Arrows get 27-20 Homecoming win over Pearl
By Danny C. Davis
On Friday, September 19, the Clinton Arrows improved to 3-1 on the season with a 27-20 come-from-behind win at Arrow Field over non-region old-time rival Pearl. The Arrows and the Pirates were meeting for the 51st time, but the first time since 2018.
Clinton finished 4-6 in 2024 and 1-3 in Region 2-7A, missing the playoffs for the second year. The Arrows now are one win away from tying their 2024 record.
Clinton’s most important goal, though, is to secure a playoff spot in Region 2-7A. Region 2-7A play started on Thursday, October 9, at South Jackson Field against Jackson Murrah.
Clinton trailed Pearl 7-2 at intermission, but scored 25 points in the second half to get the homecoming win.
Clinton’s only first half points came from the Arrow defense stopping Pearl quarterback Jack Durr in the end zone for a safety.
The Arrows took the lead for good with 2 minutes left in the third quarter on sophomore quarterback Jayden Jones’ 24-yard TD run. Two minutes later, Jones threw a short swing pass to sophomore running back Cayden Albert to score. On the conversion attempt, Clinton did a trick play with holder John Jackson throwing a 2-point conversion pass to deep snapper Gage Temple.
Jones also scored on a 3-yard run with only two minutes left.
Kicker Braylon Spann kicked a season high 40-yard field goal and converted two extra points.
Jones had his best game rushing, carrying 12 times, 112 yards, and threw for 60 yards.
Senior linebacker Rob Neblett led the defense with 9 solo tackles and one assist. Cameron Cornelius had 8 solo stops and one assist.
The Arrows were again playing without two of the team’s top starters. Leading wide receiver Jaden Johnson missed his second game with a knee injury he sustained earlier in the season against Northwest Rankin. Senior linebacker Jaiden Jefferson, one of the top tacklers on the team, is out with a rib injury.
Ahead of press time, the Clinton coaching staff said they are hoping that both Johnson and Jefferson will be back for the start of Region 2-7A play on October 9.
