Last second field goal lifts Austin past James Clemens for region title
The Austin freight train steams past James Clemens to stay unbeaten
MADISON – It would take a last-second field goal for Austin to remain perfect with a 31-28 road victory against James Clemens on Friday.
The Black Bears (8-0) got the ball back with 1:32 remaining in the game that was deadlocked 28-28 with a tough Jets team (5-3)
The schools had been trading punts for much of the fourth quarter and it was time for someone to finally step up and win this game.
Austin knew that this was its opportunity to end this game before an overtime session that could go either way.
The rushing attack of the seniors Kenneth Joshua and Gavin Fuqua slashed down the field as the clock bled down at an uncomfortable rate as James Clemens began to call timeouts to attempt to save some time.
Austin was determined to march the pigskin down the field and to put the Jets away with no time to respond.
The Black Bears got down inside the five yard line and the JC defense pinned its ears back and went to work holding Austin’s offense out of the end zone.
Every play James Clemens would stop Austin at the goal line, the clock would lurch down with a screech like missed note on a violin.
It ended up being a 19-yard field goal with the scoreboard reading 4.9 in the fourth quarter that pushed the Black Bears past the Jets to maintain that undefeated record for the team from Decatur in black and orange colors.
The team in sky blue had fought hard, but had fallen short in JC’s final home game of the regular season.
For a complete breakdown of this game, be sure to pick up a print copy of The Madison Record on Wednesday, Oct. 23.
