MOBILE – For the second 12 months in a row, St. James right down to Cellular to tackle the Cellular Christian Leopards, however the outcomes weren't the identical Friday evening as 5 turnovers doomed the Trojans in a 34-30 semifinal loss. of the Class 3A state playoffs.
The Trojans battled again every time, however the loss will damage the Trojan devoted for years to come back, as turnovers had been essential towards a crew that allowed simply 13 touchdowns all season.
Cellular Christian (14-0) will play Madison Academy (14-0) for the 3A state championship at 11 a.m. Thursday at Bryant-Denny Stadium on the College of Alabama. St. James finishes the season 11-3.
The Saint James protection got here up with a Dalton Nickles interception on the Leopards' first possession and turned it right into a landing and a 7-0 lead on KJ Jackson's landing go to Braxton Berrey.
The Leopards offense stagnated and needed to punt, however a Trojan punt returner muffed it up and gave Cellular Christian the ball again. The Trojan protection stood tall and acquired a cease on fourth down, however a turnover error struck once more as Jackson fumbled in Leopards territory.
The Leopards didn't take lengthy to punish Saint James for the error as PJ Brown took the ball and ran it for a 78-yard landing.
Saint James' subsequent possession led to one other turnover, resulting in a Cellular Christian landing, and the Trojans' subsequent possession would go deep into Leopard territory earlier than fumbling once more.
Saint James went into halftime down 14-10 and performed arguably its worst half of soccer this season. Having 4 first half turnovers in a state semifinal recreation just isn’t supreme.
The Leopards' offense was more durable to cease, a 69-yard landing run giving Cellular Christian a 21-10 lead as issues started to look bleak for the Trojans.
However KJ Jackson would lead his crew again, throwing a 36-yard landing go to Tabor Offord on the primary play of the fourth quarter. After three performs and a Cellular Christian punt, the Trojans had been again on the march, driving for one more landing and a 24-21 lead because the momentum swung to the Trojans.
PJ Brown answered for the Leopards, scoring on a 33-yard run to place Cellular Christian again on high. The Leopards missed the additional level try, leaving the rating at 27-24.
KJ Jackson was sacked and grounded out, marking the Trojans' fifth turnover of the sport. The Leopards scored one play afterward a 29-yard landing run by PJ Brown.
However the Trojans rallied once more and moved the ball 80 yards for a landing in simply 50 seconds.
Saint James recovered the following onside kick, however the Leopard protection, ranked primary in 3A scoring protection, stood tall and acquired a fourth down cease deep in Leopard territory to seal the win.
Regardless of the turnovers, the Trojans scored 30 factors towards the Leopards, simply probably the most Cellular Christian has given up all season. Saint James additionally held Cellular to only 34 factors, their second-lowest whole of the season.
Friday's recreation marked the top of Jackson's profession at quarterback for the Trojans. The Arkansas commit owns just about each document a Saint James quarterback has ever held. He began as a freshman and his first recreation was a 24-0 loss to Montgomery Academy, however the Trojans misplaced simply 10 extra video games over the subsequent 4 years.
Along with proudly owning just about each passing document, he’s a part of a senior class that gained a school-record 41 video games, three county championships (and a 25-1 county document), a school-record 9 playoff wins in 4 years and a state championship.
