St Paul's Beats Dexter in Dramatic Fashion

St. Paul's School extended their undefeated season to 4-0 with a thrilling 13-12 come from behind victory over Dexter Southfield on October 10, 2024. The game, a closely contested defensive battle, showcased both teams' grit and determination, with St. Paul's emerging victorious thanks to their resilience in the final minutes. Here's a detailed breakdown of the game and how it fits into St. Paul's strong 2024 season thus far.

Game Recap

First Quarter: St. Paul's wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, as a 15-yard touchdown pass in the opening quarter put the Big Red ahead 7-0. Their passing game, which has averaged 162.5 yards per game this season, helped set the tone early, allowing them to control possession and keep Dexter Southfield off balance.

Second Quarter: Dexter Southfield responded in the second quarter with a 3-yard touchdown run. However, a blocked extra point left them trailing 7-6. St. Paul's defense, which has allowed only 333 passing yards through the first four games of the season, continued to frustrate Dexter Southfield's offense, holding them to just 41 yards through the air.

Third Quarter: The third quarter saw no scoring, but the defenses of both teams shined. Dexter Southfield's rushing attack, which totaled 206 yards on the day, tried to break through, but St. Paul's defensive line held strong. St. Paul's rushing defense, which had allowed just 121.5 yards per game before this matchup, was tested but stood tall in critical moments.

Fourth Quarter: The drama intensified in the final quarter as Dexter Southfield took the lead with a 38-yard touchdown run, making it 12-7. Another missed extra point kept the margin within reach for St. Paul's. With the game on the line, St. Paul's mounted a determined drive late in the game, capped off by a 1-yard touchdown run. Although the two-point conversion attempt failed, St. Paul's held on to secure the narrow 13-12 victory after turning away a hail mary by Dexter at the goal line as time expired.

Scoring Summary:

1st Quarter (SPS): 15-yard touchdown pass (Extra point good) – 7-0
2nd Quarter (DXSFJ): 3-yard touchdown run (Extra point blocked) – 7-6
4th Quarter (DXSFJ): 38-yard touchdown run (Extra point blocked) – 7-12
4th Quarter (SPS): 1-yard touchdown run (Two-point attempt failed) – 13-12

Looking Ahead:

With their record now at 4-0, St. Paul's looks to continue their dominant season. Their balanced offense and stingy defense make them a formidable opponent for anyone they face.

Their next opponent is Pingree who visits 10/19 on Family Weekend. Pingree will have their hands full against a team that has allowed fewer than 200 total yards per game and has outscored their opponents 164-29 through the first half of the season.

Season Performance and Key Stats

Season Stats Comparison:
- Total Yards (Season): St. Paul's 1,564, Opponents 819
- Passing Yards: St. Paul's 650, Opponents 333
- Rushing Yards: St. Paul's 914, Opponents 486

St. Paul's offense has been efficient and balanced this season, averaging 162.5 passing yards per game and 228.5 rushing yards per game. Their ability to control the game on the ground has been particularly noteworthy, with the team averaging an impressive 7.75 yards per rush and scoring 15 rushing touchdowns.

Third Down Efficiency:
- St. Paul's converted 44.4% of their third-down attempts against Dexter Southfield, compared to Dexter Southfield's 16.7%. This reflects St. Paul's overall success this season, where they've converted 40.91% of their third downs while holding opponents to just 23.68%.
Turnovers:
- St. Paul's had a season-high four turnovers in this game (three interceptions and one fumble), which almost cost them the win. However, their defense, which has recorded five sacks and three interceptions this season, stepped up when it mattered most.

Key Players:

Passing: St. Paul's passing attack, which has contributed 8 touchdowns on the season, was crucial in the win. The team completed 16 of 28 passes for 207 yards, with the longest pass of the day going for 35 yards. The passing game has been a consistent strength for the team, completing 56.36% of their passes across four games.
Rushing: Despite Dexter Southfield's strong showing on the ground, St. Paul's rushing defense was able to limit the damage when it counted. Offensively, St. Paul's rushed for 71 yards in this game, below their season average of 228.5 yards per game, but timely runs, including the game-winning 1-yard touchdown, made the difference.
Defense: St. Paul's defense has been stellar throughout the season, allowing only 486 rushing yards and 333 passing yards over four games. In this matchup, they forced one key turnover and limited Dexter Southfield to just 12 points despite being challenged by a powerful rushing attack.

Source Link: https://athletics.sps.edu/news/2024/10/11/v-football-sps-beats-dexter-in-dramatic-fashion.aspx

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St. Paul’s (N.H.) to a John Papas Bowl win

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