Jags fall to James Clemens in first round
MADISON – Spain Park High School head football coach Shawn Raney predicted that 14 points would be enough to win his first-round playoff game at James Clemens.
His Class 7A No. 7 Jags mustered only 12. But two more wouldn’t have made a decisive difference.
On a windy Friday night at Madison City Schools Stadium, the Jags fell to 7A No. 8 James Clemens, 21-12. The loss abruptly ended Spain Park’s season and dashed its hopes of making a return trip to the state final.
The Jags finished the season 8-3 overall and 5-2 in Region 3. James Clemens (8-3, 5-2 Region 4) will face Hoover next Friday in the state quarterfinal.
“It was just one of those nights,” Raney said. “We never got any breaks. We could never get any momentum.”
Things got off to an inauspicious start for Spain Park. Quarterback Braxton Barker threw an interception that was snagged by James Clemens linebacker Montavian Rice Jordan at the Jets’ 1-yard line.
The pick terminated a strong first drive that had originally started at Spain Park’s own 3.
Rice Jordan returned the interception to his 28, but the Jets offense stalled and went three-and-out.
James Clemens then punted to the Spain Park 25, where the Jags started their second drive.
Facing third-and-15 on the possession’s third play, Barker scrambled to his left in an attempt to buy time. In the process, a James Clemens defender crept up from Barker’s right and delivered a hit that jarred the ball loose.
The Jets recovered at Spain Park’s 21. Three plays later, running back Bradley Belt motored up the middle for an 8-yard rushing TD. James Clemens took a 7-0 lead at 5:14 in the first quarter.
The Jets struck again less than three minutes later. On Spain Park’s ensuing possession, punter Hayden Callagan bobbled a high snap on fourth down and was unable to get a kick off.
James Clemens capitalized on the special teams’ miscue when quarterback Jamil Muhammad rushed into the end zone around right end on third-and-goal from the 8.
James Clemens led 14-0 at the end of one quarter.
But the Jags fought back.
Spain Park defensive end Damon Wright forced turnovers on the next two James Clemens’ possessions. On the first, he recovered a fumble at the Jets’ 24-yard line.
Spain Park place-kicker Cole Starr capped the drive with a 27-yard field goal at 7:23 in the second quarter. The Jags had owned first-and-goal from the 10, but were stymied by the Jets’ defensive front.
James Clemens’ four-star defensive lineman LaBryan Ray anchored a group that surrendered only 21 yards rushing – total.
“They have been really good for two years,” Raney said of the Jets defense.
The Jags’ inability to pound the ground forced them to rely heavily on the arm of Barker, which at times was done successfully.
Barker went 14-of-23 passing for 176 yards in the first half. That tally included a 53-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Jalen McMillan at 2:58 in the second quarter, which cut James Clemens’ lead to 14-9. Starr’s PAT was blocked.
McMillan posted a career-high performance with seven catches for 150 yards. Barker finished 27 of 53 for 310 yards, the touchdown and three interceptions.
The Barker-to-McMillan completion was set up by Wright, who sprawled out to intercept James Clemens on the preceding play. Wright leaped full extension and slipped his hands under a screen pass that fell short on third-and-6.
Spain Park scored once more before the half, when Starr nailed a 20-yard field goal with 16 ticks remaining in the second quarter. The Jags had first-and-goal from the 4, but were held by James Clemens.
“We just couldn’t punch it in,” Raney said.
The kick sent Spain Park to the halftime locker room trailing 14-12.
Spain Park kicked off to begin the third quarter, and the teams traded punts through the first four possessions.
That was until Muhammad, the Jets quarterback, broke loose down the right sideline for a 58-yard rushing TD at 6:18 in the third quarter.
Muhammad nimbly avoided multiple Spain Park defenders before gaining the perimeter and zipping into the end zone.
The score extended the Jets’ lead to 21-12.
The Jags could never respond.
Spain Park punted on its first five second-half possessions, failing to generate much offense.
Their only apparent break came at 9:30 in the fourth quarter, when Spain Park’s Kenyon Hines blocked a punt in Jets territory.
But a play later, Barker threw an interception that sparked a controversial non-penalty.
Barker’s interception was initially reversed due to a defensive pass interference call, but the decision was then overruled.
Referees said the ball was deflected near the line of scrimmage when it left Barker’s hand, omitting the interference penalty.
Barker struggled throughout the fourth quarter, as the Jags offense battled a strong headwind that sent passes diving short into the grass.
His third interception was picked off with with less than 15 seconds left in regulation.
The snag ushered James Clemens offense back on the field for one final play.
All Spain Park could do was watch.