Football | 9/14/2024 7:30:00 AM

The oldest Jackson-Metro Area high-school rivalry added an incalculable chapter to its series on Friday night in Clinton.

In the 80th, all-time football meeting between Clinton High School and Brandon High School, a scoring record was set and video-game stats were put up by both teams.

Clinton rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit and blocked Brandon's two field-goal attempts in the final four minutes, 35 seconds to defeat the Bulldogs, 65-62, at Arrow Field. The teams' combined points (127) total is now the largest combined points total in a Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) football game, surpassing Heidelberg High School and Sharon High School which totaled 125 combined points in a game on September 14, 1956.

"This is why you coach," CHS Head Football Coach John Carr said. "This is why you coach especially at a place like (Clinton). You compete at a high level week in and week out against good opponents. To have an opportunity to do this tonight is very special for our community, our players, and our fans. It was a big win for Clinton."

Defending their three-point lead, the Arrows' field-goal block unit arrived in strong fashion against the visiting Bulldogs. In its next to last possession, Brandon attempted a 36-yard kick with under five minutes to go, but Clinton's Dallas Johnson got a hand on it, deflecting the football through the back of the end zone. Then the Bulldogs made one last push to win or tie the game, taking possession with 1:17 left and holding no timeouts. Brandon marched 55 yards to the Clinton 13-yard line and set up for a tying field goal. However, once again, the Arrows surged through Brandon's field-goal unit and forced the kick wayward with 10 seconds left in the game.

"They came up huge again," Carr said about his special team's unit that has blocked a kick or punt in the first three games of the season. "They do it week in and week out. They are not taking plays off, and the guys inside got a great push. Again, it shows you that special teams can help you win ball games ... just proud of the guys' effort."

Trailing 38-28 at the intermission, the Arrows came out of the locker room with a haymaker. Clinton wasted no time when Josef Walker connected with Erich Johnson for a 20-yard pass for the second half's first offensive play to Brandon's 35-yard line. Two plays later, Aaric Beasley used his feet and crossed the goal line, sparking the Arrows' Herculean rally.

Clinton would outscore Brandon 24-17 in the third, including 17 unanswered points during a two-minute span. Spann added a 20-yard field goal, capping a nine-play drive. Lazivan Tinner forced a fumble off the Brandon quarterback, and Chrisrtian Cavett scooped and sprinted with the loose football to the Bulldogs' 9-yard line. Three plays later, Jakobe Williams picked up a three-yard rushing touchdown. Finally, Walker would find Jaydann Hollins on a sideline wheel route for an 87-yard bomb as the junior wide receiver raced untouched into the end zone. The run of points gave Clinton a 52-45 lead with 5:40 remaining in the period.

Brandon answered and outscored Clinton 17-6 midway through the fourth. But the Arrows took its third and final lead of the game when Williams, with the help of his offensive lineman, scrummed his way into the end zone, carrying the football eight yards. Then Braylon Spann added his eighth extra-point field goal at the quarter's 6:57 mark. The game-winning possession lasted three minutes, 28 seconds over 67 yards in nine plays. Most importantly, it gave the Arrows the decisive three-point advantage that the field-goal block unit maintained.

"I am so proud of our players. They were engaged all week, and we had a great week of practice," Carr said. "Of course, it was disappointing last week with all the penalties. To come back tonight, we never got caught up with being down or up, playing with level emotions was the key to the game.

"If you can do anything to learn a lesson from a loss, to make sure it doesn't follow you into the next week, this is a prime example," Carr added.

Brandon started the contest with a 17-7 lead by the end of the opening quarter, but Clinton traded touchdowns with its rival during the second. Walker connected with Hollins for a touchdown, Chad Holiday jumped a Brandon screen pass for a pick-6 score from 33 yards out, and Williams added a six-yard rushing touchdown, allowing the hosts to only trail by 10 points at the break.

THE STATS

The Arrows racked up 532 yards of total offense and tallied 32 first downs in the scoring marathon. Clinton's 65 points tied the program's most points scored, which was set on October 28, 2016, in a win against Greenville High School.

Offensively, Walker was 23-of-38 passing for 387 yards and three touchdowns. The junior quarterback added 34 rushing yards on 14 attempts. He was the touchdown recipient of a reverse pass thrown by Hollins that gave the Arrows a 58-55 lead in the final quarter.

Williams led the ground attack, carrying the football 20 times for 78 yards and three scores. The senior running back added three catches for 16 yards to his personal total. Beasley, a sophomore hybrid back, added nine touches for 31 rushing yards.

Johnson had 10 receptions for 156 yards, and Hollins collected five catches for 178 yards. Phillip Burchfield caged three passes for 24 yards.

Defensively, the Arrows were paced by Trevis Coley's seven solo tackles. Jaiden Jefferson had six total tackles, and Ashton Nichols tallied five. Adam Alexander wrangled four tackles.

Clinton had six tackles for loss, tallying 10 negative yards for Brandon. Miles Bass had one of the Arrows' two fumble recoveries.

"I thought (the offense) executed extremely well," Carr said. "Our offense executed and were locked in all week. Our guys made plays. All you can do is to put them in positions to make plays, and I am really proud of the execution on that side of the ball. Defensively, we gave up some things, but, at the same time, when we had to make the stops -- we made the stops."

UP NEXT

Clinton squares off against the Grenada High School Chargers at 7 p.m. next Friday at Arrow Field. Homecoming Court festivities will be held during the contest's halftime intermission.