James Clemens Soars Past Huntsville in Rocket City Showdown

HUNTSVILLE, AL – The James Clemens Jets secured a decisive 31-14 victory over the Huntsville Panthers on Friday night in a key Class 7A, Region 4 matchup at Joe Davis Stadium.

Under first-year head coach Juan Johnson, the Jets’ record improves to 2-1 on the season and 1-1 in region play. The loss marks the first of the season for the Huntsville Panthers, who now stand at 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the region.

The Jets’ offense was ignited by quarterback Matthew Evers, who threw for 263 yards and two touchdowns on 12-of-20 passing. His first touchdown was a spectacular 77-yard pass to Alex Lively, followed by a 17-yard strike to Aaron Gonzalez. Gonzalez was the leading receiver with six catches for 149 yards and a score.

James Clemens’ defense also made a significant impact. Mason Rose returned an interception 43 yards for a touchdown, one of four interceptions forced by the Jets’ defense throughout the game.

The scoring began in the first quarter with a 27-yard field goal from Thai Lyles, giving the Jets an early lead. Running back MJ Gideon added an 8-yard touchdown run, contributing to a 17-14 halftime lead for James Clemens. The Jets extended their lead immediately after halftime, orchestrating a four-play, 60-yard drive that culminated in Gideon’s touchdown run.

Panthers signal caller Wyatt Smith connected with Mikele Ellison for a 55-yard touchdown and found Bryson Grissom for an 18-yard score. Despite these efforts, the four turnovers proved costly for Huntsville. Jackson Spencer led the Panthers’ ground game with 98 yards on 26 carries.

Looking ahead, the Jets will return home to Madison to face the Grissom Tigers (1-2, 0-2) next Friday night.  The Panthers will travel to Harvest to take on the Sparkman Senators (1-3, 1-1).