Football | 10/9/2025 10:59:00 PM

JACKSON -- The Clinton High School Football team imposed its will on both sides of the football in its Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Region 2-7A opener against the Murrah Mustangs on Thursday night (Oct. 9).

Three Arrow running backs contributed touchdowns, Clinton quarterback Jayden Jones accounted for 176 offensive yards, and the defensive unit pitched a stingy shut out, forcing three turnovers, as Clinton (4-2, 1-0 Region 2-7A) defeated the Mustangs (1-6, 0-1 Region 2-7A), 35-0, at South Jackson Field. It was the Arrows' ninth straight win over Murrah and the first meeting since 2022.

"It is important to get to that first win in district," Clinton Head Football Coach Hamer Morgan said. "But even more important is resetting each week and focusing on the next game at hand."

Braylon Lowery scored two touchdowns of eight and three yards in the first half, helping the Arrows race to a 20-0 advantage by halftime. Cayden Albert added one of his two touchdowns along with a Boskey Evans rushing score during the third, highlighting the five-touchdown romp. Boskey led the dynamic trio with 11 rushes for 113 yards and a long of 44. Lowery and Albert combined for 78 yards on the ground.

"(The running backs) enjoyed the success tonight," Morgan said. "They ran the ball really good tonight, and obviously, when the backs run it that well, the offensive line is playing well."

As Morgan mentioned, a lot of the rushing success could be contributed to the offensive line's effort, correcting mistakes from the previous loss to Petal. The position group of Karlton Jackson, Dereon Simmons, Jacob Jones, Davonte Burkett, and Graham Williams, shoved open massive holes and left the Arrow backs seeing wide open spaces in the Murrah defense, for a rushing attack that amassed 276 total rushing yards.

According to Williams, film study and two solid weeks of preparation got the Arrows toward a big night on the ground.

"We stayed on blocks, and blocking all the way to the whistle, executing the plays properly," Williams said. "Improving from our last game against Petal, we didn't do those things well. So (staying on blocks and executing) is what helped us dominate.

"(The win) feels good, and it is a fresh restart of the season," Williams added. "This is where it counts, right here, if you want to make the playoffs, and make a run at this thing."

Jones, the sophomore quarterback, gained back some swagger in the district win. The signal caller went nine of 12 passing for 140 yards and rushed six times for 36 yards.

The defense continued its strong play in the region opener. Miles Bass and Ashton NI\ichols were sure-handed, caging an interception each. Davon Merchant added a second-quarter fumble recovery which he returned 15 yards. The Clinton defense held the Mustangs to only nine first downs and 153 total offensive yards. It was the first shutout for the Arrows since a 28-0 win over Murrah on November 4, 2021.

"Overall, we did very good tonight," Cameron Cornelius said. "I don't think we lacked anywhere tonight. Everyone did their job and that's why I think we picked up the shut out.

"The scout team gave us good looks all week, the coaches explained the concepts really well, and just a really good week of practice led to a good performance," Cornelius added on the unit's preparation for the matchup.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Despite a delay to the game as referees scrambled to find a down marker for the chain gang, the Arrows didn't delay, taking the lead on the game's opening drive. Clinton used nine plays and capped the 64-yard series with Lowery's first touchdown at the first quarter's 8:34 mark. 

Merchant stopped the Mustangs' most promising drive when he recovered a loose ball and returned his fumble recovery 15 yards, keeping the shut-out performance alive with 11 minutes, nine seconds left in the second.

The Arrows had to wait a touch longer before adding to their lead when Lowery scrummed his way across the goal line from the 3-yard line. Braylon Spann added his first of three extra-point field goals, giving Clinton a 13-0 lead with four minutes, 45 seconds remaining in the second. Three minutes later, Albert rushed seven yards into the end zone, capping a quick, four-play possession. The red and black led 20-0.

A late Murrah heave was picked off by Bass, a senior cornerback, in the end zone, maintaining the 20-point advantage as the first half expired.

The Arrows' second possession of the third only needed two plays as Evans used a 44-yard run and a 15-yard touchdown carry to extend his team's lead to 27-0 at the 4:33 mark. Set up by Nichols' interception at the Mustang 30-yard line, Albert finalized Clinton's scoring with his five-yard touchdown and two-point conversion, invoking the MHSAA mercy rule. 

The fourth period played under a running clock as both teams had one possession but nothing to show for it.

UP NEXT

Clinton started its MHSAA Region 2-7A campaign with a 1-0 record, just as it did last year. The Arrows continue its road trip with a visit to district foe Starkville High School this upcoming Friday, Oct. 17. The game is set for a 7 p.m. kick off.