James Clemens center midfielder and Montevallo-bound Kai Pham became the first player from the school to sign a soccer scholarship. CONTRIBUTED

James Clemens center midfielder and Montevallo-bound Kai Pham became the first player from the school to sign a soccer scholarship. CONTRIBUTED

By MIKE EASTERLING / For the Record

MADISON – Two James Clemens High School football players realized their goal of securing college scholarship papers Wednesday (Feb.3) on National Signing Day, while a Jets soccer player earned a first for the school.

Jets defensive lineman Jordan Lowe and running back Maceo Booker will remain teammates. Both signed with Georgetown College in Kentucky during a ceremony at the school.

Later in the day, James Clemens center midfielder Kai Pham became the first soccer player in school history to sign a soccer scholarship when he pledged to the University of Montevallo.

“It’s a dream come true,’’ said Lowe, who as a senior had 113 tackles, including 20 for loss with 11 sacks. “It’s hard to believe.’’

Both Lowe and Booker were on the Jets’ 0-10 team as freshman, and again as seniors as they went 10-2 and earned a berth in the quarterfinals of the Class 7A state playoffs.

“This is a big deal for me,’’ Booker said. “This is my future. It’s a big decision.’’

Lowe, the son of Francesca and Rossi Lowe, had 113 tackles as a senior. He had 20 for losses, including 11 sacks.

Booker, the son of Iris Garcia-Booker and Oscar Booker, was first-team All-State as a junior and second-team All-State as a senior.

Meanwhile, Pham, son of immigrants Hiromi (Japan) and Huang (Vietnam) Pham, is excited about the upcoming season.

“I think everyone is looking at us to win state,’’ he said. “I think we have a good chance.’’