2010 - GAME 2

@ Straughn 30, Saint James 27
STJ           0       7      7     13         27
 
STR          0     10      6     14         30
SCORING SUMMARY:

STR  (2)   9:32   Dewrell 3 run                                               (Dewrell kick)       0 -   7
STJ   (2)   4:22   Ostrye 9 fumble return                             (Meadows kick)       7 -   7
STR  (2)   0:01   Dewrell 36 FG                                                                          7 - 10
STJ   (3)   5:39   Slayton 65 pass from Duncan                   (Meadows kick)     14 - 10
STR  (3)   2:31   Pickrel 29 pass from Dewrell                          (kick failed)      14 - 16
STJ   (4)   8:36   Olsey 7 pass from Duncan                             (pass failed)      20 - 16
STR  (4)   8:12   Lewis 54 run                                               (Dewrell kick)      20 - 23
STR  (4)   3:35   Short 7 run                                                 (Dewrell kick)      20 - 30
STJ   (4)   0:29   Slayton 15 pass from Duncan                  (Meadows kick)      27 - 30
September 3, 2010   Straughn Tigers Field.   Game Conditions:  Mostly Clear, humid    Game Temperature:  87    Wind:   none

The Trojan footballers first trip ever to Straughn was not a success in the win category, but Saint James continued to show improvement on both sides of the ball as they battled the # 6 ranked Tigers, ending up on the short end of a 30 - 27 decision.

The first quarter of this game was far less disastrous than the previous one.  In fact, the game was a virtual stalemate for a quarter.  Each team made several first downs, but chewed up minimal yardage doing so.  Each team attempted a fourth down conversion, but failed.  The Trojans appeared to have won the first quarter line of scrimmage battle when a Wilson Adams punt was downed at the Tiger 8.  However, the Tigers would travel 92 yards for the first score of the game.  Two costly offside penalties against Saint James, a 21 yard pass completion from Joshua Dewrell to Austin Pickrel, and a 31 yard scamper by Dewrell gave Straught first down at the Trojan 12.  Two plays later, Dewrell called his own number from the 3 yard line and the Tigers were on the board first.  Dewrell kicked his own extra point to give Straughn a 7 - 0 lead nearly three minutes into the second quarter.

Saint James got its offense in gear, moving in bigger chunks, including a 20 yard run by C.J. Duncan and a 19 yard run by John Slayton.  An 11 yard run by Duncan gave the Trojans first down at the Tiger 13.  The Trojans would get as close as the Straughn 4, but a fumbled pitch was recovered by the Tigers deep in their own territory.  Straughn was nice enough to return the favor, and for the second consecutive week Saint James would score a defensive touchdown.  Fullback Colten Lewis was swarmed by several Trojans three plays later, and they managed to rip the ball out.  Nick Ostrye picked up the loose ball at the 9 yard line and escorted Trojans into the endzone for the score.  Austin Meadows converted his extra point, and the score was tied at 7 with just over 4 minutes remaining in the first half.

The Tigers were not done scoring in the first half though.  Overcoming a block in the back penalty, Straughn moved down the field primarily on the running of Dewrell and Chase Short.  From the Trojan 18, Dewrell attempted, and converted, a 36 yard field goal with less than a second remaining to give Straughn a shaky at best 10 - 7 haltime lead.

Straughn opened up with the first drive of the second half, mostly on the legs of Dewrell and Lewis.  The Tigers got as close as the Trojan 3, but a holding penalty negated a possible touchdown run, and the Trojan defense stiffened.  Dewrell attempted a shorter field goal of 26 yards but it was low and wide left.  The Trojans avoided disaster on the first play when a fumbled snap was picked up by Ostrye in the backfield and he converted an almost sure loss into a 14 yard gain.  One play later, after the mandatory heat time out, Saint James worked on a play which had been open several times.  Duncan dropped back to pass and avoided two rushers, lofting a pass beautifully over a Tiger defender into the arms of John Slayton, who caught the ball at the 40 yard line and outraced the defender into the endzone for a 65 yard pass and run touchdown.  The Tiger fans seemed in shock as Meadows' kick gave Saint James its first lead of the game, at 14 - 10, midway through the third quarter.

The Trojans tried an onside kick to maintain momentum and ball possession, but Nicholas Allen fell on the ball for Straughn at their own 45.  Seven plays later, the Tigers were back in the lead as Dewrell found his favorite receiver Pickrel in the center of the endzone on the end of a 29 yard touchdown pass.  The extra point attempt was wide right, but Straughn had regained the lead at 16 - 14 late in the third quarter.

Both teams went three and out quickly on their next drives to end the quarter.  To start the fourth, two Duncan to Ostrye passes picked up 15 yards, and Duncan followed with 9 and 13 yard runs to give Saint James first down on the Tiger 4.  Two plays and a penalty later, Duncan connected on his second touchdown pass of the night, a seven yard dart to number seven, William Olsey, and the Trojans had regained the lead, 20 - 16.  Trying a two point conversion to raise the lead to 6 failed, but the Trojans again had a fourth quarter lead many did not expect.

It lasted all of 24 seconds, as Bradley Benton ran the kickoff back to the Tiger 46, and one play later Colten Lewis got the handoff, went left behind some questionable blocking, but powered 54 yards into the endzone.  Dewrell this time converted the extra point, and Straughn was up 23 - 20 with 8:12 remaining in the game.

Each team had only committed one turnover before this drive - the two fumbles in three plays; the second one resulting in the first Saint James touchdown.  However, the Trojans turned the ball over on a fumble near midfield after beginning a possible tying or winning drive.  From there, Dewrell picked up 27 yards on first down, and 7 plays later, Short picked up his first touchdown of the game on a 7 yard run on third down.  Dewrell's extra point gave Straughn a ten point lead with 3½ minutes remaining.

The Trojans would not be denied.  After a misdirection kickoff return only got as far as the Trojan 19, Duncan and Slayton took charge.  Several short Duncan passes, including one to Walker Woodson over the middle who held on despite a vicious hit, and a longer one down the sideline to Slayton, quickly advanced the ball into scoring range.  After a sack, a 15 yard personal foul penalty gave Saint James a first down at the Tiger 12.  Several plays later, after another sack, Duncan tossed his third touchdown pass of the evening, a 15 yarder to Slayton at the back of the endzone.  An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after the play was to be assessed on the upcoming kickoff.  Meadows' extra point cut the lead to 3, at 30 - 27, with only 29 seconds remaining and the Trojans down to one time out.

However, with the kickoff from the Tiger 45, any onside kick recovery would have Saint James within reach of another one of their amazing comebacks reminiscent of 2009, or at least a shot at a tying field goal.  However, by this time of evening, the well-manicured Straughn field was beginning to hold dew, and the onside kick attempt actually ended up travelling backwards with the wicked spin on the ball and the slickness of the field.  It finally spun out of bounds and the Tigers simply took possession there and ran two plays to expire the clock as they preserved their far-shakier than many expected victory.

SIDELINE STATISTICS  - GAME TWO

SAINT JAMES  RUSHING    37 attempts  148 yards  0 TDs  4.00 yards per carry

                           5   Duncan            25 / 94             20   Slayton          7 / 38
                         19   Ostrye               4 / 21               7   Olsey             1 / - 5

                        PASSING    12 completions  18 attempts  0 INTs  171 yards  3 TDs  (4 sacks of, - 32 yards)

                          5   Duncan          12 - 18 - 0   171 yards   3 TDs   (3 sacks, - 32)

                        RECEIVING

                        20   Slayton              7 / 126 (2 TD)  19   Ostrye           2 / 15             10   Wachs          1 / 13
                          4   Woodson           1 /  10                7   Olsey            1 /   7  (TD)

                        TOTAL YARDS:   319

                        KICKS:  XP  3 / 3                FG  0 / 0
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 1
                        KICKOFFS:   5  (44,44,15,41,-4)                               PUNTS:  3  (40,36,43)             
                        KO RETURNS  4  (16,18,11,16)                                PUNT RETURNS:  1  (0fc)
                        FUMBLE RETURNS:  1  (9TD)
                         FIRST DOWNS:   16  (11 rushing, 4 passing, 1 penalty)
                        FUMBLES:  6, lost 2
                        TURNOVER MARGIN:   - 1
                        PENALTIES:  5 / 25 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:  21:14

STRAUGHN    RUSHING    55 attempts  326 yards  3 TDs  (5.93 yards per carry)  (14 Short - 27 / 126)
                        PASSING       3 completions  6 attempts  0 INTs  65 yards  1 TD  (1 sack of, - 5 yards)
                        TOTAL YARDS:   391

                         KICKS:  XP  3 / 4                FG  1 / 2  (36 made, 26 missed)
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                        KICKOFFS:  6  (OB,52,40,51,EZ,59)                       PUNTS:  2  (38,23)
                        KO RETURNS:   4  (14,21,0,27)                              PUNT RETURNS:  1  (- 3)
                        FIRST DOWNS:   19  (16 rushing, 3 passing)
                        FUMBLES:  3, lost 1
                        PENALTIES:  9 / 83 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:   26:46

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