2009 - GAME 9

Ashford 14, St. James 0

ASH 0 7 7 0 14

STJ 0 0 0 0 0

SCORING SUMMARY:

ASH (2) 8:13 Anderson 58 run (McInnish kick) 0 - 7
ASH (3) 6:44 Williams 7 run (McInnish kick) 0 - 14

October 23, 2009 Carlisle Field. Game Conditions: Decreasing clouds and humidity Game Temperature: 71 Wind SW 5 - 10

The St. James offense sputtered throughout the game, producing its fewest total yards in a game in 18 years, and Ashford broke just enough long runs to score early and keep possession in the second half as the Trojans were shut out for the first time since 2006 in a 14 - 0 Yellow Jackets victory.

Ashford failed to earn a first down on their opening possession, and it appeared the same would be true for the Trojans until a defensive illegal participation penalty gave St. James a fourth and 1 at their own 38. Despite remaining in punt formation, the ball was snapped directly to Crawford Steinberg, and he rumbled forward for 6 yards and a Trojan first down. After Lee Ketzler's 16 yard scramble on the next play, the Trojans were in business, but as would be the case all night, disaster seemed to strike after every St. James positive. On the next play, a busted one, Ketzler was sacked and lost a fumble giving the ball back to Ashford.

The teams traded punts into the second quarter, and St. James began another drive. However, on the Yellow Jacket 24, the Trojans turned over the ball on downs, and two plays later Ashford made them pay. Malvin Anderson took the handoff and hid well behind blockers until he found his hole, and wiggled through the Trojans secondary until he broke loose for a 58 yard touchdown run. Jeremy McInnish's extra point was good, and Ashford had a 7 - 0 lead early in the second quarter.

After an out of bounds kickoff, the Trojans appeared to be stopped, but Justin Raybon muffed Wilson Adams' punt and it was fallen on by Taylor Wachs, giving St. James new life at the Yellow Jacket 32. Wachs was the receptor on a well-thrown pass by Ketzler down to the Ashford 3, and it looked as if St. James was ready to tie the score. However, three plays netted a loss of 9 yards, and backup kicker Forrest Taylor was called in to try a field goal. His line drive kick was straight, but sailed just below the crossbar and the Trojans had wasted a very golden scoring opportunity.

Neither team seriously threatened for the remainder of the half, and the Yellow Jackets took their touchdown lead into halftime. Two plays after another out of bounds kick, disaster struck as a bad snap went over Ketzler's head and was fallen on by Nick Ostrye back at St. James' own 26. This led to a punt which went out of bounds at the Trojan 48, and Ashford took advantage rapidly. The Yellow Jackets, which dominated second half possession time by 19+ minutes to less than 5 for the Trojans, ground out the ball, primarily on the legs of Ladavion Williams, whose 125 rushing yards on the night paled in comparison to Anderson's 193. On the eighth play of the drive, Williams carried in from 7 yards on a similar play to Anderson's score, and the McInnish extra point gave Ashford a two touchdown lead midway through the third quarter.

The Trojans, which only converted six first downs all evening, failed on their next drive, and Ashford ran out the rest of the third quarter clock and part of the fourth as they drove down the field. A McInnish field goal attempt from 27 yards was wide right, and now was the time for St. James to make something happen.

On first down, Ostrye broke loose down the near sidelines for a 25 yard gain. However, success again led to disaster as a dead ball unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was assessed against the Trojans, cutting out a majority of the long run. From there, a shanked punt gave Ashford the field position advantage again which they held for the remainder of the game. And they held the ball for nearly 10 minutes of the fourth quarter, not allowing St. James a first down. Ashford was content to turn the ball over on downs once, and was driving for another score before they began downing the ball upon reaching the 10 yard line as time was fading. From there, the Trojans, who had started an amazing 4 - 0 in the region were now at 4 - 3 and looking at other results to confirm their first playoff appearance since 2004.

GAME EIGHT SIDELINE STATISTICS

ST. JAMES RUSHING 22 attempts 19 yards (less than 1 yard per carry)

19 Ostrye 3 / 27 73 Steinberg 1 / 6 20 Slayton 9 / 4
7 Olsey 2 / 2 6 Ketzler 7 / - 20

PASSING 5 completions 23 attempts 1 INT 64 yards 0 TDs (2 sacks of, - 17 yards)

6 Ketzler 4 - 16 - 0 58 yards (2 sacks, - 17 yards)
14 Poe 1 - 7 - 1 6 yards

TOTAL YARDS: 83

                  KICKS: XP 0 / 0                FG 0 / 1 (25 missed)
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS: 0 / 0
                        KICKOFFS:   1 (OB)       PUNTS:   7 (13,36,31,27,23,13,46)
                        KO RETURNS:   1 (4)                 PUNT RETURNS: 1 (10)
                        FIRST DOWNS:   6 (3 rushing, 3 passing)
        FUMBLES: 3, lost 1
TURNOVER MARGIN:   - 1
                        POINTS OFF OF TURNOVERS: 0
      PENALTIES: 2 / 20 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION: 17:26

ASHFORD    RUSHING    52 attempts 319 yards 2 TDs (6.13 yards per carry)
                        PASSING       3 completions 7 attempts 0 INTs 21 yards 0 TDs (1 sack of, - 4 yards)
                        TOTAL YARDS:   340

                        KICKS: XP 2 / 2                FG 0 / 1 (27 missed)
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS: 0 / 0
                        KICKOFFS: 3 (OB,OB,28)             PUNTS: 4 (29,27,37,37)
                        KO RETURNS: 0                PUNT RETURNS: 2 (0f,17)
                        INTERCEPTION RETURNS: 1 (11)
                        FIRST DOWNS:   17 (15 rushing, 2 passing)
    FUMBLES: 3, lost 1
                        POINTS OFF OF TURNOVERS: 0
        PENALTIES: 9 / 66 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION: 30:34

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