JC bests Gardendale to win first game of the year

MADISON – The stadium on Celtic Drive was bathed in sky blue on Friday night as the James Clemens Jets held off Gardendale 17-10 in the season opener.

The fans filled the stands well before the kickoff to celebrate the seniors with their parents on the field.

A warm night that bordered on sticky ushered in the new campaign the Jets (1-0) who used a strong running game to break down the Rockets (0-1).

One of the assets for James Clemens was number zero Cam Berry who pounded his way up and down the field with Gardendale defenders struggling to hang on to him.

It was just a 7-point game late in the fourth quarter with JC clinging to a 17-10 advantage.

The Jets were trying to bleed the clock down and get first downs while keeping the ball away from the Rockets whose offense had sputtered in the second half.

With 2:40 remaining in the game, James Clemens turned to Berry one last time to give them something.

Cam Berry rippled into the fray with no fear, his legs churning and his teammates striving to protect him as the clock ticked down in slow motion.

The JC running back powered into a pile of offensive and defensive chaos like a surfer disappearing behind a massive wave.

Just when you thought he was going to be tackled, Berry plowed forward into another layer of humanity with a brutal relentlessness.

Berry’s run didn’t give him a touchdown or any sort of notable milestone, but it was the play of the game.

The James Clemens faithful roared at the Berry run knowing that the boys in “Jet Blue” had just put the game on ice with that dagger of a first down.

For a complete breakdown of the James Clemens game against Gardendale be sure to pick up a print copy of The Madison Record on Wednesday, Aug. 28.