James Clemens cooks up prescription for success
MADISON – There was always star running back MJ Gideon. Then came quarterback Matthew Evers and a blossoming offensive line. Now, might as well Aron Gonzalez to and an improving defense to the recipe.
Add it all together and get a James Clemens that is shaping into a formidable football team.
Friday night at Madison City Stadium, the Jets rolled past Gadsden City 42-15 to stay abreast of Buckhorn and Sparkman atop the Class 6A, Region 4 standings.
James Clemens (3-1, 2-0) will try to stay on pace in the region race against Grissom (03, 0-2) on the road. The Titans fell to 1-3, 0-2).
“The ultimate goal is to finish as region champions and put ourselves in the best position going into the playoffs, and this helps check that box,” Jets head coach Juan Johnson told reporters after the game.
Gideon, a Vanderbilt commitment rated a 3-star prospect but is bucking for a fourth. Against the Titans, he rushed for 206 yards on 19 carries and scored on touchdown runs of 25, 13, 45, 8 and 27 yards.
Gonzalez had three recep- tions for 103 yards and one touchdown. Evers was highly efficient, completing 16-of-18 for 223 yards with one TD and no interceptions.
James Clemens fumbled on the first play from scrimmage; Gadsden City recovered at the Patriots’ 10-yard line and from there Titans quarterback Sam Sollie threw a 10-yard TD pass to Dylan Perry to make it 6-0.
Evans tossed a 36-yard TD pass to Gonzalez on the ensuing possession; Hudson French kicked the first of six extra points and the Patriots led 7-6.
The Jets led 21-15 at halftime and pitched a shutout over the last two quarters.
Sollie, an Auburn commitment, completed 11-of-21for 110 yards with two TDs and no interceptions.
Johnson said, “hats off’’ to the defense for making adjustments and shutting down the Titans in the second half on the heels of allowing just seven points to Bob Jones the previous week.
The Jets now turn their attention to winless Grissom (0-3, 0-2) in another region clash.
With the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s restructuring before the season, six of the eight teams in each 6A region will make the playoffs as opposed to four previously.
Week 4 standings: 1. Buckhorn (3-1, 2-0) 2. James Clemens (3-1, 2-0) 3. Sparkman (3-1, 2-0) 4. Bob Jones (2-2, 1-1) 5. Huntsville (2-2, 1-1) 6. Gadsden City (1-3, 0-2) 7. Grissom (0-3, 0-2) 8. Hazel Green (0-4, 0-2)
