James Clemens routes Grissom 56-18

Jets linebacker Khalil McDonald (25) scoops up a loose ball with Javan Henderson (28) in region action against Grissom. (Record Photo/Nick Sellers)

By Nick Sellers | Staff Writer

MADISON – Never before have the James Clemens Jets (5-1, 3-1) dominated a half of football before, with Maceo Booker’s searing 99-yard touchdown run with three minutes to go in the first half reigning as the evening’s highlight.

“At first I didn’t think I was going 99,” Booker said. “When I broke out, I saw the grass and Josh Garth running down the field with me and I knew he wasn’t going to just let me get tackled because he wanted to get off the field as much as I did.”

Will Grochowski, who was the hero last week against Mountain Brook, chipped in the extra point to make the score 49-0 over Grissom going into halftime. Devon Atkinson added a touchdown run, his second of the game, in the third quarter to finish James Clemens’ scoring on the way to a 56-18 win.

“We had an opportunity to come out and play well early, and I’m proud of our kids to do that,” said Jets coach Wade Waldrop.

Booker finished with three touchdown runs on the night; Heath Burchfield tossed scores to Miles Whitlow and Josh Garth.

James Clemens also blocked two Grissom punts in the first half – one of which was returned for a touchdown.

“We’ve worked special teams hard and all year and it’s just not shown,” Waldrop said. “It felt like we did take a step forward this week and it’s good timing, getting ready to go to Gadsden next week.”

Gadsden City’s unblemished record (6-0, 4-0) in Class 7A, Region 4 brings arguably the toughest test of the season for the Jets. If James Clemens defeats the Titans, the Jets will likely enter a three-way tie with Bob Jones and Gadsden City for first place in the region.

“We both kind of control our own destiny,” Waldrop said. “They’re a leg up on everybody, so for us to go in there, it’s a major step trying to win the region.”

Should Grissom defeat Bob Jones Oct. 10, James Clemens will hold the tiebreaker advantage over Gadsden City for first place with a win.