Arrows offense looks to be productive again

By Danny C. Davis

The Clinton Arrows offense averaged almost 30 points a game a year ago and scored 35 points on Starkville and 27 on Oxford, two of the best defenses in Class 6A a year ago. Arrow offensive coordinator Lee Martin feels Clinton can again score a lot of points every game this year.
“We have a very talented group on offense this year,” said Martin, who is starting his fifth year on the Arrows staff. “I’ve coached the seniors since the eighth grade, and they are a special group.”

The big question in the off-season is who will replace quarterback Caleb Miller who led the team last year to the Class 6A semifinals.

The answer is junior Jordyn Battee, who was the Arrow’s top receiver last year and now has made the move back to quarterback.

“Jordyn played quarterback in the eighth and ninth grade and made the switch last year to wide receiver,” said Martin. “He has worked so hard in the spring and summer and has improved so much throwing the ball and is also a great leader.”

“I feel very confident back at quarterback,” said Battee. “We are running the same schemes as last year, and we have a big offensive line and a good group of receivers coming back. We were so close last year. We want to be in the chase again this year for a championship ring.”

The strength of the offense is thought to be the offensive line, where four out of five starters return. And, yes, they are big and experienced. Anchoring the line will be offensive center Deshawn Leonard, a six-foot, 300-pound senior and third-year starter. Seniors Rudy Polk, 6’1”, 250 pounds, and Taylor Dennis, 6’, 245 pounds, start at the guard positions. At tackle, juniors Cam Williams, 6’1”, 250 pounds, will start, along with Griffin Berch, 6’3”, 280 pounds. Also in the offensive line mix will be sophomores Cayden Wilson and Evan Camper.
“Our offensive line has four out of five starters back, and we all work real well together,” said Pope, who started as a sophomore midway through the 2019 season and all season last year. “We want our strength to be being able to run the football. And Coach [Tyler] Peterson has been a real asset to our line in the off season as our offensive line coach. He has taught us so much about blocking techniques, and that is going to really pay off for us this year.”

In the backfield will be two juniors who will split the carries and look to gain a lot of yards. Juan Taylor started against Oxford in the North title game last year and played well. Also carrying the rock will be JaKobe Calvin, who had a couple of touchdowns as a freshman but was plagued by injuries in 2020. Backing up Taylor and Calvin will be sophomore Brady Torrence and junior Bre’sean Johnson.

“We feel very good with both Juan and Jakobe in the backfield,” said Martin.

With Battee, the leading receiver in 2020, moving to quarterback, the only receiver returning is dependable junior Tyler Hudson, but Martin is optimistic about new guys at the position.
“We lost a lot of experience, but have some young guys we feel confident that can make the catches.”

De Andrae Kelly not only start at cornerback on defense but also will line up at receiver. Senior Michael Tripp will move from running back to receiver. Seniors Kam Johnson and Larry Funches will be in the receiver mix, as will sophomore Veshone Malone.

Senior Luke Hopkins will handle place kicking and punting for the Arrows.

According to Martin, the keys to another good offensive production this season is to stop turnovers and produce long drives.

“We got better every week last year, and that is what we need to do again this year,” said Martin. “We were able to limit turnovers last year, and we need to do that every game this year. We want to go out there and run the ball and have some fifteen-play drives. If we can do those things this year, then we have a chance to be real good once again.”