Football coaches like to keep their team in a routine. Everything happens the same way each week, from the final practice to the pregame meal to warmups.

But nothing about James Clemens opening game was routine. The Jets had to deal with not only a game postponement but playing at an unfamiliar time in a different stadium. However, through all of that, the Jets were able to grind out a 26-14 win over Gardendale in a steady rain Friday afternoon.

“It really wasn’t that difficult,” James Clemens coach Wade Waldrop said. “That’s the one thing I’ll say to our kids, they did a great job yesterday handling all the distractions, and they did an awesome job this morning getting prepared. I thought they were ready to play and did a good job.”

The Jets players could have been forgiven if they were distracted by the situation. The game was originally supposed to be played Thursday night at Madison City Schools Stadium. However, stormy weather caused the game to be postponed to Friday.

The Jets share their stadium with Bob Jones, which was hosting Austin Friday night, so their normal home field wasn’t available to them.

Milton Frank Stadium in Huntsville was available, but it was already hosting games at 3 and 7 p.m. so the Jets had to kick off at 11 a.m. The stadium was able to host three games due to it having artificial turf.

“I’m very pleased with our players and our staff, and grateful to Gardendale and their administration to be able to work with us to make this possible so we could get the game in,” Waldrop said.

The Jets certainly didn’t look like a distracted team early in the game, as they marched down the field on their opening possession of the game to get points on a 31-yard field goal by Brody Droppleman. James Clemens extended its lead to 10-0 early in the second quarter on a 30-yard touchdown run by Devon Atkinson, but Gardendale closed to within 10-7 at halftime after a 59-yard touchdown pass from Michael Crowder to William Howell midway through the quarter.

James Clemens extended its lead to 10 points again on its opening drive of the second half. Atkinson got the Jets close with a 36-yard run and Dylan Blackburn finished off the drive with a 7-yard scamper on the next play.

Atkinson finished the game with 184 yards in his first game since suffering a knee injury prior to last season.

But once again, Gardendale hit right back, as Stephen Lancaster galloped 43 yards for a touchdown less than a minute later.

“I’m a little disappointed we gave up two big plays,” Waldrop said. “That’s just disappointing, because we’ve worked so hard on it to not do that.”

However, those big plays would be all Gardendale would get, as the Jets defense stiffened after Lancaster’s score and didn’t allow the Rockets to threaten the end zone again. James Clemens also forced four turnovers, two interceptions and two fumbles.

After a series of punts through the remainder of the third quarter and much of the fourth, it was the Jets defense that finally got the scoreboard working again, as Kaliff Austin sacked Crowder in the end zone for a safety with 4:09 remaining.

After taking possession following the free kick, the Jets put the game away with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Reese to Kylen Swoope on fourth and 10 with 1:55 remaining.

It was one of only nine passes Reese attempted in the game, as both teams struggled to throw the ball in the steady rain with a 20 mph wind whipping down the field.

“The wind quit blowing and it quit raining for a minute, and (Reese) was able to get a grip on the ball and throw it,” Waldrop said. “I was happy we could make that play.”

The Jets will play rival Bob Jones next Friday at Madison City Schools Stadium, and Waldrop hopes that game will follow a more normal course.

“Hopefully the weather is nice,” Waldrop said. “I know it will be a big crowd, and I know our kids will be ready to play and theirs will be, too.”