2025 -
GAME 10
SAINT JAMES
24, Munford 12
MUN 6 0 6 0 12
STJ 0 17 7 0 24
Friday, October 24, 2025 Senior Night Game Conditions: Mostly cloudy Game Temperature: 74 Wind NE 5
SCORING SUMMARY
MUN (1) 3:21 Curry 9 pass from Nichols (kick blocked) 0 - 6
STJ (2) 4:27 Yancy 39 run (Hines kick) 7 - 6
STJ (2) 3:00 Zukowski 35 run (Hines kick) 14 - 6
STJ (2) 0:00 Hines 35 FG 17 - 6
MUN (3) 7:09 Nichols 1 run (pass failed) 17 - 12
STJ (3) 0:34 Bass 7 run (Hines kick) 24 - 12
COMPLETE GAME RECAP
Munford won the opening coin toss and elected to receive. Quarterback Brayden Nichols picked up a first down on an 11 yard run, but two plays later a Javier Curry fumble gave Saint James excellent field position at the Trojan 44, but three plays and a short punt later the Lions began a nine play drive of 66 yards for the first score of the game. A debated personal foul penalty after a sack gave the Lions a first down, and two more penalties (an illegal substitution and an offside) inside the 15 yard line gave Munford first down at the 5. A three yard run by Curry and a bad snap recovered by Nichols pushed the ball back to the 9 yard line. Nichols tossed a pass to Curry and he scooted in for a nine yard touchdown. The extra point was deflected, but still Munford had a 6 - 0 lead late in the first quarter.
Saint James actually lost yardage from their own 11 back to the 8 on the next drive and would not pick up a first down in the opening quarter. Meanwhile, a 23 yard pass on the next to last play of the first quarter had the Lions threatening again at the Trojan 20. Several plays later, on third down from the 16, a desperation Nichols pass was intercepted by Andrew Shalayda in the endzone and returned to the 7 yard line. Saint James, finally inspired, embarked on a 12 play 93 yard drive. An encroachment penalty on third down from the 9 seemed to be the igniter, as on the next play Mason Craig completed a 12 yard pass to Andrew Yancy - the only Trojan pass completion of the game, for the Trojans' initial first down of the game. From there, Yancy, Craig, Miles Zukowski, and Grant Phillips shared the load exclusively on the ground. On first down from the Lion 39, Yancy got the handoff straight up the middle, broke two tackles, and raced away from pursuers into the endzone. Dylan Hines' extra point gave Saint James its first lead, one it would not surrender, at 7 - 6.
The Lions were stopped three and out, and Benton Offord returned the ensuing punt to the Munford 35. After an incomplete pass, Zukowski nearly duplicated the feat of Yancy on the previous drive, taking a handoff up the middle and breaking through tacklers for a 35 yard touchdown. Hines' extra point boosted the lead to 14 - 6 with three minutes remaining until halftime.
Another wayward snap cost Munford a 15 yard loss and led to yet another punt. Offord returned the punt all the way to the 25 yard line, but a peculiar sideline interference penalty was called, pushing the ball back to the 44 yard line with 69 seconds remaining. A holding penalty pushed Saint James further back, but on what was to be the last play of the first half Ford Bass broke away for a 21 yard run and a face mask penalty added 15 yards placing the ball at the Lion 25 giving Saint James an untimed down. Dylan Hines was called in to attempt a 35 yard field goal which he boomed, and the Trojans who had 3 yards of total offense in the first quarter exploded for 17 points leading into halftime.
Munford tried a surprise onside kick to start the second half, but it was safely recovered by Saint James. However, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty stalled the drive. The Lions turned the ball over on another lost fumble on their first play from scrimmage, but then the Trojans returned the favor with an intercepted pass by Bryson Cooper who returned the ball to the Saint James 36. Despite a hold on a first play pass completion, Nichols and Curry foundholes in the Saint James defense. Nichols carried in from inside the 1. A two point pass attempt went incomplete, but Munford was back in the game down 17 - 12 midway through the third quarter.
The Trojans responded after Mikell Delbridge returned the kickoff to the 40 yard line. Again, several Trojan rushers shared the wealth and moved stealthily down the field. From the 7 yard line, Bass (confirmed, you'd understand if you were there) took a handoff on a sweep off the left side and went untouched into the endzone for a score. Hines kick increased the Saint James lead to 12, at 24 - 12, which would end up being the final score.
The fourth quarter was extremely sloppy. Both teams were playing ragged, penalties occurred more plays than not, discussions about whether penalties happened and how and where to mark them off slowed down a speedy and, after the first quarter at least, an interesting matchup. Saint James failed to convert a fourth down from the Lion 25, and Munford's last drive ended with an intentional grounding penalty. Fortunately, one first down (despite two more penalties) was enough to run out the clock, and for only the second time since the 2013 season, Saint James ended their season with a victory. Of course, the other time was the 2022 State Championship victory.
Saint James, which was scheduled to have an off week during the final week of the regular season for most teams, ended its season early at 3 - 7 and the search for a new permanent head coach for the 2026 season could soon begin.
PRESS BOX STATISTICS - GAME TEN
SAINT JAMES RUSHING 44 attempts 260 yards 1 TD (5.91 yards per carry)
13
Yancy
9 / 111 yards (1 TD) 30
Zukowski 16 / 80 (1 TD)
1 Bass 3 /
33 (1 TD)
6 Phillips
5 /
27
32
Hartley 4 /
14
7 Craig 7 / - 5
PASSING 1 completion 6 attempts 1 INT 12 yards 0 TDs
7
Craig
1 - 5 - 0 13 yards
6
Phillips
0 - 1 - 1 0 yards
RECEIVING
13
Yancy
1 / 12
TOTAL
YARDS: 272
KICKS: XP 3 / 3
FG 1 / 1 (35 made)
2
POINT CONVERSIONS: 0 / 0
KICKOFFS: 4
(48,EZ,39,32)
PUNTS: 3 (16,32,35)
KO RETURNS: 3 (9,0,17)
PUNT
RETURNS: 2 (14,17)
FIRST
DOWNS: 14 (13 rushing, 1 passing)
THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS: 6 / 11
FOURTH DOWN CONVERSIONS: 0 / 1
FUMBLES: 1,
lost 0
TURNOVER
MARGIN: + 2
POINTS OFF TURNOVERS: 0
FUMBLE RETURNS: 1 (0)
INTERCEPTION RETURNS: 1 (7)
ACCEPTED PENALTIES: 12 / 104 yards
TIME
OF POSSESSION: 28:37
MUNFORD
RUSHING
26 attempts 55 yards 1 TD (2.12 yards per
carry)
PASSING
10 completions 18 attempts 1 INT 106
yards 1 TD
TOTAL
YARDS: 161
2 POINT CONVERSIONS: 0 / 0
KICKOFFS: 3 (58,13,27) PUNTS: 3 (26,27,44)
KO RETURNS: 3 (33,20,0) PUNT RETURNS: 2 (0fc,6)
FIRST DOWNS: 12 (6 rushing, 4 passing, 2 penalty)
THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS: 6 / 12
FOURTH DOWN CONVERSIONS: 0 / 0
FUMBLES: 3, lost 2
POINTS OFF TURNOVERS: 0
INTERCEPTION RETURNS: 1 (20)
ACCEPTED PENALTIES: 9 / 71 yards
TIME OF POSSESSION: 19:23