Arrows fall 28-7 at Starkville

By Danny C. Davis

The Clinton Arrows fell for the seventh straight time since 2013 at Starkville. But it was a very hard-hitting and -fought game that was much closer than the 28-7 final score indicated. CHS suffered two costly turnovers for Starkville touchdowns that led to a 21-0 deficit in the third quarter.

Starkville led 21-0 after a 58-yard pass-scoring play after a breakdown in the Arrow secondary, and a blocked Arrow field goal returned 61 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. Then, a tipped pass interception returned for a touchdown late in the third quarter.

Without those two defensive touchdowns, it was a 14-7 game.

Clinton had a 58-yard drive to the Starkville 10 yard line on their first possession, but a very controversial personal foul against the Arrows moved the football back to 25, where, three plays later, the Yellowjackets blocked the first Arrow field goal try.

Clinton (now 4-3, 1-1 in Region 2-7A) outgained Starkville (now 4-3, 1-1 in Region 2-7A), in every offensive statistic, but came up short again.

“We played really hard at Starkvile, but we got down in the red zone six times and only scored once,” said Clinton head coach Hamer Morgan. “We have got to execute better in the red zone and score when we get down there. And we had 4 or 5 drop passes. We have got to catch the football better. Give credit to our defense. They played well and kept us in the game.”
“Region 2-7A is still wide open right now,” said Morgan. “Oxford is 2-2 in Region 2-7A. Madison Central, Germantown, Starkville and Clinton are all 1-1 in region play. Our last three games are all tough, but we are still in the hunt to make the playoffs.”

CHS will be trying to make the playoffs for the first time since 2023.

For Clinton, it is now down to a 3-game season, and every game is against teams that are in the top 10 or who have been ranked in the top 10. It all starts when Clinton hosts # 4-ranked Oxford (6-1 overall, 2-0 in Region 2-7A), Friday night, October 24, at Arrow Field. Oxford has not lost since falling at Tupelo 20-13 on September12. Starting Charger QB Drew Dean left the game with injury against Germantown on October17. He was replaced by sophomore QB Knox Kiffin, son of Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, who threw three touchdown passes to lead Oxford to a 43-42 overtime victory over Germantown.

In the final regular season home game and senior night, CHS will host # 5-ranked Germantown (4-3, 1-1 in Region 2-7A), on Halloween night, October 31. Then, CHS will travel to Madison to close the season against rival Madison Central (4-3, 1-1 in Region 2-7A).

The Clinton offense ran 75 plays for total of 327 yards (128 rushing, 199 yards passing). Starkville offense had the ball for 50 plays for 257 total yards (142 rushing and 115 yards passing). Clinton had 22 first downs to 10 for Starkville.

But, as Morgan pointed out, Clinton was able to move the football between the 20 yard lines effectively but, when in the red zone, scored only once.

Clinton’s only score was an 8-yard TD pass from Jayden Jones to Cayden Albert with a minute left in the third period to cut the deficit to 21-7.

On the night, Jones completed only 15 of 38 passes with 3 interceptions; but, as Morgan said, Arrow receivers had a lot of drops. Jones also had some good runs and carried 10 times for 46 yards. Sophomore running back Bryalon Lowery was limited to 59 yards on 16 carries. Junior wide receiver John Jackson led Arrow receivers with 3 receptions for 58 yards, and Dayson Scott caught 5 passes for 37 yards.

Despite the 28-7 score, the Clinton defense played very well. Defensively, CHS only gave up 14 points to the Yellowjackets. Starkville scored in the first quarter, and the CHS defense held the Yellowjackets out of the end zone until only 7 minutes remained. The 14 offensive points was the lowest Starkville had been held to through the first seven games of the season.

Leading the Arrow defense was Donivan Schifer with 5 tackles. Dallas Johnson, Treivon Casnel, Cornelius Cameron, Jadien Jefferson and Robsen Neblett all had 4 total tackles combined solo and assist stops.

Starkville head coach and former Arrow head coach John Carr had praise for the Arrow team and his former players.

“This was a tough game for us to win,” said Carr. “Clinton’s defense has improved so much, and their offense is young but getting better. It is really good to see so many of Clinton’s players improve so much and playing better. Coach Morgan and his staff are doing a good job with these kids.”

A week earlier, Clinton got their first Region 2-7A win of the season over Jackson Murrah 35-0 at South Jackson Field.

Clinton led 20-0 at the half on touchdown runs by Lowery of 8 and 3 yards. Caden Albert scored on a 7-yard run.

In the second half, Arrow junior running back Bosky Evans scored on a 15-yard run. Albert scored again on a 5-yard run and a 2-yard run for a 2-point conversion.

Arrow sophomore running backs Braylen Brister and Jackson Jenkins and senior running back Davieon Ferrel all had runs for positive yardage late in the game.

Evans led the Arrows in rushing with 11 carries for 114 yards and a TD.

Albert had 10 carries for 67 yards and 2 TDs, and Lowery had 6 carries for 35 yards and 2 TDs.

“It was good to get a good lead and get to play so many guys on both sides of the ball,” said Morgan. “We have so many young talented players that got more game experience.”