Clinton hopes to end drought at Starkville
By Danny C. Davis
It has been a long time since the Clinton Arrows won a football game at Starkville. The two teams meet at Starkville on Friday, October 17, for a critical Region 2-7A matchup. The game will be the 17th meeting between the two teams, with the Yellowjackets leading the series with 11 wins to 5 wins for the Arrows. Clinton is unranked and 4-2 on the season. Starkville is ranked 12th and also is 4-2 on the season. And to make the game more interesting, the head coach at Starkville is John Carr, who was the head coach at Clinton for only one season in 2024. Starkville’s assistant offensive coach, Tyler Peterson, was an offensive assistant at Clinton 2022-2024
Clinton has not won on Starkville turf since November 24, 2000, almost 25 years ago, in the then-Class 5A North semifinals. The Arrows won that night 27-0 in the pouring rain and advanced to their first Class 5A championship ever.
To put it in perspective how long ago the 2000 win was, Bill Clinton was the U.S. President, and Mississippi gasoline prices were $1.06 per gallon. That win was almost 300 months ago – 9,092 days back.
The Arrows have lost six games straight at Starkville, but of their all-time 5 wins in the series, Clinton has won three of the last four games played at Arrow Field.
Clinton has four remaining games in Region 2-7A, and all are against teams that at one time have been in the top 10 Class 7A polls.
After playing Starkville, the Arrows return home to host #4-ranked Oxford (5-1), and then host #5-ranked Germantown (4-2). CHS will end the season on the road November 6 against rival Madison Central.
“We have a very difficult Region 2-7A schedule remaining,” said CHS first-year head coach Hamer Morgan. “There are five teams, including us and the four we still have to play, all vying for only four playoff spots. We are going to have to play hard for four quarters and not have any turnovers on offense, and our defense needs to create turnovers to have a chance to win.”
“We have had a great week of practice, and the kids are excited about playing at Starkville Friday night. Hopefully, we will play good,” said Morgan.
