MADISON- The James Clemens Jets will see its first appearance in the annual Champions Challenge to kick off the 2018 high school football season. The Jets were invited to play in the 13^th annual Champions Challenge football classic hosted by the Alabama High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association (AHSADCA) on Friday night, Aug. 24 in Montgomery’s famed Cramton Bowl against the Thompson Warriors.

The game will be televised live across the state via Raycom Media and the AHSAA Radio Network will also broadcast the game live over its statewide radio network.

“We are excited about having the opportunity to play a great team in Thompson,” said Wade Waldrop head coach of James Clemens. “Getting to play in Montgomery on statewide television in this event is great for our program, our school and our community.”

James Clemens is coming off a disappointing 3-7 season in 2017 while Thompson (12-1) posted an undefeated regular season before losing to Hoover High 31-12 in round three of the state playoffs. The Warriors won the Class 7A Region 3 championship and earned as high as No. 2 in the state rankings. They outscored their opponents 496 to 222 on the season. Thompson won the 1982 state championship while posting a perfect 14-0 season.

James Clemens has never faced Thompson and looks to have enough fire power off last year’s team to contend for whatever Thompson can muster when the two meet in August. The Jets will have eight starters on defense and seven on offense returning in 2018. Add that starting quarterback Jamil Muhammad, who was injured before the season got underway and did not play, will be returning means the Jets will have lots of talented experience on the roster. Waldrop’s most concern is having to replace the team’s punter and kicker.

The Champions Challenge is no stranger to local schools in Madison as Bob Jones played in both 2013 and 2015 while Madison Academy participated in 2015. The event includes a game between the smaller schools across the state and a game from teams combined from both Class 6A and 7A. Bob Jones defeated Enterprise 23-20 in its first appearance and edged Carver-Montgomery 37-30 in its second contest. In a much anticipated matchup in the small schools contest, the Mustangs outlasted Leeds High 19-14 in 2015.

This year’s complete lineup has not been released, but the James Clemens-Thompson battle will kick off at 7:00 p.m. on Aug. 24.