2011 - GAME 2

SAINT JAMES 20, Straughn 0 
STR        0       0       0       0          0
 
STJ         7       6       0       7        20
SCORING SUMMARY:

STJ   (1)  1:09   Jabour 19 pass from Duncan       (Meadows kick)      7 - 0
STJ   (2)  1:32   Woodson 9 run                                  (kick failed)    13 - 0
STJ   (4)  0:46   Cherry 8 run                                   (Newton kick)    20 - 0
September 2, 2011.  Carlisle Field   Game Conditions:  Partly cloudy, breezy  Game Temperature:  87  Wind  SE 5 - 15



Trent Brooks (# 63) zeroes in on Straughn quarterback Zac Turvin (# 2) as he prepares to hand off to Chase Short (# 14).
Photo courtesy of the Andalusia Star News

In their 200th all-time home varsity football game, Saint James played undoubtedly the most complete defensive game in several seasons as the 4A ninth-ranked Straughn Tigers never seriously threatened to score the entire evening.  C.J. Duncan threw a touchdown pass in the first quarter, and Walker Woodson and Cal Cherry added touchdown runs as the Trojans pulled the regional upset surprisingly easily in a game which really wasn't as close as the score indicated, 20 - 0.

Straughn's deepest foray into Trojan territory would be on their opening possession of the game.  Zac Turvin ran for a first down and then passed 30 yards to Devin Scott for another first down at the Saint James 30.  However, on the next play, Chase Short's fumble, one of three costly Tiger turnovers, was recovered by Haynes Litchfield.  The Trojans did not convert a first down, but after a punt and then a deep Straughn punt, Saint James started with the ball on their own 6.  Nine plays and 94 yards later, they were in the endzone.  Wilson Adams caught a 12 yard pass for the initial Saint James first down of the game.  After a 7 yard completion to Jake Jabour and two Duncan runs, Duncan found Adams deep on the near sidelines for a 51 yard catch to the Tiger 19.  Two plays later, after a no gain run and an incomplete pass, Duncan tossed his second touchdown pass of the year over the middle to a wide open Jake Jabour.  Austin Meadows' extra point gave Saint James a 7 - 0 lead late in the first quarter.

The Tigers were moving the ball again and had a first down on the Saint James 35.  However, quarterback Zac Turvin fumbled and it was recovered by Trent Brooks.  Saint James drove down the field again, including the convert of a fourth down on a Tiger offsides penalty, their only infraction of the game.  Eventually the Trojans got as close as the 9 yard line and were going to attempt a field goal, but a high snap was taken by Duncan, the holder, and he scrambled to try and find an open receiver in the endzone.  He did, but Chase Ritter just couldn't handle the potential touchdown reception, so the Tigers regained possession.

Only briefly.  Four plays later, a punt was shanked for a five yard net.  From the Tiger 17, Frank Moody carried two times for 4 yards each, and on third down Walker Woodson broke through the line and just fell down with the ball on the goal line for another touchdown.  A slip on the extra point attempt resulted in a low kick, but the Trojans were up 13 - 0 as halftime neared.  Straughn could not reach midfield with the limited time available in the second quarter.

Neither team managed much offensively in the third quarter.  In fact, Straughn did not manufacture another first down until the final two plays of the game.  After a Saint James punt, a personal foul penalty gave Straughn first down at the Trojan 44.  However, on fourth down and 3, Devin Scott was stopped a yard short and Saint James had held on downs.   The Trojans ran out most of the third quarter clock and punted the Tigers deep.  After a three and out, Saint James had the ball at midfield nearing the end of the third quarter.  Riley Newton attempted a 44 yard field goal several plays later, and his kick was plenty long enough but unfortunately wide left.

Two plays later, Chase Ritter tipped a Turvin pass which Jake Jabour then intercepted for the third Tiger turnover of the game.  After an offensive pass interference penalty negated a first down gain, the Trojans punted but stopped Straughn again.  Saint James picked up several first downs before Newton attempted another field goal, this one of 41 yards.  It likewise was plenty long enough but once more wide left.  However, several plays later on fourth down from the Trojan 26, Turvin was sacked back to the 20 yard line.  On the second ensuing play, Saint James called in Cal Cherry to help run out the clock.  He picked up 12 yards and a first down, and on the next play he busted through a tiring Straughn defense for his first touchdown run of the year, an 8 yarder.  Newton successfully kicked this extra point, and the Trojans had locked away the Tigers with a 20 point advantage.  The only question was whether or not Saint James could shut out their first opponent in the last 68 games.

After an endzone kick, Straughn, which had exhausted all of its timeouts earlier, did manage 54 yards and their only two second half first downs in the last minute of the game, but could only get as close as the Saint James 26 as time expired.  By then the Trojans were celebrating only their second 1 - 0 region start since 2006 with a huge trip to Andalusia looming the following Friday night.

SIDELINE STATISTICS  - GAME TWO

SAINT JAMES   RUSHING    44 attempts  127 yards  2 TDs   (2.88 yards per carry)

                          4   Woodson       16 / 67  (1 TD)     20   Moody      12 / 39              71  Cherry      2 / 20  (1 TD)
                          5   Duncan         13 / 12                 30   Jabour         1 / -11

                        PASSING       7 completions  16 attempts  0 INTs  131 yards  1 TD  (1 sack of, - 12 yards)

                          5   Duncan           7 - 16 - 0   131 yards  1 TD  (1 sack, - 12)

                        RECEIVING

                          2   Adams            3 / 95                30   Jabour         2 / 26  (1 TD)
                        27   Litchfield         1 /  8                  4   Woodson      1 /  2

                        TOTAL YARDS:   258

                        KICKS:  XP  2 / 3                FG  0 / 2  (missed 44, 41)
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                        KICKOFFS:   4  (49,52,56,EZ)                                PUNTS:   4  (32,32,42,12)
                        KO RETURNS:  1  (27)                                          PUNT RETURNS:  0
                        INTERCEPTION RETURNS:  1  (0)
                         FIRST DOWNS:   17  (11 rushing, 5 passing, 1 penalty)
                        FUMBLES:  2, lost 0
                        TURNOVER MARGIN:   + 3
                        POINTS OFF TURNOVERS:  0
                        PENALTIES:  3 / 35 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:  25:09

STRAUGHN    RUSHING    37 attempts  140 yards  0 TDs  (3.78 yards per carry)
                        PASSING       3 completions  6 attempts  1 INT  38 yards  0 TDs  (1 sack of, - 6 yards)
                        TOTAL YARDS:   178

                         KICKS:  XP  0 / 0                FG  0 / 0
                        2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                        KICKOFFS:  1  (53)                                               PUNTS:  4  (43,5,21,19)
                        KO RETURNS:   3  (14,20,28)                               PUNT RETURNS:  2  (0fc,15)
                        FIRST DOWNS:   8  (6 rushing, 2 passing)
                        FUMBLES:  2, lost 2
                        POINTS OFF TURNOVERS:  0
                        PENALTIES:  1 / 5 yards
                        TIME OF POSSESSION:   22:51

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