Gavin Fuqua ran for three touchdowns as Austin beat James Clemens 28-7 on Friday to keep the Black Bears in the thick of the Class 7A, Region 4 playoff race.

Fuqua scored from 1, 43 and 29 yards for the host Black Bears (6-2, 3-2 in Region 4). Austin led 21-0 at halftime at Austin Field in Decatur. Kenneth Joshua Jr. added a 19-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

The visiting Jets (5-3, 4-1), which suffered their first region loss, scored on a 9-yard run by DJ Williams Jr. in the fourth. The Jets have lost of their last three games.

Austin has won four games in a row and has allowed just seven points in each of the last three.

“I thought we played well on all three phases,” Austin coach Jeremy Perkins said. “And our defense played outstanding. I’m just proud of our team. And we’ve got to keep getting better.”

Play of the game: Austin started on its 32 after receiving the opening kickoff. On the first play from scrimmage, Joshua caught a pass from Judd Bailey and sprinted to the James Clemens 1 for a 67-yard catch-and-run. Fuqua scored on the next play.

“On the first play, we had to come out and set the tone,” Joshua said. “After the first play, we had set the energy for the rest of the game.”

Stat sheet: For Austin, Fuqua had 18 carries for 167 yards and three touchdowns. Joshua had four carries for 22 yards and a touchdown and one catch for 67 yards. Bailey completed 3-of-7 passes for 77 yards. Achilles Woods, a South Alabama commit, had 12 tackles with two sacks. Solomon Lyle made 10 tackles. … For James Clemens, Williams had 11 carries for 54 yards and a touchdown. Ty Marsh completed 10-of-24 passes for 85 yards with one interception.

By the numbers: 299. Austin’s total yards, with 222 rushing and 77 passing. … 145, James Clemens’ total yards, with 60 rushing and 85 passing. … 1, turnover apiece as James Clemens had an interception and Austin lost a fumble. … 6, Austin wins in 10 games all-time against the Jets.

Coachspeak: “This win gives us a chance to continue to control our destiny in hosting a playoff game.” – Perkins

“My hat is off to Austin and Coach Perkins and his staff. They had a good game plan, and bottom line, they kicked our rear ends They out-physicaled us and outplayed us.” – James Clemens coach Chad McGehee

They said it: “I told them if the front does good, we’re gonna do good whole night. I just felt like we practiced this all fall break and went out and executed it. Up front, they blocked for me. I wouldn’t be here without them.” – Fuqua

“We were just everywhere, We prepared right during the week and then our standard that our DC (defensive coordinator Kinte Welch) held us up to.” – Woods.

“Defense had to step up. We knew they were a good team. So, we had to step up and shut them out early.” – Lyle

What’s next?: James Clemens will host Albertville, while Austin hosts Bob Jones.