2011 - GAME 1

Trinity 20, Saint James 17  

TRI         3       0     10       7        20
 
STJ         0     10       0       7        17

SCORING SUMMARY:

TRI   (1)    5:16   Pappanastos 35 FG                                                     0 -  3
STJ   (2)  10:58   Newton 29 FG                                                             3 -  3
STJ   (2)    7:11   Moody 6 run                                (Meadows kick)    10 -  3
TRI   (3)    9:45   Pappanastos 42 FG                                                   10 -  6
TRI   (3)    4:51   Bethea 4 run                           (Pappanastos kick)    10 - 13
TRI   (4)    6:37   Graham 9 run                         (Pappanastos kick)    10 - 20
STJ   (4)    3:56   Adams 7 pass from Duncan            (Newton kick)    17 - 20
August 26, 2011.  Carlisle Field    Game Conditions:  Very Hot, Partly Cloudy   Game Temperature:  100 at kickoff  Wind:  Variable 10

Saint James allowed Trinity to score 17 unanswered points to open up the second half, and then came up just a fingertip or two short during a frantic late fourth quarter comeback as the Wildcats extended their consecutive victory streak over the Trojans to six with a thrilling 20 - 17 win in front of an overflow crowd at Carlisle Field.

Andy Pappanastos started the 2011 season by booming his kickoff into the endzone, as he did on each of his five kickoffs, leaving the Trojans with most of their possessions starting at the 20 yard line.  After two C.J. Duncan runs netted 20 yards, the Trojans fumbled away possession on the next play.  The Wildcats "grounded" the ball out, as they tried to all night, on short passes by their alternating quarterbacks.  William Van Hooser handled the first quarter snaps.  He, Steadman Bethea, and Trent Graham handled the rushing duties most of the night.  Trinity kept the ball for 15 plays, converting two short fourth downs along the way, but could only get as close to the Trojan endzone as the 2 before a penalty backed them up.  After a pass play lost 4 yards, Pappanastos came on to attempt a 35 yard field goal which he made easily, and the Wildcats were up 3 - 0 midway through the first quarter.

After a three and out and a short Trojan punt, Trinity was driving again.  However, Graham Norwood picked up a loose ball on a backwards pass and returned it to the Trinity 49.  Two plays later, he was the recipient of Duncan's first completion of the season, a 12 yarder.  Two plays later, Trinity was called for a hit on a defenseless receiver and just before the end of the quarter Saint James was at the Wildcat 20.  On fourth and 1 from inside the 12, Riley Newton came on to attempt his first ever Trojan kick and converted a 29 yard field goal, tying the score at 3 early in the second quarter.

The momentum seemed to have changed after Percy Shufford sacked Trinity's other quarterback, Allen Wood, for a 7 yard loss which led to a three and out, and Saint James started their next possession at midfield.  Frank Moody ran for 10 yards on first down, and two plays later from the 39 Duncan found Wilson Adams on a semi-crossing route and he slashed through defenders coming up just short of the goal line.  After a penalty on first down, Moody took the handoff and powered in off left guard for six yards and the initial touchdown of the season.  Austin Meadows came in for the extra point, and Saint James was up 10 - 3 in the second period.

Trinity managed two first downs on their next drive, one thanks in large part to a defensive holding penalty, and then punted Saint James deep into their own territory.  Two penalties forced Meadows to punt from his endzone, and with heavy pressure, his kick went out of bounds at the Trojan 22.  Wood's pass to Will Clements gave the Wildcats first down at the 11 headed into the last minute of the half.  Three plays left Trinity with a fourth and 2 just inside the 3.  Van Hooser was called on, but he was stopped just short of the first down marker, and the Trojans ran out the last play of the quarter to maintain their touchdown lead at halftime.

The Wildcats quickly got going to begin the second half as the opening kickoff was returned to the 40 yard line and no further thanks to a likely touchdown saving tackle by Haynes Litchfield.  Two plays later, a personal foul after a 14 yard completion from Van Hooser to Mark White gave Trinity first down at the Trojan 30.  A push from behind penalty on the next play slowed the drive, and Pappanastos came in three plays later to convert his second field goal, this one from 42 yards, and the Wildcats had cut the lead to 4, at 10 - 6.

After an endzone kick, Duncan called his own number on first down and nearly went the distance, traveling from one 20 to another on a 60 yard run.  Two plays later, it was first and goal at the 10.   However, after a penalty and two incomplete passes, Trinity's Mark Pouncey made the play of the game as he intercepted a Duncan pass at the two yard line and returned it all the way to the Saint James 46 before finally being run down.  Wood was called on, and despite an early sack by Austin Meadows, he ran and passed his way down the field efficiently.  Mark White's reception gave Trinity first and goal at the Trojan 4, and on the next play Bethea battled for and just reached the endzone as the Wildcats scored their first touchdown of the game.  Pappanastos' extra point gave the Wildcats a lead they would not relinquish, at 13 - 10.

Following the next endzone kick, the Trojans could not convert a first down, and Trinity once again had fine field position at the Saint James 48 after a much improved punt.  However, a penalty and a fumbled quarterback snap stifled the drive.  Pappanastos was called on to attempt what would have been a Carlisle Field record 55 yard field goal, but his kick was offline despite being long enough, and the lead remained at 3 as the third quarter ended.

The Trojans sputtered again on offense, and a block in the back penalty negated for the most part a fine punt return, giving Trinity the ball at their own 38.  Trinity managed one first down on their own, and were given another on a key roughing the punter penalty four plays later.  On the next play Van Hooser appeared to have scored on a 35 yard breakaway up the middle, but a "behind the play" holding penalty at the 13 wiped out the score.  Saint James returned the favor with a dubious defensive pass interference penalty two plays later, and the Wildcats had first down outside the 10.  Two plays later, Trent Graham busted off the right side and just crossed the goal line inbounds for a nine yard touchdown.  Pappanastos' extra point gave Trinity a 20 - 10 lead with only 6½ minutes remaining.

After the fourth of four mandatory heat timeouts, and despite a steady breeze the heat timeouts were much needed and appreciated this night, the Trojans switched to 'near desperation mode'.  After two incomplete passes, Duncan battled through pressure and the defensive line on his way to a 12 yard run for a first down.  Walker Woodson caught a 14 yard pass two plays later, and after a sack Duncan hauled a deep pass which Wilson Adams caught in midair before being thrown out of bounds at the 7 yard line for another first down.  On the next play, despite a more open receiver in the endzone, Duncan sought Adams again and he drilled a difficult pass just inside the pylon for the first touchdown pass of the season.  Newton this time converted the extra point, and Saint James had narrowed the lead to 20 - 17 with just over 4 minutes remaining.

Trinity, mostly on the fresh legs of William Stabler, almost managed to run out the clock with two first downs which forced the Trojans to exhaust their timeouts.  J.D. Strawbridge was forced to punt, and Duncan managed to gather in a muffed punt at the Trojan 13 with just less than a minute left.  On first down, he carried for 15 yards and a first down.  Two plays later, he threw a sideline pass to Adams for 19 yards and a first down at the Trinity 49 with 23 seconds left.  Trinity, sensing gaps in their defense, began calling timeouts which gave Duncan a chance to rest and regroup.  After an incomplete pass, the Trojans nearly pulled off the miracle as Duncan saw a wide open Jake Jabour at the 5 yard line.  Another stellar defensive play prevented what would have been a huge catch which would have been negated anyway because Duncan was over the line of scrimmage when he threw the pass.  After another incomplete pass and Trinity's final timeout, Saint James had fourth down at the "51" yard line with 3.3 seconds remaining.  Unfortunately, despite the significant breeze thanks in part to east coast Hurricane Irene, a 68 yard potential game-tying field goal was not an option.  A Hail Mary type pass was callled upon, and Duncan let the ball fly.  It came down amidst two Trojans, and two Wildcats.  After a lot of juggling, Trinity's Dave Pouncey safely knocked the ball away and time expired in a thrilling game where, once again, Saint James came up just short against their city rival.

SIDELINE STATISTICS  - GAME ONE

SAINT JAMES   RUSHING    28 attempts  170 yards  1 TD   (6.07 yards per carry)

                            5   Duncan         15 / 105           4   Woodson       6 / 33        20   Moody      7 / 32  (1 TD)

                          PASSING       7 completions  21 attempts  1 INT  128 yards  1 TD  (2 sacks of, - 10 yards)

                            5   Duncan           7 - 21 - 1   128 yards  1 TD  (2 sacks, - 10)

                          RECEIVING

                            2   Adams           5 / 102 (1 TD)  4   Woodson     1 / 14         11   Norwood    1 / 12

                          TOTAL YARDS:   298

                          KICKS:  XP  2 / 2                FG  1 / 1  (Newton 29)
                          2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                          KICKOFFS:   4  (58,EZ,58,EZ)                               PUNTS:   4  (23,14,34,44)
                          KO RETURNS:  0                                                  PUNT RETURNS:  3  (1,-2,-5)
                          FUMBLE RETURNS:  1  (12)
                           FIRST DOWNS:   15  (8 rushing, 6 passing, 1 penalty)
                          FUMBLES:  1, lost 1
                          TURNOVER MARGIN:   - 1
                          POINTS OFF TURNOVERS:  3
                          PENALTIES:  9 / 77 yards
                          TIME OF POSSESSION:  18:55

TRINITY           RUSHING    45 attempts  109 yards  2 TDs  (2.42 yards per carry)
                          PASSING     22 completions  29 attempts  0 INTs  157 yards  0 TDs  (2 sacks of, -10 yards)
                          TOTAL YARDS:   266

                           KICKS:  XP  2 / 2                FG  2 / 3  (35,42 made, 55 missed)
                          2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                          KICKOFFS:  5  (EZ,EZ,EZ,EZ,EZ)                         PUNTS:  3  (31,38,36)
                          KO RETURNS:   2  (18,38)                                    PUNT RETURNS:  2  (0fc,13)
                          INTERCEPTION RETURNS:  1 (52)
                          FIRST DOWNS:   19  (11 rushing, 6 passing, 2 penalty)
                          FUMBLES:  2, lost 1
                          POINTS OFF TURNOVERS:  10
                          PENALTIES:  9 / 80 yards
                          TIME OF POSSESSION:   29:05

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