St. James rolls past Higgins, 32-14
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, October 3, 2007
By RYAN ARENA
Sports Editor
We all knew St. James could run the football. But on Friday night, the arm of Marcus Dumas kept Higgins off balance.
Dumas passed for a season-high 129 yards and two touchdowns as the host Wildcats blasted past Higgins, 32-14.
St. James Coach Rick Gaille was pleased not only that the Wildcats (3-2) were able to come away with the win a week before their district opener, but that the team was able to focus with the distraction of homecoming this past week.
“The players did a terrific job of maintaining their focus,” Gaille said. “They kept a good state of mind, especially in the beginning of the game.”
St. James decision to come out firing with Dumas, Gaille said, seemed to throw off the Higgins defense.
“(Dumas) really made progress as a passer,” Gaille said. “I think it caught their defense by surprise early.”
St. James rushed for 167 yards, highlighted by Kenny Zenon’s 70 yards and a touchdown, and Gary Davis’ 66 yards and two touchdowns.
Tight end Mason King caught four passes for 73 yards and a touchdown.
Davis scored St. James’ first touchdown from 11 yards to make the game 7-0. Davis would make it 13-0 by the end of the first quarter, scoring on a 15-yard run.
Dumas found King for a 7-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter to make it 20-0. Not finished, Dumas struck again before halftime, this time finding receiver Johnus Thomas with a 47-yard scoring strike, making it 26-0 at halftime.
Higgins would score in the third quarter to make it 26-8, but Zenon’s fourth quarter score from four yards out put the game away, making it 32-8. That touchdown was set up by an interception by defensive back Brad Phillips.
The St. James defense allowed 246 rushing yards to Higgins and its overpowering front, but offset that by allowing only nine passing yards – and only eight points until the fourth quarter.
Gaille credited Phillips, Thomas, who plays linebacker as well as receiver, and defensive back Dontrell Frazier as being among his most solid contributors on Friday.
