Jets Offense continues to struggle

MADISON-  James Clemens dropped their fourth straight game Friday night Sept. 29 against Clay-Chalkville 28-0.

After scoring just 6 points against Sparkman the week before, the offense continued to struggle against 6A Clay-Chalkville. Freshman quarterback Connor Cantrell continued to learn on the job as he started his third game since relieving Jackson Reece.

James Clemens gained less than 100 yards on offense and was held to only 4 first downs.

The Jets stayed mostly on the ground even after falling behind 21-0 at halftime. In the third quarter James Clemens offense turned the ball over on successive series. Cantrell threw an interception. The defense held but then Eris Skelton fumbled after taking a short pass from Cantrell and Clay-Chalkville struck for their final touchdown when quarterback Willis Miller hit Terrill Cole from 26 yards out.

The Cougars scored in the first half on a 47-yard run by Quentin young, a 17-yard pass to Rod McCleod, and a 23-yard pass to Logan Pruett.

“They were the best team we have faced this year,” James Clemens coach Wade Waldrop said after the game. “We had a few starters out and it showed especially on defense. Our team prepared hard and played hard but we can’t turn the football over if we are going to beat anybody.”

James Clemens last won on Sept. 1 against Gardendale, a 26-14 win that propelled them into the top 10 in 7A.

Since then Waldrop has changed quarterbacks going to freshman Cantrell over Jackson Reece.

“Connor is doing a great job. When he throws it we got to catch it and hold on to it. He’s making the correct reads and made a couple of throws that if we run the route correctly we don’t get it picked off. We dropped a couple of balls and we can’t with a young guy like that.”

Dylan Blackburn got most of the work at running back. Devin Atkinson sat out the second half, “coach’s decision” Waldrop said.

“We are not winning the line of scrimmage. We are doing a good pass protecting but not running the football. We have to do a better job up front,” Waldrop said.

By the fourth quarter the Jets defense was beginning to tire and gave up yardage in huge chunks. Clay-Chalkville was flagged for offensive pass interference but overcame that to continue a drive.

The lone highlight for James Clemens came late when Darrius Clark ran 44 yards to the six-yard line but the offense was unable to punch it in and the game ended.

James Clemens travels next week to face Grissom and will try to get their first region win.