Football | 10/5/2024 8:45:00 AM

TERRY -- The Clinton High School Football team tasted victory for the first time in three weeks on Friday night.

This time, the Arrows weren't in a back-and-forth thriller, but, rather, a dominating win, combining all facets of the game, that got the team back on track.

The backfield duo of Aaric Beasley and Jakobe Williams combined for five touchdowns, and the Clinton defense stifled the Terry Bulldogs for a 42-7 win in a Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) non-district contest on the campus of Terry High School. The blowout snapped the Arrows' two-game skid.

"When you have a coaching staff that believes in us, and players that believe in themselves, we can do stuff like this," Williams, a senior running back, said. "The last two weeks have humbled us. We have been going hard at practice. We were ready for this moment, and we are still hungry."

Beasley rushed for two touchdowns and accounted for a receiving touchdown during the second half. Williams added rushing touchdowns of two and three yards as the Arrows romped past the Bulldogs, who suffered their first loss of the 2024 season.

"Aaric Beasley and Jakobe Williams had tremendous nights," Clinton Head Football Coach John Carr said. "We challenged our o-line to really play well. I thought they did a really good job, too."

The Clinton defense, which allowed 55 and 32 points in its previous two losses, locked down Terry. The Arrows allowed its fewest points since a 12-6 win over Grenada on Oct. 21, 2022. The Arrows forced the Bulldogs into four punts, a fumble, recovered by Chad Holiday, and an interception by Justin Singleton.

"The defense played extremely well," Carr said. "They got better as the game went along, and they helped us keep the offense on the field.

"Our guys were hungry, and we had a really great week of practice," Carr added. "We were out of school, and we had a little bit more time with them. All they could think about was football. They had a really good focused week."

Clinton's offensive output was directed by freshman Jayden Jones, who collected his first start for the red and black. The 14-year-old signal caller, who spelled an injured Josef Walker, opened the scoring for the Arrows, connecting with Jaden Johnson on a 12-yard pass. Braylon Spann would add his first of six extra-point field goals.

"For Jayden to come into this environment, as a 14-year-old freshman, to manage the football game and gain the team's confidence, it speaks volumes of what is to come for him," Carr said.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Arrows recovered a botched return by the Bulldogs and set up shop for a seven-play scoring drive. Beasley capped the possession when he rushed across the goal line from seven yards out. Clinton led 14-0 with only four minutes and 39 seconds off the game clock.

Terry cut the visitor's advantage to 14-7 with 2:58 left in the first quarter, but the Arrows would stretch the lead to 14 -- again -- toward the end of the first half. Williams would cap an eight-play drive with his first touchdown, and Clinton led 21-7 at halftime.

Opening the second half, the Arrows forced a 3-and-out and began the rout on their next possession. A 35-yard connection between Jones and Phillip Burchfield set up Beasley for a 20-yard rushing score on the next play. 

Beasley's final touchdown occurred on fourth-and-12 when the junior running back ran a wheel route out of the backfield. Jones, who faked a quarterback run, did a 180-turn and found Beasley wide open on the opposite side of the field. The back did the rest, shedding a tackle and sprinting down the sideline for six.

With 10:43 left in the game, the Arrows methodically moved down the field with a 14-play, 80-yard drive. The series was capped when Williams pounded the ball across the goal line and enacted the MHSAA's mercy rule.

THE STATS

Without its starting quarterback, Clinton went to its run game, totaling 268 yards. Beasley led the attack with 15 carries for 139 yards. Beasley's longest carry was 49 yards on a fake punt that set up the Arrows' opening touchdown. Additionally, Williams surpassed the 100-yard mark, rushing 22 times for 102 yards.

Jones completed seven of 18 passes for 113 yards. The quarterback was kept clean all night as his offensive line did not allow any sacks.

Beasley had two catches for 40 yards, and Phillip Burchfield added a catch for 35. Erich Johnson had two receptions for 29 yards.

Clinton's defense snagged six tackles for loss that totaled 31 yards. 

UP NEXT

The Arrows (3-3) take this upcoming week off before entering MHSAA Region 2-7A competition on Friday, Oct. 18, when they take on the Starkville Yellow Jackets at 7 p.m. at Arrow Field. 

"Well, the Arrows always have the toughest schedule," Williams said. "So, all we can do is prepare throughout the week and get ready for district play."