Clinton Christian to field young team this season
By Danny C. Davis
Last year was a historic year for the 2023 Clinton Christian Academy (CCA) Warrior football team. For the first time in school history, the team hosted a first-round playoff game and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. After a loss to eventual Class 3A state champion Tri-County Academy, the Warriors finished with a 6-5 overall record and 3-1 in district play under first-year head coach Teddy Dyess.
Dyess left CCA earlier this year and was replaced by Warrior assistant coach David Parker.
Parker, a University of Southern Mississippi graduate and a veteran head coach, came to CCA after stints as the head coach at MHSAA football programs at Morton and Forest.
But making the playoffs and advancing may be a little more challenging this year for Parker, with the graduation of a lot of senior starters. This year’s team has only two seniors.
Parker says he feels good about his squad entering into the season, but is hoping that the younger players can get good experience early in the non-district part of the school and the team can stay healthy.
“We are pretty much a sophomore-laden team this year,” said Parker.
The schedule will be challenging, once again, with district foes including last year’s state champion Tri-County Academy; Winston Academy, who made it to the second round of the playoffs last season; Central Hinds, who made it to the third round of the playoffs in 2023; and St Aloysius of Vicksburg, who has a new head coach.
“The keys to our season this year are staying healthy and developing young players early in our season,” said Parker. “We always have players going both ways, and that will be the case again this year.”
According to Parker, the Warriors will run the “Wing T” offense.
At quarterback for the Warriors will be junior Trevor Mason, who, as a sophomore, did not play last year. Parker says that Mason has run the offense well in spring and summer drills. Backing up Mason will be freshman Hunter Uzzle.
In the backfield will be a couple of sophomores, Kyle Crandle and Zachery Lewis.
At wingback in the Wing T offense will be one of the two seniors on the team, Marcus Catchings, and sophomore Caiden Boyd. Starting at wide receiver will be the other senior, Brian Boone, and Robbie Buckley, a junior.
On the offensive line will be tackles Kannon Grant, a freshman, and Emmanuel Newsome, a junior. The guards will be Sean Watson, a junior, and Crimson Barrett, a sophomore. The offensive center will be Brody Bellis, a sophomore.
Defensively, the Warriors will run a 3-3 alignment with a three-man front, mostly with guys who also play offense.
On the defensive line will be defensive tackles Carter Ainsworth and Jaden White, both juniors. The nose guard up front will be Watson. The inside linebacker core includes Lewis, Krandle, Bell and Freeman. Outside linebackers will be Freeman and Boyd.
At defensive back will be brother Marcellus and Marcus Catchings, as well as Boone.
Handling the punting and kicking will be sophomore Desmond Mason.
Assisting Parker will be Ste Tuttle, Joe Jordan, Tony Boyd and Brent Cobb.
The Warriors are scheduled to open their season on August 16 at home against West Memphis Christian, a team in its first year of eleven-man football, followed by hosting Greenville St. Joseph (a 16-0 loss in 2023) on August 23. Other home games include St Aloysius on September 20, Columbia Academy on October 4, and the final regular season game against rival Central Hinds on October 25.
“I like our team, and I think we have a chance to have a good season, if we can stay healthy,” said Parker.
