Football | 10/9/2026 10:25:00 PM
CLINTON -- The Clinton High School football team opened Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Region 2-7A play with a commanding 48-14 victory over Murrah on Friday night, Oct. 9, at Arrow Field.
Junior quarterback
Jayden Jones threw four touchdown passes, while the Arrow defense limited the Mustangs' offense production as Clinton improved to 2-4 overall and 1-0 in region play.
Jones opened the scoring just two minutes into the contest, connecting with
Dayson Scott for a 9-yard touchdown pass. Jones found
John Jackson for a 32-yard scoring strike later in the first quarter, giving Clinton a 14-0 advantage with 4:11 remaining.
Brayden Gough extended the Arrows' lead to 17-0 with a 35-yard field goal with 44 seconds remaining in the opening period.
Clinton continued its offensive surge in the second quarter.
Amarreau Coleman capped a four-play drive with a 13-yard touchdown run before
Cayden Albert finished a six-play series with a 5-yard score on the ground, extending the advantage to 31-0 with 2:42 remaining in the half.
Murrah answered when Schorrard Murray connected with VanQuavious Lard for a 7-yard touchdown pass. Murray followed with a successful 2-point conversion pass to Jouston Foster, trimming the deficit to 31-8.
The Arrows responded before halftime as Jones connected with
Matthew Fletcher on a screen pass, and the sophomore receiver weaved through the Murrah defense for a 42-yard touchdown, sending Clinton into the locker room with a 38-8 advantage.
Clinton picked up where it left off in the second half. Jones found Scott wide open for a 9-yard touchdown pass, his fourth scoring strike of the night, before Gough added the extra point.
Gough completed Clinton's scoring with a 21-yard field goal, extending the advantage to 48-8 entering the fourth quarter.
Murrah reached the end zone once more when Justin Atkins scored on a 1-yard touchdown run. The Mustangs failed to convert the ensuing 2-point attempt, producing the final 34-point margin.
BY THE NUMBERS
Clinton totaled 363 yards of offense, including 197 rushing and 166 passing, while recording 21 first downs in the region-opening victory.
Jones completed 12-of-18 passes for 166 yards and four touchdowns without an interception.
Fletcher led the receiving corps with four catches for 81 yards and a touchdown. Scott added five receptions for 38 yards and two scores, while Jackson hauled in a 32-yard touchdown reception.
On the ground, Fletcher paced Clinton with 70 yards on five carries, averaging 14 yards per attempt. Jones added 34 yards on five carries, while Albert rushed seven times for 30 yards.
Boskey Evans contributed 27 yards on four attempts, and Coleman added 24 yards and a touchdown on three carries.
Defensively, Clinton limited Murrah to 208 yards of total offense, including 108 rushing and 100 passing yards. The Arrows held the Mustangs to 15 first downs.
TeKarian Johnson led the defensive effort with seven solo tackles and a tackle for loss.
Christian Smith followed with five total tackles, while
Montario Braden and
Devin Harris recorded four tackles apiece.
Harris collected two tackles for loss, while Braden added one. Peyton Sullivan and
Jaden Robinson also registered tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
Gough finished a perfect 6-for-6 on extra-point attempts and converted field goals from 35 and 21 yards, accounting for 12 points in the victory.
NEXT UP
Clinton returns to action Friday, Oct. 16 against Starkville in the second MHSAA Region 2-7A game at Arrow Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
