Arrows still looking for first win

By Danny C Davis

 

To say the 2023 football season has started tough for the Clinton High Arrows would be an understatement. Clinton dropped to 0-4 for the first time since the mid 1990s after being shut out on the road at Grenada 35-0 on September 14.

Things get no easier for the injury-ridden Arrows. Clinton hosts Class 6A perennial power South Panola on Friday, September 21, at Arrow Field for homecoming, and then closes out the non-region schedule against 4-0 Terry at home on September 29.

Then it is Class 7A region play against Top 5 poll opponents Tupelo and Starkville, and Top 10 opponent Madison Central.

This writer has covered the Arrows for forty-seven seasons, and I have never seen the team with all three quarterbacks out with injury.

In total, Clinton has around nine key starters out and playing arguably the toughest schedule of any team’s classification in the state.

Starting Arrow QB Sam Semi and sophomore backup up Joseph Walker are not expected back for three or four more weeks.

Clinton’s loss to Grenada was their first since 2003.

With all three quarterbacks out, Veshone Malone, a wide receiver and defensive back, was the emergency QB used for the Grenada game. He had not played QB since playing the position in the ninth grade at Sumner Hill.

The Arrows could only muster a little over 100 years offense.

The Clinton defense had no answer for the Charger’s balanced offense that had over 300 yards in the air.

Grenada led 28-0 at the half and went up 35-0 in the third period.

At that point, the officials went to a running clock with no time stoppage. This is mandated by MHSAA rules when one team leads by thirty-five points, to end the game early.

Clinton only had six first downs and only crossed mid-field late in the fourth period, but turned it over on down at the Charger 27.