By Chris Megginson
Tribune Sports
MADISON – A short turnaround between two road games to start the season can test a team. Clay-Chalkville passed the test, beating James Clemens, 31-24, on Thursday night, Aug. 30 at Madison City School Stadium, only five days after its season-opening win in Atlanta over Griffin High School (Ga.).
James Clemens (0-2), ranked No. 10 in Class 7A, scored on its first possession with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Vanderbilt commit Jamil Mohammad to Austin McGhee with 8:55 on the clock, completing the Jets’ 76-yard drive.
The fourth-ranked (6A) Cougars responded less than two minutes later with a 79-yard scoring drive. Willie Miller delivered an 18-yard pass to Logan Pruett in the front right corner of the end zone to tie it, 7-7.
Miller then showcased his speed late in the first quarter to regain the lead for the Cougars. With four minutes to play in the opening stanza, Miller took a shot gun snap from the right hash, faked a backfield handoff to Courtney Braxton, and darted through a seam untouched for a 70-yard touchdown run and 14-7 lead. Miller finished the game with 284 total yards of offense, rushing 15 times for 100 yards and completing 14-of-31 passes for 184 yards.
Not to be left out of the foot action, Jets’ QB Jamil Mohammad evened the score, 14-14, with 25 seconds remaining in the quarter on a 1-yard keeper left of center.
A second-quarter touchdown by D.J. Dale, an Alabama commitment on defense, gave Clay-Chalkville a 21-14 lead at halftime and proved to provide the distance the Cougars needed for the win. Dale scored from 5 yards out, fighting his way over at least six Jets defenders to pick up the final two yards and fall into the end zone.
Dale found the goal line again with 4:28 to play in the third quarter, punching in a 1-yard touchdown up the middle to extend the Cougars’ lead, 28-14. The play capped a 99-yard drive, which saw the Cougars’ backs to their end zone on third-and-20 before Demarcus Burris had a 64-yard gain. Burris finished with 100 yards on 10 carries, helping CCHS to 431 total yards on offense.
The Jets pulled within a touchdown again, 28-21, when Mohammad swept right on a QB keeper for an 8-yard TD run with 10:17 to play to cap an 80-yard drive. Mohammad finished the day 11-of-24 passing for 79 yards and 40 yards rushing.
Jaren Van Winkle hit a 34-yard field goal to give the Cougars some insurance, 31-21, with 5:29 to play. James Clemens marched down field again, but also settled for a field goal as Jessie Rowe chipped in a 24-yard field goal with 1:52 to play for the Jets. An onside kick attempt bounced out of bounds, giving the ball to CCHS to run out the clock.
Clay-Chalkville (2-0) will host Niceville (Fla.) on Sept. 7 for its home opener at Cougar Stadium. CCHS last hosted the Florida team in 2014, beating the Eagles, 44-23, on ESPNU.