James Clemens gets region win 28-24 over Hazel Green

Jets receiver Miles Whitlow fights for yards-after-catch on a soggy field Thursday against Hazel Green. (Record Photo/Nick Sellers)

By Nick Sellers | Staff Writer

MADISON – A short torrential downpour several hours before kickoff Thursday doomed the players from James Clemens and Hazel Green to a muddy terrain and earth that sank every time a running back cut upfield or a defensive lineman sprang out of his stance.

“We really thought it would be a lot better shape,” James Clemens coach Wade Waldrop said of the conditions. “Our practice field was in excellent shape when we left, but it is what it is. Both of us had to play in it.”

James Clemens quarterback Heath Burchfield still aired it out to star receivers Miles Whitlow and Josh Garth, including a 47-yard catch and run to Whitlow to earn the Jets’ first lead of the fourth quarter.

It was Maceo Booker’s 5-yard run with 32 seconds left in the game that gave James Clemens (2-1, 1-1) a lead the Jets would not relinquish over Hazel Green (0-3, 0-2). Booker went down with a knee injury earlier in the game but played through the pain.

“They were pretty strong out there,” Booker said. “They were hitting hard so my knee just took a good hit.”

Booker accounted for three of James Clemens’ four touchdowns Thursday, with 7-yard and 1-yard touchdown runs in the first half.

Hazel Green running back Everett Lanier scored the first points of the game with a 7-yard run early in the first quarter. Trojan quarterback Cole Guffey had one passing and one rushing touchdown in the game.

The last play of both halves was an interception by James Clemens; linebacker Khalil McDonald grabbed one just before halftime and Tarique Wade caught one at the goal line to snuff out Hazel Green’s chances of a last-second hail mary.

“Being 1-1 now in the region – that’s huge. Especially coming off last week with such an emotional game,” Waldrop said, referring to James Clemens’ only loss at the hands of cross-town rival Bob Jones by a score of 28-21.

James Clemens travels to New Market Sept. 19 to face next region foe Buckhorn.