Jets, Senators enter football playoffs at home this week
MADISON – The current high school football season is the 27th in the Region format through the Alabama High School Athletic Association and a first for first-round byes within the classifications structure for the post-season playoffs. Local high schools to Madison are featured in both situations as two teams will see its first action after receiving much deserved byes while two programs qualified for firstround games with hopes to advance to another week.
Class 6A will feature two local teams which received first-round byes as both James Clemens (8-2, 7-0) and Sparkman (8-2, 6-1) will see game 11 of 2026 on their home turf this Friday.
James Clemens “Survive & Advance”
Region 4 champs James Clemens will face Region 3 representative the Hewttt-Trussville Huskies (7-4, 4-3) at Madison City Schools Stadium for Friday night lights where the Jets are undefeated in 2026.
“Our players are mentally ready after having a firstround bye and feel they have earned their placement in the playoffs and are excited about the opportunity before the home crowd,” said Juan Johnson, in his second season as head coach of the Jets. “We are healthy and have moved some people around to placement where they need to be as we have prepared for a top-notch opponent in Hewitt-Trussville.”
Johnson may have an advantage in his coaching quest this week as he was an assistant on the Hewitt-Trussville staff for 10 years including four of those years as offensive coordinator. “I certainly do have an insight to their roster as I coached many of their current seniors and juniors and I also know they have a tremendous program who operate with a high-tempo pace, have a lot of athletes and a tremendous coaching staff,” added Johnson. “Their tempo creates a major issue as their quarterback likes to run. Our guys on defense will be ready to execute. For me, it’s our next opponent and we’ll be ready to win. We will survive and advance.”
Sparkman “Chance To Make School History”
The Sparkman Senators (8-2, 6-1) are on a pace of 34 points scored and 15.7 points allowed per game heading into a second-round playoff game versus the Rebels of Vestavia Hills (8-2, 5-2) who advanced to the battle with the Senators with a first-round slapping of Huntsville 50-12.
The Senators earned a first-round bye via a second place finish in the Region 4 standings and will host the Rebels, a team they faced just once in history losing 40-17 in the second round of the 2006 playoffs.
“With our time off we’ve got everyone healthy, tweaked some personnel, seem to be in good shape mentally and all 106 players know they have a chance to make school history and do so at home in front of our fans,” said Ronnie Watson, in his fourth season as Sparkman head coach.
With a Friday night victory, the 2026 Sparkman squad can be the first in school history to not only beat Vestavia Hills, but win a second-round playoff game as the Senators are overall 1-12 in post-season action.
“They (Vestavia Hills) came out against Huntsville scoring all their points in the first half as they are very efficient,” added Watson. “One thing I know about them is the fact they play hard. They are very physical, and as for efficiency, they are tops. Overall, they are the best team we will have played this season.”
The visiting Rebels are averaging 26 points per outing while allowing just 15 points per game. Their only losses, both by shutout, came by way of undefeated Prattville and oneloss Thompson.
One fun fact about facing Vestavia Hills is Ben Stevenson, Sparkman’s head coach of the baseball program, played his high school football for the Rebels and stated at Vestavia Hills, was the last time he stepped off a football field as a player.
“We want to be balanced on offense. I’m extremely happy with our defense and we need to tighten up on special teams as we need to be more consistent on kick returns,” said Watson. “The keys to our victory is being more physical, play harder and match their high-energy. I know once I stand on that sideline, I’ll be full of emotion.”
Bob Jones
The Patriots had the daunting task to beat a team they’ve never beaten in eight previous tries, only this time, hosting the Hoover Buccaneers in round-one action in Class 6A. The ninth try against the premier program of Hoover was not successful as Hoover had their exceptional starting quarterback back in the lineup after missing several games due to injuries. The result was a dominating performance by Hoover (5-6, 2-5) beating Bob Jones 50-3.
In nine games, Hoover has outscored Bob Jones 321-144. The Patriots finished the season 5-6, 4-3 and now just 8-24 in 32 playoff appearances.
Madison Academy
In the new Private School AA division, the Mustangs, who were 5-2 placing third in Region 2 play, faced a team they just defeated 42-28 in game nine of the regular season. Unfortunately, this matchup was much different this time around as the visiting Warriors from Lee-Scott Academy made their way to a 24-21 win over the Mustangs.
Lee-Scott Academy, now advancing to roundtwo of the playoffs, are 3-8 on the season and had just two victories coming into the playoffs with wins over both Westminster and John Paul II, and now have scored 223 points while allowing 300.
Madison Academy (6-5) completed its campaign on a sour note for head coach Bob Godsey in his eighth season of leading the Mustangs.
