The homecoming magic for the Spalding Jaguars football team has run out.

The North Clayton Eagles overcame early mistakes to beat the Spalding Jaguars 12-0 Friday night in Region 4-AAAA Division B action at Memorial Stadium.

Spalding lost its sixth consecutive game — and second straight homecoming game — to fall to 1-6-1 overall and 0-4 in Division B while North Clayton improves to 2-7, 2-3. Spalding suffered its second shutout loss in three weeks and falls out of playoff contention.

Neither team made any headway in the first quarter; the Jags punted and turned the ball over on downs while the Eagles punted twice. The Eagles got it together in the second quarter, embarking on a 12-play, 79-yard drive which ended with a 2-yard touchdown run by Ladarrius Mathis with 1:02 left. The point-after was no good and North Clayton led 6-0 at the half.

Spalding made some good plays in the game, but just couldn’t sustain drives. Brandon Thomas, who had 77 yards rushing in the first half, had good runs and Jags defenders Ben Allen and Xeryous Dewberry both intercepted Eagles quarterback Jeremy Daniel, but the home team could not dent the scoreboard.

Spalding’s best chance to score came early in the fourth quarter. With North Clayton still leading 6-0, Jags quarterback Monquez Sullivan threw a pass to wideout Jericho Thompson, who broke a tackle and scampered 60 yards before getting tackled at the Eagles 10 yard line. Spalding’s Jabril Reid and Thomas were stopped on first and second down, respectively, and Dewberry dropped a pass that might’ve led to a TD on third and goal. On fourth and goal, Sullivan’s pass to Thompson in the corner of the end zone was tipped and fell incomplete and North Clayton took over on downs.

Daniel threw a 25-yard TD pass to wideout Justin Varner with 1:41 left in the contest for the final 12-0 margin.

Spalding’s next game will be against Division B and crosstown foe Griffin High on Nov. 2 at 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Stadium. Griffin is now 7-1 (4-0 Div. B) due to its 28-14 win over Division B foe Upson-Lee Friday.

SPALDING HIGH

Date Opponent Time

8/31 Lamar Co. T 3-3

9/7 Rutland W 20-13

9/14 OPEN

9/21 @ Locust Grove L 14-0

9/27 Dutchtown L 24-21

10/5 @ Upson-Lee* L 31-10

10/11 @ Riverdale* L 21-0

10/19 @ Jonesboro* L 32-7

10/26 North Clayton* L 12-0

11/2 Griffin* 7:30

11/9 Region Playoff

* — Region 4-AAAA, Div. B