Bob Jones has no trouble staying unbeaten
Deondre Douglas runs the ball for James Clemens in early action action bob Jones
(RECORD PHOTO/LINDSAY VAUGHT)
MADISON- There were so many outstanding performances by Bob Jones players that coaches will have a tough time deciding who will be the player of the week from Friday night’s 51-17 victory over James Clemens before an estimated 7,000 fans.
Backup quarterback Jeremy Frye had a spectacular 42-yard run for a touchdown that included a dive the last three yards. The score put Bob Jones up 28-10 in the second quarter and broke open a tight game.
Linebacker David Norris had two quarterback sacks and caused a fumble that resulted in a second quarter touchdown when he knocked the ball loose from James Clemens punter Zach Hancock and Jarek Taylor scooped it up and ran it in for a touchdown.
Starting quarterback Tyler Whalen accounted for three touchdowns.
H-back Ryan Crooks led Bob Jones in rushing and scored on a 21-yard sweep in the second quarter.
Whalen got the Patriots on the board first with a 34-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Rice on a drive aided by a personal foul penalty on James Clemens. Oddly, it would be the only pass he completed all game.
On the Patriots next possession, James Clemens linebacker Jayce Hampton picked off Whalen’s pass and returned it to the 10-yard line. The Patriot defense held and Logan Mueller kicked a 20-yard field goal.
Taylor’s runback of the fumbled punt gave Bob Jones a 14-3 lead after Matt Trulock kicked the second of his six PAT’s.
Whalen threw another interception, this one to Davis Bowman and the Jets capitalized scoring on a Maceo Booker seven yard run to make it 14-10.
That would be the end of the Jets scoring until the last minute of the game. Bob Jones scored 37 straight points to rn away.
Frye’s touchdown run had the big home crowd buzzing.
“I needed to step up and make a play after the two picks by Tyler and I made it,” Frye said. “It feels great to beat James Clemens. Some of my best friends are over there and I haven’t played them since eighth grade so it feels great to play well and get a win.
Tyler had a little injury going into the game so the coaches told me I had to play more,” said Frye who got extensive playing time with the first team.
Whalen returned and closed out the first half scoring with a 26-yard sprint to the end zone on a read option keeper.
Bob Jones head coach Kevin Rose turned to the ground game in the second quarter and the Patriots churned out over 300 yards rushing in the game.
“We played really well after a shaky start,” Rose said. “We had the two picks that gave them 10 points and the momentum but we answered the adversity in a positive way. We pushed the lead to 35-10 at halftime and played well early in the second half and played all 99 kids who dressed.”
James Clemens seized momentum early and was running the ball well between the tackles. Defensive adjustments by Bob Jones were critical to turning the game around Rose said.
“We didn’t panic, we did a great job in the kicking game, defensively they were hurting us on the run and we made adjustments and on offense we got away from some of the fancy window dressing and had to just go right at them.”
Ryan Crooks and Jeremy Frye each finished with 83 yards rushing. Jay Rogers had 43 on 12 carries and Whalen had 38 yards on 4 carries.
“Jeremy did some good things. he had two really big runs. He’s athletic and adds another dimension to the offense,” Rose said.
In the third quarter Christian Hess got an interception and returned it 50 yards to the 15. Whalen scored on a two yard run. Sophomore Jonathon Moss got Bob Jones’ final touchdown and Trulock kicked a 34-yard field goal. James Clemens added a late touchdown.