Gideon’s 5 Touchdowns Lift James Clemens to 45-24 Win Over Austin 

DECATUR, AL — Any drama between these two Tennessee Valley rivals disappeared before Austin ever touched the ball. James Clemens raced out to a 26-0 lead in the opening quarter and cruised past the Black Bears 45-24 on Friday night, powered by a five-touchdown performance from MJ Gideon in the season opener for both programs.

The lopsided result marked a sharp departure from the last two chapters of this series. Both the 2024 and 2025 meetings came down to a field goal in the closing seconds. This time, the outcome was settled long before the halftime whistle.

First Half Action

The Jets wasted no time setting the tone. On just the second snap of the game, quarterback Matthew Evers hit Gideon in stride for a 62-yard touchdown that put James Clemens ahead 6-0 in the opening minutes.

Austin’s first drive stalled quickly, and the Jets pounced again. Evers guided the offense down the field and connected for another scoring strike, stretching the margin to 12-0.

From there, Gideon took over on the ground. He punched in a pair of short touchdown runs, and by the time the first quarter closed, James Clemens had built a commanding 26-0 cushion. The Black Bears finally found points before the break when Oscar Delgado drilled a 36-yard field goal in the final half-minute, trimming the deficit to 26-3 at intermission.

Key Turning Points

The game turned on the Jets’ explosive start, but Gideon’s biggest highlight came after halftime. He broke free for a 70-yard touchdown sprint that pushed the lead out of reach and capped a night of three rushing scores to go with his receiving touchdown.

Evers finished with three touchdown passes, spreading the ball around to a deep group of targets. Jaxon Kimberly and Aaron Gonzalez each hauled in a scoring reception, giving the Jets balance through the air.

Austin didn’t quit. Quaylen Hampton provided the Black Bears’ most electric moment with a 91-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, and he also blocked a James Clemens punt to give his team a spark. Running backs Aidan Davis and Xayden Bishop each added a rushing touchdown as Austin fought to close the gap in the second half.

Still, the early hole proved too deep. The Jets controlled the line of scrimmage, kept possession, and never let the Black Bears string together enough stops to mount a serious comeback.

Final Outlook

James Clemens (1-0) opened their 2026 campaign on the right note, showing the kind of firepower that could make the Jets a tough out all season. Gideon’s versatility as a runner and receiver gives the offense a dynamic centerpiece, while Evers looked comfortable distributing the ball.

For Austin (0-1) and head coach Jeremy Perkins, the loss offers plenty of teaching moments. The Black Bears flashed big-play ability with Hampton’s return and found the end zone on the ground, but slow starts against quality opponents rarely end well. A cleaner opening quarter will be the priority moving forward.

The Jets stay on the road next week, traveling to Birmingham to face the Parker Thundering Herd. Austin heads to Sparkman on Friday night, looking to even its record against a familiar foe.