Jets keep it close but Bob Jones keeps winning
Maceo Booker carried 34 times against Bob Jones
(Photo Contributed/Tammie Stephenson)
MADISON- It wasn’t a blowout like the last two years but for 25 seniors on James Clemens football team it was just as painful. The Jets second half rally fell short and Bob Jones won the third annual Madison Bowl 28-21 Friday night.
“That score doesn’t define who we are as a team,” said James Clemens coach Wade Waldrop. “What will define us is how we respond next week when we come to work.”
James Clemens fell behind early as Torrey Hunt returned the opening kickoff 72 yards for a touchdown and Matthew Stephenson’s extra point put Bob Jones up 7-0.
“We made some mistakes early that put us in a hole, ” Waldrop said. “We did a good job in the box (blocking for the run game). The physical play and effort were there and gave us a chance to win.”
Those mistakes included a fumble and an interception inside their own five yard line.
Both offenses struggled to put a drive together early. James Clemens converted on fourth and two from their own 32-yard line but later punted.
Bob Jones quarterback Jeremy Frye sparked the offense with a 17 yard run, then hit Derek Marion on a long pass to the 11 yard line. Frye then scrambled and hit Deondre Douglas who took it seven yards for a touchdown.
James Clemens struck back on the next possession aided by a 69 yard kickoff return by Devan Anderson. Maceo Booker scored on a one yard run to make it 14-7 early second quarter.
Bob Jones came right back as Frye hit Torrey Hunt for a 41 yard touchdown pass.
Torrey Hunt after a catch
With the Jets moving, Josh Garth was hit and fumbled after a long reception.
Miles Strickland scored on an 18 yard run to put Bob Jones up 28-7, the halftime score.
Bob Jones quarterback Jeremy Frye had to leave the game at the 5:00 mark in the second quarter due to an asthma attack. He did not return and sophomore Brady Polson took over.
Bob Jones coach Kevin Rose said losing Frye was a big blow.
“It impacted the game a lot. It limited what we could do offensively. We go from a guy who has started 12 games to a guy who has never played in a varsity football game. Brady did a good job of handling the situation and getting us out of here with a win.”
Frye accounted for most of the Bob Jones offense. He was 4 of 9 passing for 90 yards and had five rushes for 49 yards. Miles Strickland rushed the ball 23 times for 91 yards.
Polson completed 8 of 14 passes for 87 yards including a key third down conversion to Jonathan Rice. He was intercepted by Sterling Fisher in the third quarter.
Bob Jones leaned on their defense and for the most part the defense held strong. Safety A.J. Harris stopped a late James Clemens drive with an interception of quarterback Heath Burchfield’s pass that saved a touchdown. Jarek Taylor also saved a touchdown on a deflected pass as James Clemens stretched the field with their speedy wideouts.
“The defense was put in some bad spots, some bad field position but they held and held on at the end,” Rose said. “We had a good offensive drive in the fourth quarter to eat up some clock.”
Burchfield completed 12 of 21 passes for 134 yards and no touchdowns.
Most of the Jets offense was Maceo Booker who carried 34 times for 165 yards and three touchdowns.
Booker scored in third and fourth quarter to close the score to 28-21. Deondre Douglas recovered the onside kick and Bob Jones ran out the clock. The Jets got the ball back with 29 seconds left.
“I am just tickled to death to win,” Rose said. “It’s a region win against our biggest rival in front of a capacity crowd, we had a bunch of adversity and we overcame all of it to hold on.”
