West Meck QB Jalan McClendon cleared to play at Olympic

West Mecklenburg High quarterback Jalan McClendon has been cleared by the N.C. High School Athletic Association to play in Friday’s N.C. 4AA second round playoff game at Olympic.

Officials removed McClendon from Friday’s 45-10 upset at Hough after he scored a touchdown and imitated Carolina Panther QB Cam Newton’s “Superman” touchdown celebration.

NCHSAA supervisor of officials Mark Dreibelbis told the Observer Monday that officials did not eject McClendon for taunting, which would’ve triggered a two-game suspension. Drebelbis said McClendon was disqualified for an unsportsmanlike act, which just meant he had to sit out the remainder of the game.

Butler All-American receiver Uriah LeMay was ejected from the Bulldogs’ 33-14 win over Independence Oct. 26 for taunting. LeMay sat out the Bulldogs 49-0 win over West Forsyth Friday, and he’ll serve the second of his two-game suspension when Butler plays Independence at Memorial Stadium in a second round playoff this week.
West Meck coach Jeff Caldwell said he was elated to be able to use his quarterback this week.

“It’s a good learning experience for him,” Caldwell said. “With him being in the position he’s in, he should know better. He’s a young kid. My kids have never been in a situation like this before. I’m just happy for Jalan and that it came it out alright. I’m glad he wasn’t severely punished for something where he was just having fun. He’s not the taunting type. At Tennessee (team camp) this summer, they were always asking ‘Why don’t you get excited?’”

McClendon, a 6-foot-4, 194-pound junior has scholarship offers from North Carolina, Duke and Wake Forest, Caldwell said. South Carolina has invited McClendon and Hawks’ tailback Shaun Wilson to campus for unofficial visits. Tennessee is also recruiting McClendon, who has thrown for 1,235 yards and nine touchdowns this season. He’s led West Meck to a 9-3 record, its best since 1988. Friday was West Meck’s first playoff win since 1989.