James Clemens starts season off with 45-7 win over Athens

Heath Burchfield hands off to Devon Atkinson in second-quarter action versus Athens on Aug. 28. (Record Photo/Nick Sellers)

By Nick Sellers | Staff Writer

ATHENS – From the very first play – a 55-yard touchdown run by Devon Atkinson – the James Clemens Jets never lost control of their regular-season opener against the Athens Golden Eagles, which ended in a 45-7 decision at the Golden Eagles’ home field.

Atkinson caught fire early, storming through Athens’ defense on the first play and then the next drive, on a 39-yard run to set up Heath Burchfield’s 17-yard touchdown pass to Maceo Booker.

“It’s a great job up front,” head coach Wade Waldrop said of Atkinson’s success. “First play, we did a great job of picking up their defense and blocking them. I don’t think he got touched the first play.”

The Jets’ defense was stifling early, forcing Athens into 10 punts in the game. Decatur transfer and defensive lineman Michael Sharpley stopped a drive on third down in the first quarter, and the front seven was all over Class 6A Athens and quarterback John Bachus the entire game.

Bachus tossed a touchdown to senior wideout Terrance Watkins in the first quarter for the Golden Eagles’ only score, which cut James Clemens’ lead to 17-7. After that, the Jets resumed the one-sided scoring effort.

Burchfield added to the Jets’ scoring total by tossing a 69-yard score to Marquis Mitchell with 4:02 to go in the third quarter. Booker scored on a 26-yard catch-and-run in the second quarter. The score was 38-7 at halftime.

“We were sharp, our intensity was high early outside of a couple of lulls defensively in the first half,” Waldrop said.

Waldrop said he left the starters in a bit longer than he normally would have to get the first-stringers ready for the showdown against Bob Jones on Sept. 4 at the Madison City Stadium. Bob Jones (1-0) squeaked by Class 6A Decatur 32-31 on Aug. 28. The Patriots are 3-0 against James Clemens.