Football | 10/19/2024 9:25:00 AM

The Clinton High School Football team has turned some heads in the 2024 season.

Whether it was a thrilling 26-20 win over Warren Central High School to open the season or a stunning 65-62 decision over Brandon High School during this season's third week, Clinton has made some outside observers check the scores twice.

The Arrows did it again against the highly-touted Starkville High School Yellowjackets on Friday night.

Clinton (4-3, 1-0 Region 2-7A) rushed for 268 yards and forced three Yellowjacket turnovers, racing to a 22-0 halftime advantage en route to a dominating 31-22 win at Arrow Field in Clinton. It was the Arrows' opening Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Region 2-7A game.

"We really challenged our guys this week to get off to a fast start," Clinton Head Football Coach John Carr said. "We knew we needed to score some points against (Starkville). We got some momentum early, and we got some turnovers that turned into points early ... We were going to fire all our bullets at them because we know how talented they are.

"It was really nice to beat a really good football team at home tonight," Carr added. "I have tremendous respect for Chris Jones and his staff and Starkville."

For the second game in a row, the Arrows eclipsed the 250-yard mark on the ground. The dynamic combination of Jakobe Williams and Aaric Beasley allowed Clinton to control the game and bruise the Starkville defense. The Clinton offensive line of Tyboris Loftin, Amaree Good, Reese Watts, Terrell Elizenberry, and Graham Williams, were as responsible for the running backs' performance as they carved wide-open holes.

"The running game clicked tonight, and its two weeks in a row we have run the ball really well," Carr said. "Our offensive line is playing really well, Josef is making good decisions, and our running backs are running really hard."

Williams rushed for 155 yards and two scores, and Beasley rushed for 99 yards and one touchdown. Josef Walker, the junior quarterback, added 24 yards and a rushing touchdown.

"We didn't have to throw the ball that much tonight, but we have two great running backs," Walker, who was 13 of 20 passing for 108 yards, said. "The running backs and the offensive linemen helped us win this game. We had a great week of practice this week. We had all the confidence to go in this game and win."

Starkville (5-2, 1-1 Region 2-7A) attempted a second-half rally, but the Arrows forced timely turnovers, stifling any possible momentum.

Toward the end of the third period, Starkville marched inside Clinton territory, trailing 25-8, but the Arrows forced a fumble that was recovered by senior James Farr at the Arrow 21-yard line. Trevis Coley turned another Yellowjacket scoring threat into a turnover when the safety jumped a pass at the Clinton goal line with eight minutes remaining in the game. Clinton led 31-8 at the time of the pick.

"Defensively, we are playing well," Carr said. "We are playing more physical than we did at the earlier part of the season.

Even when the Yellowjackets scored 14 unanswered points with under five minutes left, the Arrows defense broke up the 2-point conversion pass to maintain their nine-point advantage.

"All week at practice, we were challenged to keep the same energy from the Terry game (two weeks ago)," Farr said. "We had to wrap up and tackle, and we worked our butts off every day. Every player did what they had to do tonight.

"It is the discipline," Farr added. "We have won four times now, but we can't stop winning now. It is the discipline to keep doing our best."

The Arrows received the opening kickoff and set the tone for an exciting night. The 11-play, opening drive was ended by Williams' 5-yard run. Then Clinton elected for the 2-point conversion that was successful as Beasley rushed across the goal line for 8-0 lead.

Clinton continued its successful offensive plan during the second quarter, running 13 plays to eventually find the end zone when Williams' secured his second touchdown -- a bruising 4-yard run. Braylon Spann added his first of two extra-point field goals.

Walker added a touchdown on the ground before the intermission, ending a 10-play, 59-yard possession.

Spann added a 21-yard field goal during the third quarter and, in the fourth, Beasley broke through outstanding blocks and extended the football over the corner pylon for a 20-yard touchdown run. With the scoring run, Clinton led 31-8 with eight minutes, 13 seconds left in the game. 

UP NEXT

The Arrows make their longest road trip of the regular season as they head north to Tupelo High School (8-0, 2-0 Region 2-7A). The game is set to kickoff at 7 p.m.

The Clinton-Tupelo game will be video broadcast with play-by-play commentary on Hudl TV. Hudl TV can be accessed on an internet browser or the Hudl Fan App on any smart television (the best method for Hudl TV). Clinton Athletics will have a simultaneous radio broadcast on WJNT 1180 AM/96.9 FM.