Saint James Cole Anderson’s three touchdown showing propels Trojans over Montgomery Academy

In a battle against first-year head coaches in Saint James’ Neal Posey and Montgomery Academy’s Ethan McBride, the Trojans put on a scoring display in a 49-13 win Friday night over the Eagles. Saint James senior athlete Clint Houser started the game with a opening kick return for 30 yards showcasing his shifty juke moves. Three plays later senior running back Cole Anderson took it 56 yards for the first touchdown of the game to give Saint James the early 7-0 lead.

After an early three and out on the first drive for Montgomery Academy, the defense came up huge with a strip sack by Graham Martin and scoop-and-score from Will Hardin to tie the game up 7-7.

Saint James quarterback and four-star Arkansas commit Kj Jackson willed the Trojans back with a 40-yard rushing touchdown the very next drive to regain the lead at 14-7.

The Eagles drove down the field the next drive, but failed to convert on a fourth down in the red zone. Jackson took advantage as he completed a 67-yard touchdown pass to Jake Huff to increase the scoring gap to 21-7 in the first half.

With the early offensive struggles for Montgomery Academy, the defense forced its second fumble of the game as David Whisenhunt got the Eagles on the board for the second time in the second quarter.

On Saint James final two drives of the first half, Anderson scored his second touchdown of the half by scooting 80 yards to the end zone. Jackson scored his second rushing touchdown with 35 seconds left in the first half as Saint James led 35-13 at the break.

Nothing change in the final two quarters. Anderson began the Trojans’ offensive drive with another long touchdown run for his third of the night extending the lead to 42-13 in the third.

The Eagles offense never got in a steady groove and, after failing to see the end zone in the third quarter, Saint James began putting the the reserves in at the start of the fourth.

Backup quarterback Chase Perry put the cherry on top for the Saint James offense by rushing it in late in the fourth to extend the lead to 49-13.

Saint James will travel to Handley in week one action, while Montgomery Academy will travel to Trinity looking to bounce back after a tough week zero loss.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Saint James dominate in week zero season opener against Montgomery Academy