James Clemens gets rain-soaked win over Gardendale

By MIKE EASTERLING / For the Record

HUNTSVILLE — Junior quarterback Jackson Reece got some experience in a jamboree win over Decatur last week, but that was just a dress rehearsal.

Friday, Gardendale came calling on a wind-driven rainy day to put Reece to a real test.

He didn’t complete many passes, even threw an interception, but showed poise in the bad conditions on a fall-like Friday and threw a game-clinching touchdown pass in a 26-14 win over Gardendale.

“The nerves were definitely there,’’ he said. “But after that first snap it goes to being like a backyard game of football you’ve played all your life.’’

Jets coach Wade Waldrop said Reece had a “a great fall camp.’’

“We’ve got a lot of confidence in him,’’ he said.

The game was delayed from Thursday because of bad weather caused by Tropical Storm Harvey and moved to Milton Frank Stadium and its artificial turf.

The game kicked off at 11 a.m. because two Huntsville teams also played at the stadium Friday.

Waldrop commended his players for doing “a great job of keeping focus’’ despite the venue change and the unusual starting time.

James Clemens took a 10-0 lead behind a 31-yard field goal by Brady Droppleman in the first quarter and a 30-yard run by Devon Atkinson early in the second. Atkinson finished with 198 rushing yards.

Leading 10-7, the Jets got a 7-yard touchdown run by Dylan Blackburn on the fourth play of the third quarter.

With 4:09 left to play in the game, James Clemens got a safety tackle from Kalif Austin to make it 19-14, then put the game away when Reece hit Kylen Swoope on a 29-yard strike on fourth-and15 with 1:55 remaining.

James Clemens opens region play Friday against rival Bob Jones.