- Two of the three local schools in the state playoffs go home after the first round leaving the Madison Academy Mustangs as the lone local rep in round two of action. File Photo
Madison Academy Advances To Round Two Of The Football State Playoffs- James Clemens And Bob Jones Lose In Round One
Published 6:08 pm Sunday, November 12, 2023
MADISON- For the Madison Academy Mustangs football team, “one is not the loneliest number,” to use lyrics from a song from over 50 years ago. The Class 3A team remained the lone local program advancing to the second round of the AHSAA playoffs after delivering a blowout 57-20 win over the visiting Hokes Bluff Eagles in a first-round game.
Both Bob Jones and James Clemens, the only other local teams to make the post-season action, lost in their first round efforts.
For James Clemens, the Jets saw the visiting Hoover Buccaneers score 35 unanswered points to erase a nine-point deficit and take a 42-16 victory at Madison City Schools Stadium. The surprising loss ends the 2023 James Clemens season with a 7-4 record. Meanwhile, Bob Jones was on the road to visit Hewitt-Trussville in its first round contest and were no match to the host Huskies who pounded the Patriots 56-14. The Huskies (8-3) advance to round two of action against Hoover (5-6). Bob Jones packs its equipment for the off-season completing its 2023 campaign at 5-6.
The Region 7 champs and No. 2 ranked Mustangs will now host a team they have never met. The 10-1 Mars Hill Panthers of Florence will bring its high powered offense to Bill Washington Stadium after they delivered a huge 63-7 pounding over Oakman in their first round matchup.
The fourth-ranked Panthers will bring a team into round-two action very similar to the Mustangs. Mars Hill is averaging 50 points a game while allowing just 14 per outing with its only loss coming to Lauderdale County 20-14. Mars Hill scored a 76-0 win over Elkmont and topped the 60 points level in two other games on its schedule.
For Madison Academy, the squad opened a 21-0 lead after the first quarter, a 37-7 lead at halftime on its way to defeating Hokes Bluff and now must face a team that can possibly stand toe-to-toe with the undefeated Mustangs. The similarity of the two in stats is something to consider as Madison Academy is posting 53 points a game on the scoreboard while allowing just nine points to opponents per outing.
The long awaited matchup between the two powerhouses is Friday with kickoff at 7:00 p.m.
