2025 MADISON BOWL: Bob Jones crushs Jets in rivalry tilt
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MADISON – James Clemens was no match for the juggernaut that is Bob Jones this year as the Jets fell 54-7 in the Madison Bowl this past Friday night.
JC (1-1) had won the past two meetings of the crosstown rival schools in 2023 and 2024, but Bob Jones (3-0) stormed back in a big way in the 2025 installment.
The traffic was spilling out onto Celtic Drive as fans filled Madison City Stadium until the stands were packed with Bob Jones and James Clemens supporters.
This is the one game of the season that causes such a frenzy of passion for these two schools on the gridiron.
It is kind of like the Indy 500 of high school football around here with this battle meaning the most for both sides.
Needless to say, James Clemens hit its own wall of sorts when it tried to move the ball against the Patriots.
Just like a week earlier against Lee, Bob Jones began its scoring spree with a safety of all things to lead 2-0 over the Jets.
The sea of red in the stands for the home-designated Bob Jones roared when the ball flew over the head of JC punter Thai Lyles who then had to race a Patriot player into the end zone to prevent a touchdown.
Lyles booted the pigskin out of the back of the end zone to trade two points instead of six with 8:22 remaining in the first quarter.
Bob Jones got the ball back with the free kick and wasted no time padding the lead with a 40-yard passing score from senior quarterback Gakobey Gill to receiver Christopher Caterina with 6:46 on the clock to make it 9-0 Pats.
It became clear early on that James Clemens could not really move the ball against Bob Jones defense whether it was a run or a pass attempt.
Drives would fizzle out and lead to punts while the Patriots would just stay on the attack.
The scoreboard ticked to 16-0 Bob Jones when the junior running back Jaden Rice carried the rock 35 yards for the rushing TD with 3:38 to play in the opening quarter.
Bob Jones continued to march the ball down James Clemens’ throat with ease when Romeo Washington found the end zone from nine yards out to expand the Patriot advantage to 23-0 near the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter was more of the same with the Jets locked down offensively as JC quarterback Matthew Evers faced a relentless pass rush that caused him to hurry throws into double coverage for limited success.
Jets running back MJ Gideon was swarmed by Bob Jones whenever he tried to find lanes to run the ball.
At the 10:13 mark of the second quarter, the Patriots scored again when Rice carried it 14-yards to make it 30-0 Bob Jones.
Washington used his blockers to pound his way into the end zone from a yard out for a 37-0 edge by halftime.
The second half was more of the same with Bob Jones firmly in control.
James Clemens broke up the shutout with a touchdown in the third quarter to trail 37-7, but that would be all the Jets would manage in game.
The Patriots would add 17 more points in the second half to cruise to the lopsided victory.
The Madison Bowl was first played back in 2012 when Bob Jones High School had the split and James Clemens was created.
Since then, the schools have traded wins and losses respectively with the Patriots leading the series 8-6.
The road does not get any easier for James Clemens this week when the Jets have to face 3-0 Huntsville on the road while Bob Jones stays home to welcome Grissom (1-1).
