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Arrows rally in second half, sink the Pirates on Homecoming

Cayden Albert is lifted up by Tyboris Loftin after a touchdown reception against the Pearl Pirates.
Trinity Burge

Football | 9/19/2025 10:54:00 PM

The Clinton High School Football team left the locker room with a renewed focus against the Pearl Pirates during Homecoming festivities on Friday night.

Trailing at the intermission, the Arrows (3-1) scored 19 points during a six-minute stretch of the second half, including two of Jayden Jones' three touchdowns, to sink the Pirates, 27-20, at Arrow Field. It was the 51st meeting between the Jackson-area rivals and the first since 2019.

"The second half consisted of a lot of guys stepping up and filling in a role," Clinton Head Football Coach Hamer Morgan said. "In the first half, we didn't make a lot of clutch plays, and we let them slip away. The second half is when we figured out some things at halftime, made some adjustments. Offensive staff did a great job, making those adjustments, and we rolled off some points.

"This whole group is resilient, and I am so glad for our guys to come back and win this game," Morgan added.

Jayden Jones bounced back from a difficult game at Brandon and showed his true character by leading his team on two scoring drives in the third quarter despite some frustrations in the first half. Jayden Jones led the team with 112 rushing yards on 12 attempts and went six-of-12 passing for 59 yards, contributing in all of the Arrows touchdowns.

"We knew after halftime that it was time to dominate the game," Jayden Jones said. "We stuck little more to the run, and I told Coach (Shelton) to put the ball into my hands and get us down the field."

Starting at its 21-yard line with five minutes left in the third quarter, Clinton used three of Braylon Lowery's carries to get to its 46-yard line. Four plays later, Jayden Jones broke loose on a quarterback keeper that saw the sophomore make a shifty juke to break the Pearl's defensive edge for a 24-yard touchdown run. Lowery added a bruising two-point-conversion run for a 10-7 lead at the third's 2:04 mark.

On Pearl's first play of its next possession, Cameron Cornelius smartly read a Pirate pass, breaking out of the secondary. Cornelius intercepted then returned the ball to the Pirates' 8-yard line. Two plays later, Lowery made a 10-yard carry for a first down at the 1-yard line. By fourth-down, the Arrows used Jayden Jones' scrambling pass to Cayden Albert to crack the goal line.

On the extra-point attempt, Clinton used some razzle-dazzle as the holder John Jackson connected with long snapper Gage Temple out of the swinging-gate formation for a two-point conversion and an 18-7 advantage with 15 seconds left in the third.

Clinton's 19-point scoring spree was capped by Braylon Spann's 40-yard field goal with nine minutes, 16 seconds left in the game, giving the Homecoming host a 21-7 advantage.

Pearl answered with a five-minute drive that stretched 97 yards, but Clinton had another answer despite the comeback attempt.

The Arrows silenced the Pirates with a 50-yard, five-play drive after an onside-kick attempt that they recovered. However, it would take a little improvisation by Jayden Jones to complete the drive. A busted quarterback sneak at the Pirate 1-yard line forced Jayden Jones to break free from the pocket, waggling around the right tackle and across the goal line for the score.

The Pirates added a late touchdown with three second remaining, but the celebration was immediate once the visitors' last-gap onside kick was recovered and the final three ticks drained off the clock.

"The community has gotten around us this year," Jayden Jones said about the Arrows' undefeated record at Arrow Field. "The fans come out and show love. So, we know that we have to come out and play for them. My teammates and I appreciate that support."

GREAT FIELD POSITION

Though the Arrows total offensive output was small, it was not for lacking effort. Rather, the Clinton defensive and special team units created great field position for the red and black all night.

Clinton's average starting field position was its 46-yard line for the game and during the second half started at the 50-yard line.

"Again, the defense stood tall for us and kept us in the ball game," Morgan said. "We had some guys filling in tonight, like Malik Jackson and Montario Braden, and they did not miss a step."

Spann, who also punts for the Arrows, pinned the Pirates inside their 20-yard line on all three of his punts. Defensively, Clinton forced Pearl into a first-quarter safety, two turnovers on downs, an interception, and three punts.

"Coach (Britt) Rowell encouraged at us throughout the game to keep taking the fight to (Pearl) and not point the finger at the offense," Senior defensive back Miles Bass said. "We just locked in on defense, and we do what we have to do for the team.

"Big stops, like Cam's interception, build team momentum," Bass added about the defensive performance. "We give the offense better field position, and it gives them the easier opportunity to score."

HOMECOMING WIN

Friday night's win was extra sweet for the senior class as they won their first Homecoming game as Arrows.

Having dropped the two previous Homecoming games in 2023 and 2024, Clinton wanted the opportunity to give the community something extra to celebrate against Pearl. The win additionally surpassed the home win total from the 2024 season.

"Every time that we play at home, I lose some stress," Senior offensive lineman Jacob Jones said. "When we're at Arrow Field, we can have fun and just play football. I love hearing our fans, cheerleaders, and the band, getting their support behind us."

Though the win was worth celebrating, Bass emphasized the importance of the next game.

"It feels great, but we are focusing on the next game now," Bass said.

QUICK STATS
  • Clinton earned 16 first downs on 259 total offensive yards
  • Lowery chipped in 16 rushes for 73 yards, and Albert had six carries for 17.
  • Dayson Scott had five receptions for 46 yards.
  • Robsen Neblett led the defense with nine solo tackles and one assist.
  • Cornelius had nine total tackles, and Davon Merchant added five from his defenisve-lineman position.
UP NEXT

The Arrows hit the road for their final non-district game in the first-ever meeting with the Petal Panthers on Friday, September 26. Clinton and Petal square off at 7 p.m. from the campus of Petal High School.
 
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Players Mentioned

Davon Merchant

#23 Davon Merchant

LB
6' 1"
Sophomore
Robsen Neblett

#24 Robsen Neblett

LB
5' 9"
Sophomore
Braylon Spann

#41 Braylon Spann

K
5' 9"
Sophomore
Cameron Cornelius

#49 Cameron Cornelius

DB
5' 7"
Sophomore
Jacob Jones

#65 Jacob Jones

OL
5' 9"
Sophomore
Miles Bass

#13 Miles Bass

DB
6' 1"
Senior
John Jackson

#84 John Jackson

WR
5' 10"
Junior
Jayden Jones

#1 Jayden Jones

QB
6' 3"
Sophomore
Montario Braden

#46 Montario Braden

LB
5' 11"
Junior
Braylon Lowery

#34 Braylon Lowery

ATH
5' 11"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Davon Merchant

#23 Davon Merchant

6' 1"
Sophomore
LB
Robsen Neblett

#24 Robsen Neblett

5' 9"
Sophomore
LB
Braylon Spann

#41 Braylon Spann

5' 9"
Sophomore
K
Cameron Cornelius

#49 Cameron Cornelius

5' 7"
Sophomore
DB
Jacob Jones

#65 Jacob Jones

5' 9"
Sophomore
OL
Miles Bass

#13 Miles Bass

6' 1"
Senior
DB
John Jackson

#84 John Jackson

5' 10"
Junior
WR
Jayden Jones

#1 Jayden Jones

6' 3"
Sophomore
QB
Montario Braden

#46 Montario Braden

5' 11"
Junior
LB
Braylon Lowery

#34 Braylon Lowery

5' 11"
Sophomore
ATH

Scoreboard