Trojans picked up two first downs on Slayton runs, but on first and goal from the 10, another fumble cost the Trojans a golden scoring opportunity.
St. James stopped the Bulldogs, forcing a punt on the first play of the final quarter. The ball was downed at the Trojan 26, and again it seemed St. James was stymied by poor field position. However, the Trojans began finding holes in the bigger defensive line of Holtville, and a key play, a double reverse to B.J. Weldon, picked up 38 yards on third down for a huge first down. Weldon took a direct handoff on the next play for 12 yards, and St. James was suddenly threatening at the Holtville 18. A Slayton run for 4, a Nick Ostrye run for 4, and another Slayton run gave the Trojans first down at the Bulldog 5. Lee Ketzler saw a hole on first down but was grabbed from behind and downed at the 4. He called his own number again and dove off the left side for a St. James touchdown, cutting the lead to 1. As St. James often does, they line up a majority of their offensive lineman to the left side of the field prior to the extra point attempt, leaving only the long snapper, the holder, and the kicker between the goalposts. This time, Holtville chose to leave only one defender against the snapper, and he was off to the left side. The ball was snapped perfectly to Weldon's # 1 and he grabbed the ball and followed two blockers into the endzone for a two point conversion the Bulldogs were most unprepared for, and suddenly the Trojans had taken the lead at 15 - 14, but there was still almost half of the fourth quarter remaining.
The Bulldogs took over at their own 34 yard line, but Arant was sacked for a 12 yard loss on first down, and two plays later after a short pass completion, a dead ball personal foul penalty pushed the ball back a further 15 yards, and a punt gave St. James good field position at the Bulldog 48. Slayton's 18 yard run on first down moved the ball down to the 30, but several losses and a penalty and a Holtville time out stalled the drive. A pooch punt down to the 15 yard line gave Holtville one last chance, and after a 10 yard catch and run for a first down, two plays followed which made each side breathe deeper. On first down from the 25, Arant was looking at the crossing route for Taunton, but Trojan Crawford Steinberg read the route and had the ball thrown directly to him, but he couldn't hold it. Two plays later, Arant sent Taunton deep down the middle, and he had outraced both very deep safeties, but the ball was just a shred overthrown and Taunton dropped what would have almost certainly been a go-ahead touchdown catch. On fourth down, Arant's pass was intercepted by Weldon and returned to the Holtville 20. With 2½ minutes remaining, and only one Bulldog time out remaining, Slayton's 3 yard carry for a first down was enough so that the Trojans could run out the clock, something they had little opportunity to do in their three previous last minute wins. The win gave the Trojans a 4 - 0 region record and almost assured them of their first playoff appearance in five years.