St. James goes toe-to-toe with Marlboro County before being outmuscled
For two quarters, St. James stood toe to toe with a heavyweight before letting Marlboro County pull away for a 27-5 victory on Friday night in the Region VII-4A opener for both teams.
The Sharks (2-5, 0-1) controlled the opening quarter on both sides of the ball, and took an early lead when an errant Bulldogs third down snap rolled out of the end zone to give St. James a 2-0 lead.
After a short free kick, St. James was on the move again, but fumbled the ball away in the end zone, where it was scooped up by Jaquelis Ford and taken back 101 yards for a go-ahead score.
St. James answered with a 14-play drive capped by Riley Parker’s 25-yard field goal to cut the lead two 7-5 early in the second quarter.
“I thought we came in with a game plan that fit Marlboro County for us, and when we fumbled and gave up that 101, that kind of gave them hope,” St. James coach Joey Price said. “I thought the first half, we moved them up and down the field.”
That’s when the Bulldogs (3-3, 1-0) started to settle and adjust. Elijah Blair found Rictavious McInnis for a 17-yard touchdown pass that gave Marlboro County a 14-5 lead headed into halftime.
“We didn’t play very well, but that has a lot to do with (St. James),” Bulldogs coach Dean Boyd said. “They came out ready to play and hammered us, put it to us.”
Blair took control in the second half, and Marlboro County’s size began to take a toll on the undersized Sharks as the Bulldog ground game found traction.
Blair rushed for an 11-yard touchdown and hit Iyon Williams with a screen pass that Williams turned into a 48-yard score in the third quarter to close scoring.
Blair finished with 216 yards passing and another 60 rushing, with the majority coming the second half.
Turning point
Already leading 2-0 after a Marlboro County safety, St. James was on the verge of extending the lead, but a fumble at the goal line was scooped up by Jaquelis Ford and returned 101 yards for the Bulldogs.
Key performers
Elijah Blair, MC: Elijah Blair was 12 for 23 passing for 216 yards and two TDs, and had nine carries for 60 yards and another score.
Deondray Stanfield, STJ: Had 19 carries for 100 yards.
By the numbers
101
Yards Jaquelis Ford returned a fumble for Marlboro County’s first touchdown.
-7
Yards of total offense by the Bulldogs in the first quarter.
100
Rushing yards by St. James’ Deondray Stanfield, who had the lion’s share of carries after Chris Anderson was injured in the first half.
They said it
“We didn’t look very good tonight, but St. James had a lot to do with that,” Marlboro County coach Dean Boyd
“If we get our all kids in a weight room like every other program in this county, I feel like this program will be as good as any of the rest of them,” St. James coach Joey Price
Up next
Marlboro County: vs. Wilson
St. James: at Myrtle Beach
MC | 7 | 7 | 13 | 0 | — | 27 |
SJ | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 5 |
First quarter
STJ-Safety, snap out of the end zone, 7:11
MC-Jaquelis Ford 101 fumble return (Zach Rogers kick), 2:12
Second quarter
STJ-Riley Parker 25 FG, 8:22
MC-Elijah Blair 17 pass to Rictavious McInnis (Rogers kick), 4:15
Third quarter
MC-Blair 11 run (Rogers kick), 10:21
MC-Blair 48 pass to Iyon Williams (kick failed), 2:03
Individual leaders
Rushing: Marlboro County: Tavorris Ingram 10-51, Elijah Blair 8-49. St. James: Deondray Stanfield 19-100, Chris Anderson 13-70.
Passing: Marlboro County: Iyon Williams 6-117, Rictavious McInnis 2-14. St. James: Hunter Barnwell 2-10.
Receiving: Away: Player 00; Home: Player 00.
This story was originally published September 29, 2017 at 11:00 PM with the headline "St. James goes toe-to-toe with Marlboro County before being outmuscled."