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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Jemison High School ushered in a new era for its football program on Aug. 23, but were downed 44-8 by St. Clair County High School on the road.

St. Clair pounced on the Panthers from the start, returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown. Jemison had some miscues in the first quarter as well, like two fumbles that were recovered by St. Clair, that added to the hole they were in early on and the game got away from them. While it was tough sledding in game one for new Jemison head coach Rishard Davis, his players did not quit even deep into the game.

“A lot of people asked me how it was (during my first game), but as for the coaching period, it just felt like another Friday night,” Davis said. “I am happy to be home, but everything with my routine was the same and how I approached and game planned for it. Now, I was finally doing it in the south, and that was the only difference.”

In the second half, Jemison came out and showed that heart and will to keep playing as running back Houston Harris took in a rushing touchdown to get the Panthers on the board. Harris added the two-point conversion run as well.

“Just mistake after mistake hurt us (early on in the game),” Davis said. “It is football, and you have games that get out of hand because only two or three things went the wrong way for us. I was glad the guys went out there and kept pressing (in the second half), but we still felt bad afterwards because we should have been that locked in from the beginning. The only thing I know how to do is to get back to work, and try to fix some of those mistakes.”

Davis added that he has been on both sides of the coin with big wins and big losses, and he believes these types of games can make a team better in the long run. Jemison is no different. St. Clair County won the game, but Davis said that the Panthers did not make it hard on them during it, something they will take that into account during their next preparations.

Jemison (0-1) will regroup and face off with cross-county rival Chilton County High School on Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. on the road for its next matchup.