2021 - GAME 12

   Jackson 45, Saint James 33     

JAC        17     14       7       7        45
 
STJ         14       7       6       6        33
SCORING SUMMARY

STJ   (1)    8:41   Houser 9 pass from K.J. Jackson                  (Huff kick)       7 -   0
JAC  (1)    8:19   Caves 77 run                                             (Houston kick)       7 -   7
JAC  (1)    6:58   Campbell 65 pass from Jackson             (Houston kick)       7 - 14
STJ   (1)    4:04   K.J. Jackson 4 run                                          (Huff kick)     14 - 14
JAC  (1)    2:49   Houston 34 FG                                                                        14 - 17
JAC  (2)  11:07   Campbell 85 pass from Taylor                 (Houston kick)    14 - 24
JAC  (2)    6:45   Pickens 30 pass from Taylor                    (Houston kick)     14 - 31 
STJ   (2)    1:36   Harrison 11 run                                               (Huff kick)     21 - 31
JAC  (3)    9:10   Woulard 12 run                                         (Houston kick)     21 - 38
STJ   (3)    5:59   K.J. Jackson 1 run                                         (kick failed)     27 - 38
JAC  (4)    5:08   Jackson 1 run                                            (Houston kick)     27 - 45
STJ   (4)    3:25   Harrison 59 run after pitched pass              (kick failed)     33 - 45

November 12, 2021   Carlisle Field   Game Conditions:  Clear, comfortable   Game Temperature:  58   Wind:  negligible
 

Saint James surrendered several huge plays in the first half and could not take advantage of potential comeback opportunities in the second half as the Jackson Aggies made their first visit to Carlisle Field, piled up nearly 600 yards of offense, and defeated the Trojans 45 - 33 in a slugfest to end the Saint James 2021 season with a 10 - 2 record.

Jackson won the coin toss and deferred their choice, giving Saint James the ball to start the game.  The Trojans moved down the field with relative ease, primarily on the dependable running of Harrison and passes from K.J. Jackson to three different receivers, the final play being a 9 yard touchdown pass from Jackson to Clint Houser.  Jake Huff's extra point gave Saint James a quick 7 - 0 lead.

It did not last long.  On the first play from scrimmage, Tychius Caves broke a simple handoff into the Saint James secondary and outraced chasers for a 77 yard touchdown run.  Jeramie Houston added the extra point and the score was quickly tied at 7.

The Trojans went three and out and the Aggies followed up with another one explosive play drive as quarterback Walter Taylor pitching to his backup James Jackson who then found Tylen Campbell behind the defense for a 65 yard catch and run score to give Jackson a 14 - 7 lead with still plenty of time remaining in the opening quarter.  Saint James used a huge kickoff return by Clint Houser all the way to the Aggie 33 to set up the fourth first quarter touchdown.  Bradley Thomas caught a 15 yard pass on the opening play of the drive, and Harrison converted a fourth down with a 6 yard run down to the Jackson 4.  On the next play, in hurry-up mode, Jackson called his own number on a keeper for a 4 yard score.  Huff's extra point tied the score at 14 with still over 4 minutes remaining in quarter 1.

Another drive, another long play for Jackson as a 68 yard run quickly changed field position from the Aggie 15 to the Trojan 17.  However, the Saint James defense tightened, forcing three consecutive incomplete passes.  Houston came in to attempt a 34 yard field goal, which succeeded, and the Aggies had a lead they would not relinquish the remainder of the game at 17 - 14 as the high voltage first quarter continued.  The Jackson defense forced a Saint James three and out.  A sizeable quarterback run by Taylor was negated by a holding penalty on the second play of the second quarter, pushing the ball back to the Jackson 15.  However, once again, Taylor found Campbell for his second massive pass and catch, this one for 85 yards, and Jackson had extended its lead to 10 points at 24 - 14.

The Trojan offense was stymied again, and Jackson embarked on their fourth touchdown drive of the opening half.  This drive was somewhat more conventional, six plays worth.  Workhorse Davion Woolard rushed for 20 yards down to the Saint James 29.  Two plays later, after a no gain and a minus one yard completion, Taylor tossed his second touchdown pass, a 30 yarder, to another of the Aggies' stockpile of wide receivers, Jalen Pickens.  The extra point suddenly had the Aggies in control at 31 - 14.

Ethan Beard returned the ensuing kickoff across midfield, and the Trojans knew they had to score a touchdown and then prevent Jackson from doing the double - scoring at the end of the first half and taking the second half kickoff for another.  Exclusively on the ground, Harrison and Jackson nibbled away earning first downs before Harrison scored from 11 yards out allowing the lead to be cut to a respectable 10 points.  However, with over 90 seconds remaining, the Aggies had plenty of time to score on yet another long play.  However, Saint James forced three more consecutive incompletions from the Trojan 22, turning the ball over on downs and allowing Saint James to run out the clock.  Two of the first three parts of the puzzle completed.

The third was not, as Campbell returned the second half kickoff all the way to the Trojan 39 before being stopped by a last chance defender.  Five plays later, Woulard rushed in from 12 yards after a key third down conversion, and the pinpoint kicking of Houston raised the lead back to a three score margin at 38 - 21.  Saint James responded with a 31 yard run by Harrison and several pass receptions to advance to the Aggie 13.  Four plays later, K.J. Jackson (lots of Jackson in this game) barrelled off left end for a score from about 8 inches out.  A rare extra point miss kept the margin at 11 with the score now 38 - 27 with plenty of time left in the third quarter.

Saint James executed a perfect onside kick as Houser ran down the near sidelines and caught a bouncing ball which had gone through two front line Aggies, and Saint James was in business at the Aggie 44.  A sack slowed the drive and forced a Saint James punt.  For one of the rare times in the game, the Aggies cound not advance the ball outside their own 28 and punted - their one and only.

The game had featured all kinds of excitement, but no turnovers had taken place.  Until K.J. Jackson attempted a long pass to Ethan Beard which was well-covered, tipped, and intercepted by Shemar Hayes and returned back to the Jackson 44.  Two plays netted a quick 20 yards, but on the next play Tucker Williams stepped in for his second interception of the season, answering the Trojan turnover with one of his own as the fourth quarter neared.

The Trojans drove to the Jackson 42 before turning the ball over on downs.  As the fourth quarter began, Jackson took a more conservative approach to their offense but still earned big chunks of yardage against the exhausted defense.  A 20 yard pass to Pickens gave the Aggies first down on the Saint James 5, and two plays later the backup quarterback Jackson, who tossed the first quarter razzle dazzle touchdown pass, rolled in from one yard and the Houston extra point activated desperation mode for Saint James as they trailed 45 - 27 with just over 5 minutes remaining.

Houser gave Saint James some momentum after a kick return to the 40.  However, an incomplete pass and two sacks left the Trojans in fourth and way long.  K.J. Jackson tossed a pass to Bradley Thomas about 12 yards down the field, well short of a first down, but he then pitched the ball back to Harrison who was motoring up the far sidelines.  The first down was earned, and suddenly Harrison kicked into a higher gear and rushed into the endzone with a 59 yard advance of a teammate's pass reception.  The extra point again failed, but a glimmer of hope had returned as Saint James was within two scores with 2½ minutes remaining.

Everyone in the stadium knew an onside kick was in order, and the Aggies responded with 10 men near the midfield stripe.  The kick bounced and was touched by four different sets of Aggie hands and one Trojan, but the bouncy pigskin was recovered by the Aggies who ran out the clock with more double digit runs, and the Trojans again suffered from the evil number 12, losing their fifth "twelfth game" (second round playoff matchup) in six years.  However, the defeat by a powerful Jackson bunch did not diminish another successful season by Saint James with plenty to look forward for in 2022.

SIDELINE STATISTICS - GAME TWELVE

SAINT JAMES    RUSHING   44 attempts   239 yards   4 TDs   (5.20 yards per carry)

                                5    Harrison   30 / 214  (2 TDs)       1   Jackson            11 / 16  (2 TDs)
                                7    Houser        2 /    7                    21   Anderson           1 /   2

                              PASSING      8 completions  17 attempts  1 INT   98 yards  1 TD

                                1   Jackson             8 - 17 - 1   98 yards  1 TD

                              RECEIVING

                               6   Thomas       4 / 58             2   Beard      1 / 12           8   Pollard       1 / 10
                               7   Houser         1 /  9  (TD)  23   Craft       1 /   9

                              TOTAL YARDS:  337

                              KICKS:      XP  3 / 5      FG   0 / 0
                              2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                              KICKOFFS:  6  (51,56,45,47,16,18)                PUNTS:  3  (28,35,30)
                              KO RETURNS:  8  (1,14,49,5,15,31,0,17)       PUNT RETURNS:   1  (0fc)
                              FIRST DOWNS:   18  (13 rushing, 5 passing)
                              THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS:   5 / 12
                              FOURTH DOWN CONVERSIONS:   2 / 3
                              FUMBLES:  0
                              INTERCEPTION RETURNS:  1  (6)
                              TURNOVER MARGIN:  0
                              POINTS OFF TURNOVERS:  0
                              ACCEPTED PENALTIES:   2 / 10 yards
                              TIME OF POSSESSION:  27:28

JACKSON            RUSHING    28 attempts  334 yards  3 TDs  (11.93 yards per carry)
                              PASSING     10 completions  20 attempts  1 INT  263 yards  3 TDs
                              TOTAL YARDS:  597

                              KICKS:      XP  6 / 6      FG   1 / 1  (34 made)
                              2 POINT CONVERSIONS:  0 / 0
                              KICKOFFS:   8  (30,45,48,28,46,40,26,37)      PUNTS:  1  (32)
                              KO RETURNS:  5  (19,11,14,48,0)                   PUNT RETURNS:  2  (0fc,0fc)
                              FIRST DOWNS:  19  (13 rushing, 6 passing)
                              THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS:  4 / 9
                              FOURTH DOWN CONVERSIONS:  1 / 2
                              FUMBLES:  0
                              INTERCEPTION RETURNS:  1  (38)
                              POINTS OFF TURNOVERS:  0
                              ACCEPTED PENALTIES:  5 / 37 yards
                              TIME OF POSSESSION:   20:32
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