MADISON — The momentum from last week’s road win over Class 5A No. 1 Hartselle did not carry over to Decatur High’s return to 6A, Region 8 play.

Bob Jones jumped out to a 21-0 halftime lead and held off Decatur’s second-half comeback attempt to claim a 24-10 victory at Madison City Schools Stadium Friday.

The Red Raiders for the third time this season followed up a win with a loss and now stand at 1-3 in Region 8 and 3-3 overall.

“We didn’t come out ready to play. Every game we’ve lost this season we’ve fallen behind in the first quarter and it happened again tonight,” said veteran Decatur coach Jere Adcock. “It’s frustrating, very frustrating.”

Decatur cut the deficit to 24-10 with 5:35 remaining when quarterback Jackson Fite scrambled 17 yards for the Red Raiders’ only touchdown of the night. Fite’s run finished off a nine-play, 67-yard drive that saw the junior quarterback complete four passes for 39 yards.

Jordan Tibbs then recovered the ensuing onside kick at the Bob Jones’ 47 to give Decatur a shot at pulling closer. But the drive fizzled at the Patriots’ 35 and Bob Jones ran out the clock to improve to 4-2, 3-1 in Region 8.

Trey Bates directed a nine-play, 80-yard drive on the game’s opening drive to give the Patriots a lead they never relinquished.

The senior connected on a pair of short passes and Ben Washington ran 21 yards as Bob Jones quickly moved into Decatur territory.

But the Red Raiders’ defense stiffened and Bob Jones found itself facing a fourth-and-7 at the Decatur 37.

After his team opted not to punt, Bates tossed a strike over the middle to Kevin Wright, who made a fingertip catch in stride and raced to the end zone for the touchdown with just over 2½ minutes elapsed. The first of David Mitchell’s three extra points gave Bob Jones a 7-0 lead.

Wright made it 14-0 on the Patriots’ third possession. Bob Jones went 69 yards in three plays, with Wright running 60 yards on a draw play for the touchdown with 2:30 left in the first quarter.

The Red Raiders found themselves trailing 21-0 early in the second after Bob Jones marched 78 yards in seven plays. Washington caught a pair of passes from backup quarterback Seth Parker that picked up first downs and Jay Rogers ran the final 33 yards for a touchdown at the 10:17 mark.

Rogers finished with a game-high 128 yards on 22 carries.

Decatur finally got on the scoreboard with a sustained drive to begin the third quarter.

Joe Douthit’s 25-yard field goal pulled the Red Raiders to within 21-3, but Bob Jones answered with a field goal of its own, this one a 37-yarder by Mitchell with 5:06 left in the third.

Decatur plays its next three region games at Ogle Stadium, beginning with Friday’s matchup against Buckhorn.