Grissom downs mistake-prone James Clemens in jamboree
Javan Henderson #28 wraps up a Grissom ballcarrier
Call it a bad case of the jitters or just youth and inexperience. But whatever you call it, it all added up to a 28-14 loss to Grissom for the James Clemens Jets in their first prime time game. In a show of support by the community, a large crowd came out to see Madison’s new high school football team.
Grissom dominated the first quarter by keeping the Jets offense bottled up and forcing a fumble caused by a bad exchange between quarterback Chapman Olive and running back Mathew Stewart.
Two minutes into the game Grissom scored on a bad snap over the head of punter Deondre Douglas that resulted in a safety. Grissom then converted the fumble into 3 points on a 25 yard field goal. James Clemens turned the ball over again when Mathew Stewart fumbled after taking a short pass from Olive.
Grissom turned that fumble into a touchdown on a 58-yard run through the Jets defense that saw Greg Williams break a tackle by a host of Jets defenders including Philip Noble who is one of James Clemens top defensive backs. Noble also fumbled a kickoff return in the second quarter that resulted in Grissom’s second field goal and a 21-8 halftime lead for Grissom.
After the game there was no panic in Jets head coach Bill Stewart who took the loss in stride and will use it as a learning experience.
“By no means am I disheartened by what I saw out there tonight,” Stewart said. “Everything that happened to us tonight we can improve on.”
“We did some things tonight directly attributable to growing pains. The turnovers, botched snap, these are caused by youth and inexperience. You learn you got to play at a different level on Friday nights.”
With 8:49 left in the second quarter, Stewart changed quarterbacks and put in freshman Heath Burchfield. The left-hander responded by promptly moving the team into Grissom territory by completing two crisp passes to Deondre Douglas. A pass interference penalty gave the Jets a first down and two plays later Burchfield hit Douglas on a 3-yard touchdown pass for the teams first score. Burchfield then hit Trevor Makarov on a pass for a successful two-point conversion.
Stewart said the quarterback race is still open. “We are going to go back and evaluate film and do what is best for the football team. Heath did a great job of running the offense and getting it going.”
In the third quarter Burchfield directed another touchdown drive. Facing fourth and goal at the 11-yard line, Burchfield found Josh Mitchell across the middle and hit him for another touchdown.
“I saw some matchups that I liked and took a shot for them,” Burchfield said after the game. “Deondre made a great play that helped up get on track. Makarov made some great plays.”
The success seemed to awaken the competitive spirit in Burchfield who quarterbacked Liberty Middle last year and won the job in the spring. He and Olive have been locked in a battle to see who will be the starter.
“I want to just get better each day and the way you do that is by playing. I want to play,” Burchfield said.
Stewart said that the offense was handicapped by the loss of a key offensive lineman who was slated to start at left tackle. Logan Stenberg will miss a few more games after coming down with mononucleosis. “That’s a big loss for our offense,” Stewart conceded.
The defense held their own against Grissom for most of the game. Big plays were turned in by defensive end Camrin Bowins who sacked Grissom quarterback Thomas Hill early in the game. Deondre Douglas also played well at outside linebacker. Jayce Hampton at middle linebacker led the defense in tackles.
“The defense hung in there and we will get better,” Stewart said.
Fans are already talking about the Sept 7 showdown with Bob Jones. First though, the Jets will open the regular season against 5A Johnson next Friday night at Madison City Schools Stadium.
