2024 -
GAME 5
SAINT JAMES 31, Talladega 14
TAL 6 0 0 8 14
STJ 7 7 7 10 31
Friday, September 19, 2025 Carlisle Field. Game Conditions: Hazy, Warm Game Temperature: 85 Wind: N 5 - 10
SCORING SUMMARY
STJ (1) 9:09 Phillips 13 run (Hines kick) 7 - 0
TAL (1) 4:39 Taylor 16 pass from Smith (kick failed) 7 - 6
STJ (2) 8:06 Phillips 15 run (Hines kick) 14 - 6
STJ (3) 3:38 Yancy recovered blocked punt in endzone (Hines kick) 21 - 6
STJ (4) 10:29 Hines 40 FG 24 - 6
STJ (4) 4:21 Zukowski 24 run (Hines kick) 31 - 6
TAL (4) 0:33 Taylor 6 pass from Smith (Taylor pass from Smith) 31 - 14
After a self-proclaimed poor performance the week before, the Saint James coaching staff decided it was time for a change, especially on offense, and the "Wing-T", a popular formation from the late 1980s and 1990s was called upon. And it seemed to have instant results. Saint James took the first possession and marched 71 yards in six plays after a defensive offside penalty started the exclusively rushing drive. Grant Phillips rushed for 32 on the first play and 6 on the second. Miles Zukowski followed up with consecutive runs of 8, 7, and 0 yards before Phillips galloped the final 13 for a quick score. Dylan Hines' extra point gave Saint James a 7 - 0 lead, their first lead of the season already in its fifth contest, less than three minutes into the game.
Talladega virtually repeated the process on their first drive. They were only held to 4 yards rushing the entire evening, but the passing combination of Malik Smith to Alex Taylor was clearly their offensive attack of choice, and it was quite often effective. Receptions of 20, 12, and 32 yards by Taylor on the first drive overcame several holding penalties, and on the 11th play of the game the combination was good for a 16 yard catch and run touchdown. The extra point was wide, however, and the Trojans maintained their single point lead.
The next Saint James drive carried into the second quarter, but the Tigers stopped the Trojans on fourth down at the 30 yard line. A holding penalty and a sack on the next Talladega drive forced a punt, one of nine on the evening for the Tigers, and the Trojans took over with good field position at their 41 yard line. Phillips converted a key third down with an 8 yard run, and on the next play Mason Craig tossed one of his only two pass completions, a 16 yarder to Hines, to move the ball down to the 28 yard line. Ford Bass picked up 13 on the next play on one of his better rushes of the season, and on the next play Phillips picked up his second touchdown with a 15 yard score. Hines' extra point gave Saint James a 14 - 6 lead.
The Tigers Smith to Taylor combination was good for 42 yards on first down, but several plays later the Trojan defense stopped Talladega on downs. The teams would trade punts again, and Saint James would have an unexpected chance to score with under 20 seconds remaining. After a 6 yard keeper by Craig, an incomplete pass allowed Saint James to rush the field goal team in. Hines attempted what would have been a school-record 52 yard field goal. The kick was easily long enough, but was ruled no good, and the Trojans had to settle for a one possession eight point lead into halftime where Chloë Taylor, 2025 Homecoming Queen, was crowned during halftime festivities.
Talladega kept the ball for 11 plays to start the third quarter, but a short punt gave the ball back to the Trojans. Saint James could not generate a first down, but Hines pinned the TIgers back at their own 18 to start the next drive. After a one yard carry on first down, Smith was sacked for 8 yards on consecutive plays and the Tigers were forced to punt from deep in their own endzone. Despite the rough season thus far, one thing the Trojans have been noticeably adept at is blocking kicks. A heavy rush ensued and Michael Hassell blocked the punt where it was recovered by Andrew Yancy in the endzone for a quick touchdown. Hines' extra point gave the Trojans breathing room at 21 - 6.
A short kickoff return gave the Tigers poor field position on their next drive. They converted one first down, but for the second consecutive drive the Trojans blocked the punt attempt; this one was recovered by Mikell Delbridge at the Tiger 23 yard line as the third quarter ended. What would have been an 18 yard touchdown run on a dive into the endzone by Craig was called back by a holding penalty, and Hines was again called on the attempt a field goal. This one from 40 yards was good, the first converted field goal of the Saint James season, and the lead was up to a three possession game at 24 - 6.
The next three drives ended in a Talladega punt, a Saint James interception, and a short Talladega punt giving Saint James first down at the Tiger 34. Zukowski raced for 11 on first down. After a loss of a yard, Zukowski was again given the handoff and the offensive line cut open a hole where he was virtually untouched for a 24 yard touchdown. The extra point boosted the lead to 31 - 6.
Talladega did manage to score a last minute touchdown against the reserve defenders, primarily on the 56 yard pass completion from Smith to Corelius Jemison. Taylor would score on his second touchdown reception of the day on a 6 yard pass completion, and on almost the exact play call hauled in a pass for a two point conversion to arrive at the final score of 31 - 14. The Trojans would get a week off from region play, but would host rival Trinity, in one week.
PRESS BOX STATISTICS - GAME FIVE
SAINT JAMES RUSHING 36 attempts 212 yards 3 TDs (5.89 yards per carry)
6
Phillips
10 / 91 yards (2 TDs) 30
Zukowski 12 / 76 (1
TD) 1
Bass 4 / 36
7
Craig
7 /
9
32
Hartley
3 / 0
PASSING 2 completions 9 attempts 1 INT 27 yards 0 TDs
7
Craig
2 - 7 - 1 27 yards
RECEIVING
9
HInes
1 / 16 yards
87
Knowles 1 /
11
TOTAL
YARDS: 239
KICKS: XP 4 / 4
FG 1 / 2 (40 made, 52
missed)
2
POINT CONVERSIONS: 0 / 0
KICKOFFS: 6
(38,EZ,47,34,52,47)
PUNTS: 3 (41,47,43)
KO RETURNS: 3 (3,0,0)
PUNT
RETURNS: 2 (0TD,0)
FIRST
DOWNS: 14 (12 rushing, 2 passing)
THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS: 3 / 10
FOURTH DOWN CONVERSIONS: 1 / 2
FUMBLES: 0
TURNOVER
MARGIN: - 1
POINTS OFF TURNOVERS: 0
ACCEPTED PENALTIES: 4 / 30 yards
TIME
OF POSSESSION: 22:43
TALLADEGA
RUSHING 25
attempts 4 yards 0 TDs (< 1 yard per
carry)
PASSING
12 completions 27 attempts 0 INTs 227
yards 2 TDs
TOTAL
YARDS: 231
2 POINT CONVERSIONS: 1 / 1
KICKOFFS: 3 (33,21,20) PUNTS: 9 (37,30,31,9,bk-3,bk-10,20,19,26)
KO RETURNS: 5 (13,13,4,26,23) PUNT RETURNS: 2 (3,0)
FIRST DOWNS: 8 (1 rushing, 7 passing)
THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS: 5 / 14
FOURTH DOWN CONVERSIONS: 1 / 2
FUMBLES: 1, lost 0
POINTS OFF TURNOVERS: 0
ACCEPTED PENALTIES: 5 / 40 yards
TIME OF POSSESSION: 25:17