CCC FOOTBALL: St. James beats Trinity in offensive shootout
St. James’ KJ Jackson dives for a first down in the Trojans’ win on Friday. (Ryan Gayle)
By TIM GAYLE
What was expected to be a defensive battle turned into an offensive shootout as K.J. Jackson threw three touchdown passes to lead St. James to a 42-35 win over Trinity in the highest scoring game in the history of the series.
Friday’s slugfest featured a quick-strike attack by the Trojans early and a Trinity offense that kept getting back up and answering the bell. But it was Jackson who repeatedly knocked the Wildcats back to the turf, both with his arm and his dangerous feet.
“He’s everything he’s billed to be,” St. James coach Jimmy Perry said. “That’s why he has offers from D-I schools and he doesn’t even have a driver’s license yet. Nothing but upside for him. What a leader on our offense.”
It was the seventh time this season Jackson, a sophomore, has thrown three or more touchdown passes out of the run-oriented wing-T offense. The three on Friday night gave him 25 for the season, breaking the single-season school record of 24 set by Brett Gantt in 2003.
The Trojans (9-1) rolled up 18 first downs and 444 offensive yards against one of the state’s best defenses as Jackson repeatedly came up with the big play, completing 10 of 18 passes for 222 yards and three touchdown passes while running for another (and having a fifth called back by a penalty).
“We’re real confident in our offense,” Jackson said, “and I expect the most from our offense every night we get out there. Especially with ‘Cos’ running the ball like that.”
Cosner Harrison scored on a 56-yard run on the first play from scrimmage and added a 44-yard scoring run late in the first half for a 28-21 halftime lead. He finished with 196 yards on 23 carries.
“Cosner Harrison ran the ball hard, I thought we blocked pretty good,” Perry said. “They had their ears laid back and they came at us. Kudos to Trinity. They played hard and gave us a lot of trouble with what they ran on offense. Coach (Granger) Shook and his staff always do a great job and they had a great game plan for us. I’m just glad our kids were able to overcome my coaching and win.”
Shook, meanwhile, blamed his coaching for the loss that dropped Trinity to 8-2 heading into a first-round playoff game at home next Friday against Wicksburg.
“I did not prepare our boys,” he said. “That’s not the boys’ fault. I put them in a bad spot. We had a bad week of practice. I’m proud of our offense for fighting back. If you score 35 points, you should win the game. We can’t give up those yards and that amount of points and expect to win. My hat’s off to Coach Perry. He got his boys prepared. I did not.
“Our boys will bounce back. It’s disappointing, 8-2 is not what we wanted. Again, it’s not the boys’ fault, it’s my fault.”
If there was a turning point for the Trojans, it came early in the second quarter. Stopped on downs on their previous possession at the Trinity 13, the Trojans were facing fourth and 10 at the Wildcat 35 and Jackson scrambled up the middle for 13 yards, pulling away from linebacker Joe Handy and diving for the first-down marker.
“We had the pass play dialed up,” Jackson said. “Jake Streeton made a big hole and I saw it at the last second and I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m going to take this one.’ Jake Streeton made that one happen.”
Jackson ran 20 yards to the end zone two plays later, but it was called back for a holding penalty. Five plays later, he hit Clint Houser for a 10-yard touchdown pass and a 21-7 lead.
Trinity, who shook off Harrison’s early touchdown with Coleman Stanley touchdown passes of 69 yards to tailback Chase Letner and 60 yards to Mac McClinton, had the ball first in the second half but managed three plays and a punt. Eight minutes and five seconds later, following Jackson’s 7-yard scoring run to cap a 17-play drive, the Wildcats finally saw the ball again.
“It was real important,” Jackson said of the third-quarter dominance that left Trinity in a two-touchdown deficit. “We have some really smart coaches and they knew exactly what they were doing.”
The Wildcats had two touchdowns sandwiched around a 64-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to Beard, but time wasn’t on their side. Getting the ball back one last time with 80 seconds left, Stanley’s fifth pass attempt of the drive was intercepted by Clayton Craft to finish off the Wildcats.
Stanley completed 8 of 18 passes for 206 yards and three touchdown passes, but one costly interception.
“The three hardest football games we played all year long were to our three rivals -- MA, Alabama Christian and Trinity,” Perry said. “So I think this game does nothing but help us to get ready for the playoffs.”
St. James remains at Carlisle Field next week to face Anniston in the first round of the 4A state playoffs.
“We came into this game saying this game wasn’t going to take us out of the playoffs or mess with us in the playoffs,” Jackson said, “but it is going to give us momentum going into the game with Anniston and we can’t wait to go play them.”