Football | 9/5/2026 8:30:00 AM

FLOWOOD -- The Clinton High School football team could not overcome its miscues and five touchdown passes from Northwest Rankin quarterback Gavin Phillipson, falling to the Cougars, 44-34, on Friday, September 4, at Cougar Stadium.

The Arrows showed plenty of fight throughout the contest but fell to 0-2 to start the season.

Northwest Rankin raced out to a 14-0 advantage behind Phillipson's 51-yard touchdown pass to Nick Taylor in the first quarter and Kelvin Robinson's 1-yard touchdown run early in the second.

Clinton responded over the final 10:25 of the first half, overcoming a 14-point deficit twice to send the game into halftime tied at 21.

Jayden Jones connected with Matthew Fletcher in the flat before the sophomore wide receiver raced into the end zone for Clinton's first score with 5:49 remaining in the second quarter.

Phillipson extended Northwest Rankin's lead back to 14 points with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Marco Stapleton, but Boskey Evans answered with a 60-yard touchdown run to put the Arrows bck within seven.

Clinton completed its first-half comeback following an eight-play drive when Jamari Smith recovered a fumble at the 1-yard line and carried it into the end zone. Brayden Gough converted his third extra point to send the game into halftime tied at 21.

Jones gave Clinton its first lead of the night out of halftime, crossing the goal line on a 15-yard touchdown run, putting the Arrows ahead 28-21.

Northwest Rankin responded with 23 unanswered points, however, behind three more touchdown passes from Phillipson -- another to Stapleton and two to Deshawn Dillon -- to build a 44-28 advantage.

Dayson Scott pulled the Arrows back within 10 points with a 26-yard touchdown reception, but Clinton could not complete another comeback.

BY THE NUMBERS

Clinton was plagued by turnovers throughout the contest, losing possession six times on three fumbles and three interceptions. Northwest Rankin capitalized on three of the six miscues, turning them into 21 points.

The Arrow defense responded by forcing a pair of turnovers of its own. Trevion Casnel recorded an interception, while Christopher Jones recovered a fumble forced by Montario Braden.

Jones finished the evening 16-of-29 passing for 210 yards and two touchdowns. Fletcher led the receiving corps with eight catches for 60 yards and a score, while Dayson Scott continued his solid start to the season with four catches for 83 yards and a touchdown.

On the ground, Evans led Clinton with 90 yards on nine carries. Braylon Lowery added 63 yards on 11 attempts, while Jones contributed 37 rushing yards from the quarterback position.

Clinton finished the night with 420 yards of total offense and 20 first downs, holding possession for 24 minutes, 53 seconds.

Defensively, Braden paced the Arrows with six solo tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack, pacing the Arrow defense. Casnel added five solos and an assist with 1 1/2 tackles for loss and two pass breakups.

Tyler Graham, Sean Riddley, Devin Harris, and Jacolby Freeman alos contributed to the Clinton defensive efforts.

UP NEXT

The Arrows return to action Friday, September 11, hosting the Brandon Bulldogs at Arrow Field in Clinton. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.