Football | 9/4/2024 7:03:00 AM

The Clinton High School Football team set a 24-hour timer to enjoy its opening-game win over the Warren Central Vikings.

The short-term celebration was necessary as the Arrows prepare for another non-region, road trip this Friday to Northwest Rankin High School.

Clinton and the Northwest Rankin Cougars play the 27th game of the series between the two Jackson-Metro Area teams. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. in Flowood.

"Our rule is to enjoy it for one night, and then we get right back to work," Head Football Coach John Carr said. "We didn't work this hard to say 'hey, we just want to beat Warren Central' and then our season is over with. We have to refocus and not let what happened last week beat us this week ... The reality is to play to the standard we expect out of our guys."

Clinton won a 26-20 thriller against Warren Central High School last Friday in Vicksburg. The Arrows utilized three fumble recoveries, three rushing touchdowns, and a blocked punt that was returned for a touchdown to defeat the Vikings.

For Carr, Clinton's football team must find some consistency and not rely too heavily on big play this week. Many of the starters for the Arrows are experiencing their first varsity action.

"We have a lot of guys that have not played a ton of snaps," Carr said. "We have two sophomore offensive tackles and a sophomore center. We have a quarterback and wide receiver that did not play a lot of snaps too much. Phillip Burchfield was hurt throughout last season. And defensively, we have a whole new secondary and whole new set of linebackers. We will have some growing pains that we will experience throughout this season."

Northwest Rankin comes off a 46-21 loss to Germantown High School. The Cougars possess plenty of speed and provide a challenge for the Arrows to corral some talented skill players. Northwest Rankin will line up in an odd-man front on the defensive side of the football.

"They are very athletic," Carr said. "They have really, really athletic quarterback and receiver. They have plenty of players that can turn the game around if you let them."

SERIES HISTORY

Northwest Rankin won the previous meeting over Clinton, 21-14, last season on Friday, Sept. 1, at Arrow Field in Clinton. 

Clinton has won three of the last five meetings, including the red, black, and white's previous visit to Flowood -- a 35-21 decision.

Clinton leads the series 15-11 and has outscored Northwest Rankin 564-513.

FAN INFORMATION

The Clinton-Northwest Rankin 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.

If you plan to travel to the game, visitors are asked to park on the campus of Northwest Rankin Middle School. NWRMS is located at 5805 Highway 25, Flowood, MS, 39232. For more details on parking and entering the game see the image below.

Similar to Warren Central last week, Northwest Rankin has implemented a clear bag policy for its athletics events. No backpacks are allowed through the gate either.

To purchase tickets, fans can follow this LINK to GoFan in order to pre-purchase their tickets and avoid the lines. Tickets are $8 apiece. If fans elect to forgo GoFan, Northwest Rankin Athletics accepts cash at the ticket gate.

Stadium gates open at 5:45 p.m.