James Clemens wins homecoming game 28-13 over Sparkman

Devon Atkinson runs for yards in the second half against Sparkman. (Record Photo/Nick Sellers)

By Nick Sellers | Staff Writer

MADISON – The James Clemens Jets (6-2, 4-2) concluded their homecoming week with a 28-13 win over a plucky Sparkman team (1-7, 1-5). The Jets, who were without junior running back and leading rusher Maceo Booker except for a few plays in the first half, outscored the Senators 14-0 in the fourth quarter to pull away.

“Sparkman did a great job of kind of exploiting some things personnel-wise and scheme-wise,” James Clemens head coach Wade Waldrop said. “I thought coach [Chris] Cagle and his staff did a really good job of having them prepared for what we were going to do,” he said of Sparkman’s coach, who was Bob Jones’ offensive coordinator last season.

Sparkman was held to zero offensive touchdowns for the game, with the Senators’ only touchdown coming on a pick-six deep in James Clemens territory just before the second half.

“I thought [the defense] played well,” Waldrop said. “Essentially they gave up two field goals and that was it. We had about three big plays that we got to get cleaned up on that side.”

Devon Atkinson got things going for the Jets with a 5-yard run with 6:30 left in the first quarter. Justin Jamar’s interception return put the Jets in position for the touchdown, his first of two pick on the night.

The teams traded fumbles in the second quarter before Anthony Bolden ran for a 14-yard score just before halftime.

Atkinson ran for another touchdown in the fourth quarter and Heath Burchfield threw an 11-yard touchdown to Josh Garth with six minutes to go in the game for the Jets’ last score.

“We’ve got to get some things right,” Waldrop said. “We’ve got to get some mistakes taken care of tonight before Huntsville, or we’ll get beat.”

The Jets travel to play Huntsville (3-5, 2-4) for their last region game before traveling to face Class 4A Hamilton Oct. 31.