Football | 10/17/2025 7:35:00 PM
STARKVILLE -- The Clinton High School Football team dominated the stat sheet, but the home-standing Starkville Yellowjackets lit up the scoreboard more often on Friday night.
The Arrows suffered costly turnovers and too many fruitless possessions while Starkville's momentum-swinging plays in the game's three phases led the hosts to a 28-7 win in a Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Region 2-7A game at Yellowjacket Stadium.
Though both teams share an even record in divisional action, Starkville (5-2, 1-1 Region 2-7A) now has the head-to-head tie breaker over the red and black when postseason berths are up for grabs in the regular season's final three weeks.
The Yellowjackets scored in all three phases of the game -- offense, defense, and special teams -- as they ran away with a 21-0 advantage early in the third quarter. A 58-yard pass, a 82-yard return of a blocked field goal, and a 51-yard pick six secured the Yellowjacket advantage in the Arrows' frustrating night.
Clinton (4-3, 1-1 Region 2-7A) had 13 more first downs, 23-10, and outgained Starkville by 70 yards, 327-257, which those stats delivered many scoring opportunities. Yet, three interceptions, two blocked field goals, and a lost fumble were variables in a losing formula.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After the Arrows' first field-goal attempt was blocked in the first, Starkville's Kingston Johnson connected with A'braylen Jenkins for a 58-yard strike three plays later. The Yellowjackets blocked Clinton's third kick, and Kaesen McQuiller recovered the loose ball, returning it 82 yards to the end zone. The hosts led 14-0 with five minutes, 51 seconds left in the opening half.
Miles Bass stopped more bleeding when he acrobatically intercepted Johnson's pass attempt at the Arrow goal line with two ticks left before halftime, keeping Starkville at a two-score lead.
Receiving the second half's opening kick, Clinton's second play resulted in Jekylon Taylor's 51-yard, pick-six touchdown at the third's 10:57 mark.
The Arrows crafted a touchdown response two possessions later as they marched 44 yards in eight plays.
Jayden Jones capped the series with an 8-yard pass to
Cayden Albert, who skillfully maintained his feet in bounds for six.
Braylon Spann added the extra-point for a 21-7 deficit with 1:15 left in the third.
Starkville put the game away with Jenkins' two-yard touchdown carry with seven minutes, 22 seconds left in contest.
Clinton had two final possessions but one ended with an interception at the Starkville 6-yard line and a lost fumble at Clinton's 41-yard line.
UP NEXT
Clinton returns to Arrow Field for a two-game home-stand, starting with a visit from the Oxford Chargers on Friday, October 24. It will be the first meeting since 2022 when both teams were slated together in Region 2-6A -- the highest divison of MHSAA football at the time prior to the introduction of the 7A classification.
The Arrows will close out their regular-season home schedule on Friday, October 31, when they host the Germantown Mavericks in Clinton.
Both contests have a start time of 7 p.m.
