Football | 10/16/2026 10:38:00 PM
CLINTON -- The Clinton High School football team dropped its first Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Region 2-7A contest of the season, falling to Starkville, 31-17, on Friday, Oct. 16, at Arrow Field.
Jacory Ruffin scored three rushing touchdowns as the Yellowjackets (5-2, 1-1 Region 2-7A) scored 21 unanswered points to build a commanding second-half advantage that the Arrows could not overcome.
Brayden Gough opened the scoring with a 26-yard field goal four minutes into the contest before Starkville forced a safety on an intentional grounding penalty with 5:16 remaining in the first quarter. Clinton carried the 3-2 advantage into the second period.
Ruffin gave the Starkville its first lead of the night with a 6-yard touchdown run before Kingston Johnson connected with Tiwan Tripplett for the 2-point conversion, putting the Yellowjackets ahead 10-3 with 11:53 remaining in the first half.
Clinton answered immediately when
Jayden Jones stepped up in the pocket and found a streaking
Jamari Smith wide open for a 77-yard touchdown pass. Gough converted the extra point to tie the game at 10 with 10:18 remaining in the second quarter.
Starkville regained the lead when Triplett scored on a 13-yard touchdown run with 5:31 remaining in the half, sending the Yellowjackets into the locker room with a 17-10 advantage.
Ruffin added touchdown runs of 24 and 9 yards in the second half, extending Starkville's lead to 31-10 with 11:25 remaining in the contest.
Clinton responded with 4:25 remaining when
Boskey Evans plunged into the end zone from 1 yard out, cutting the deficit to 31-17.
The Arrows (2-5, 1-1 Region 2-7A) regained possession twice in the closing minutes but could not complete the comeback. Clinton's final two drives ended with a punt and a lost fumble, respectively, allowing Starkville to secure the region victory.
BY THE NUMBERS
Clinton finished with 366 yards of total offense, including 243 passing and 123 rushing, while recording 14 first downs. The Arrows ran 53 offensive plays.
Jones completed 11-of-19 passes for 243 yards and a touchdown without an interception. Smith led the receiving corps with three receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown, while
Dayson Scott added four catches for 89 yards.
On the ground, Jones paced Clinton with 72 yards on 15 carries.
Cayden Albert added 26 yards on eight attempts, while Evans rushed 11 times for 25 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, the Arrows surrendered 373 yards of total offense, including 262 rushing yards on 47 attempts. Starkville recorded 20 first downs.
Trevion Casnel led Clinton's effort with 12 total tackles, including 10 solo stops and a tackle for loss.
Montario Braden added eight solo tackles and a tackle for loss, while
Malik Jackson finished with eight total tackles.
TeKarion Johnson contributed six tackles and a tackle for loss, while
Devin Harris recorded five tackles.
Sean Riddley added four tackles, and
Jeremiah Barnett and
Ayden Jelks each broke up a pass.
UP NEXT
Clinton returns to action Friday, Oct. 23, traveling to Oxford for its third MHSAA Region 2-7A contest of the season. Kickoff between the Arrows and Chargers is set for 7 p.m. at Holcomb Field on the campus of Oxford Middle School.
