experienced arrows looking for a good year

By Danny C. Davis

In 2021, the Clinton Arrow football team did not have very many starters returning, but came close to having a great season. Clinton finished the regular season 6-4, losing to three top ten teams in the fourth period or in overtime. The Arrows lost to Ocean Springs in double overtime, 45-44. They blew a two-touchdown lead to Brandon, falling 31-24, and had a last-minute loss at Starkville, 28-27.

Arrow head coach Judd Boswell is optimistic heading into his eleventh campaign on Arrow Drive.

“There is no substitute for experience,” said Boswell, who led the Arrows to the Class 6A State Championship in 2016. “We have a lot of starters back. Going into last season, we did not have many starters back. We went on the road and rode three hours and lost to a Top 10 team (Ocean Springs) and put up 44 points and lost in double overtime by one point to start the season. Hopefully, we can flip the script to start the season this year.

Jakobe Calvin

Boswell is right. The Arrows are experienced, with seven or eight starters back on defense and offense. The offense is led by senior QB Jordyn Battee and talented running backs Jakobe Calvin, Juan Taylor and receiver Kyler Hutton. Up front tackles Griffin Berch and Cameron Williams are college prospects. On the defensive side, linebackers Jacquavyian Carter and Kamarious Gibson have made a ton of tackles. Up front defensively, the Arrows are hard to run against, with T J Spann, Jonathan Flowers, Jalen Hollins and Benny Jenkins.

The unranked Arrows have arguably the toughest schedule in Class 6 A this season. Through the first six games, CHS will face #1 Brandon (2021 runner-up Class 6A state champs), #2 Madison Central (defending Class 6 A state champs) #5 Starkville, and #6 Ocean Springs.

And Ocean Springs has the top-rated player in the state in quarterback Brayson Hubbard.

“There were four plays, and four busted plays in the first five games last year that were the difference between us being 5-0 and 2-3,” said Boswell. “That was the difference.”

Clinton’s only double-digit loss came to #1 ranked Madison Central, 31-17. That was partly the result of a controversial interference call on the final play of the first half with the game tied 10-10 that allowed the Jaguars a touchdown and a 17-10 halftime lead.

Boswell said the team’s strengths are the offensive and defensive lines and the running backs, where they have a lot of experience back.

“We do not have a lot depth on the team, especially in the skill positions, so we have to stay healthy at quarterback, running backs and wide receiver,” said Boswell.
“We just hope to have some good things happen to us early in the season and get off to a good start and see how things go from there.”

“We play a tough schedule and will be battle tested, if we can get through the regular season without any major injuries.”

Clinton opens the 2022 MHSAA Class 6 A schedule with the opening game on Thursday night, August 25, hosting #6 Ocean Springs at Arrow Field. Then things do not get any easier. After traveling to Flowood on September 2 to play Northwest Rankin, the Arrows host #1 ranked Brandon on September 9.

Following an open date, the Arrows will take a road trip to open Region 2-6 A play at Germantown on September 23. The following week, CHS will host # 5 Starkville on Arrow Drive on September 30.

Clinton then travels to #2 ranked and arch rival Madison Central on October 7, followed by their first long road trip to Oxford October 14, with a home game against Grenada on October 21. Then another long trip to north Mississippi to play Tupelo on October 28, and the Arrows wrap up the regular season hosting Jackson Murrah on Thursday night, November 3.

“We’re not ranked going into the season, and that is the way we like it. I think we have one of the best coaching staffs in the state and have a great bunch of kids that play hard. We will figure it out and see where it lands. But I think we are going to be really good this year,” said Boswell.