2025 -
GAME 8
SAINT JAMES 14, @ Cleburne County 7
STJ 0 7 7 0 14
C C 0 0 0 7 7
Friday, October 10 7:00 PM E.B. Bell Stadium, Heflin. Game Conditions: Clear, cool Game Temperature: 67 Wind: none
SCORING SUMMARY:
STJ (2) 4:35 Zukowski 9 run (Hines kick) 7 - 0
STJ (3) 8:10 Craig 1 run (Hines kick) 14 - 0
C C (4) 8:38 Hale 36 pass from Shubert (Escondon-Paredes kick) 14 - 7
COMPLETE GAME RECAP
Saint James as in the previous game elected to defer their choice until the second half so the Tigers earned the first possession. After an endzone kickoff and a three and out followed by a punt, the Trojans had first down on their own 43 yard line. They drove down the field methodically, exclusively on the ground, for eleven plays while overcoming two false start penalties. On third down from the five yard line however, a Mason Craig pass was intercepted in the endzone and a huge scoring opportunity was wasted. Two plays later, the Tigers returned the favor, as a snap over the quarterback's head was recovered by Saint James, again at the 5 yard line. The game of hot potato continued as on the very next play Saint James fumbled again returning the ball. Cleburne County ran out the rest of the first quarter clock on a drive which ended when they could not convert a fourth down at their own 36 yard line, giving the Trojans yet another fantastic scoring opportunity.
This time they would take advantage as they drove the field again methodically. A 30 yard run by Grant Phillips overcame a holding penalty, giving Saint James first down at the Tiger 13. After a 3 yard loss on first down, Miles Zukowski was called on for two consecutive running plays, for 7 yards and 9 yards, finally breaking the scoreless deadlock. Dylan Hines' extra point gave Saint James a 7 - 0 lead with less than 5 minutes remaining until halftime.
After another endzone kick, the Tigers converted one first down, but a quarterback sack forced another punt. Despite having great field position, Saint James was forced to punt yet again. With time waining in the second quarter, the Tigers attempted a desperation pass which would have only gotten them just past midfield if completed. However, Phillips intercepted the ball and returned it 39 yards to the Tiger 21 with four seconds remaining. This gave Hines a free chance at a field goal, from 38 yards, but unfortunately the kick had plenty of distance but hit the right upright and bounced back into the endzone. Nevertheless, the Trojan defense had held an opponent scoreless in a half for the first time in a long time.
Mikell Delbridge returned the kickoff to the Trojan 31, and after a 19 yard run by Phillips on first down, Saint James was quickly at midfield. On fourth down and two, Ford Bass took the handoff and when it appeared he would be stopped near the line to make the first down, he broke loose and was not caught until the 4 yard line for a huge 38 yard play. Two plays later, Craig on a quarterback keeper powered into the endzone, and after the Hines extra point the lead was doubled to 14 - 0.
Cleburne County did not cross into Trojan territory in the first half, but did after a defensive pass interference penalty, if barely at the Saint James 49. However, after a holding penalty, a fumble on the following play on a bad handoff gave Saint James the ball at the Tiger 34, but the drive ended in a 52 yard field goal attempt which drifted left. The Tigers were forced into another punt after a sack, and the Trojans ended the third quarter with possession and a solid lead. Or so it appeared. A punt pinned the Tigers at their own 26, but then they produced their only successful drive of the game. Another defensive pass interference penalty, which with the Saint James coaching staff was particularly displeased, and a 7 yard run led to a Trojan timeout. On the next play from the Saint James 36, original season-starting quarterback Cade Shubert, who was moved to wide receiver for his talents there, tossed a pass down the far sideline to Kody Hale. He battled a defender but came down with the catch for a Tiger touchdown. Erick Escondon-Pareded added the extra point, and suddenly the lead was cut in half to 14 - 7 with still over 8 minutes remaining of game time.
Continued displeasure with several calls on the previous drive led to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Saint James bench, meaning the kickoff was from the Saint James 45 yard line. The Tigers attempted an onside kick, unsuccessfully, but an offside penalty negated the kick and pushed the ball back to the 50. From there, the ball was kicked into the endzone. The Trojans drove down the field, and converted a very key third down as Andrew Yancy somehow managed to catch a high floating pass from Craig for a 31 yard completion continuing the drive. He was rewarded with three consecutive carries as Saint James continued the drive, for 9, 8, and 1 hard earned yards. Eventually, Hines had to attempt a 43 yard field goal which was blocked and with just under four minutes remaining, the Tigers had a chance to tie a game they frankly had been dominated in.
After a short run on first down, a Baker pass was intercepted by Mason Craig at the Trojan 39 and running plays caused Cleburne County to use their timeouts. On fourth down and 6 from the Tiger 35, Craig completed a fantastic pass to Zukowski, who had been hobbling in and out of the game most of the second half, down to the 19 yard line. After forcing the TIgers to use their last time out, Craig only had to run around with the ball in the backfield on fourth down as the clock ran to zero and Saint James left E.B. Bell stadium with a win and a sliver of life left to earn their twelfth consecutive playoff berth.
PRESS BOX STATISTICS - GAME EIGHT
SAINT JAMES RUSHING 52 attempts 233 yards 2 TDs (4.48 yards per carry)
30
Zukowski 19 / 89
yards (1 TD) 6
Phillips 11
/ 64
1
Bass 6
/ 46
13
Yancy
9 / 37
7
Craig
7 / - 3 (1 TD)
PASSING 4 completions 5 attempts 1 INT 67 yards 0 TDs
7
Craig 4 - 5
- 1 67 yards
RECEIVING
13
Yancy
1 / 31 30 Zukowski 2 /
24 9 Hines 1
/ 12
TOTAL
YARDS: 300
KICKS: XP 2 / 2
FG 0 / 3 (38,52 missed, 43
blocked)
2
POINT CONVERSIONS: 0 / 0
KICKOFFS: 3
(EZ,EZ,46)
PUNTS: 2 (38,38)
KO RETURNS: 1 (12)
PUNT RETURNS: 0
FIRST
DOWNS: 13 (10 rushing, 3 passing)
THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS: 7 / 16
FOURTH DOWN CONVERSIONS: 3 / 4
FUMBLES: 1,
lost 1
TURNOVER
MARGIN: + 2
POINTS OFF TURNOVERS: 0
INTERCEPTION RETURNS: 2 (39,0)
ACCEPTED PENALTIES: 10 / 85 yards
TIME
OF POSSESSION: 33:12
CLEBURNE
CO. RUSHING 23 attempts
39 yards 0 TDs (1.70 yards per carry)
PASSING
9 completions 17 attempts 2 INTs 68
yards 1 TD
TOTAL
YARDS: 107
2 POINT CONVERSIONS: 0 / 0
KICKOFFS: 2 (41,50EZ) PUNTS: 4 (30,43,27,51)
KO RETURNS: 1 (20) PUNT RETURNS: 0
FIRST DOWNS: 7 (2 rushing, 3 passing, 2 penalty)
THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS: 2 / 8
FOURTH DOWN CONVERSIONS: 0 / 0
FUMBLES: 3, lost 2
INTERCEPTION RETURN: 1 (0)
BLOCKED KICK RETURN: 1 (0)
ACCEPTED PENALTIES: 2 / 15 yards
TIME OF POSSESSION: 14:48