HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Jets denied win in last seconds

James Clemens 37, Clay-Chalkville 38

It was a nail-bitter Friday as Clay-Chalkville erased James Clemens’ lead to narrowly down the Jets by just one point. The Cougars winning touchdown was scored with a minute left in play.

James Clemens’ first score of the night came with five minutes left in the first quarter from a Connor Cantrell pass to Chris Hope. The Cougars responded and the quarter ended with the Jets trailing 14-7.

James Clemens special teams showed out with a blocked punt in the second quarter followed by a 25-yard touchdown run by John Granger. The Jets special teams had a big game with three Cougar punts blocked before the end of the night.

Jesse Rowe’s PAT was good, tying the score early in the second quarter.

It didn’t take long for the Jets to impact the scoreboard again, this time with a rushing touchdown by Chase Starling. The Jets went into halftime with a 21-14 lead.

The third quarter opened up with James Clemens scoring a safety, but the Cougars rebounded and scored with a rushing touchdown.

With eight minutes left before the fourth, Connor Cantrell connected with Manny Sanders with a 45 yard touchdown pass, followed by a Jesse Rowe PAT to put the Jets up 30-24.

Tyrone Wilson would add another touchdown for James Clemens before the end of the third with a rushing touchdown after the Jets blocked a punt at the one-yard line. They entered the fourth quarter 13 points over Clay-Chalkville.

The fourth quarter swung in the Cougars favor. They completed two touchdown drives for the win, the last a rushing touchdown with seconds left to tie the game. The following PAT sealed the fate.

Connor Cantrell passed for 159 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for one touchdown.

The Jets (0-2) will face their cross-city rival Bob Jones (0-2) next week at Madison City Stadium to open region action.

Other area high school football scores:

Madison Academy, 17, Lawrence County 7

Bob Jones 19, Muscle Shoals 46

Sparkman 48, Hazel Green 14

Albertville 61, Columbia 0

Austin 56, Decatur 14

Huntsville 30, Mae Jemison 15

Madison County 46, Westminster Christian Academy 23

New Hope 27, Section 0

St. John Paul II Catholic 37, East Lawrence 13