The Clinton News from Clinton, Mississippi • Page 16

16 The Cflnton News Thursday, September 23, 1999 Arrows breeze past Forest Hill By Danny C. Davis Special to The Clinton New The Clinton High Arrows improved to 3-1 on the season with an impressive 42-21 victory over the Forest Hill Rebels last Friday night. The game was not as close as the score indicated and was decided before halftime. Visiting Clinton rolled to a 35-7 halftime lead with 367 yards of offense. "We are very pleased with our offensive effort tonight," said Arrow offensive coordinator Steve Metz.

"I thought our line blocked well and we had four running backs that played well. "Blake (Jones) threw the ball well when we needed to throw." Friday night marked the return of Arrow running back Mario King, Clinton's leading returning rusher, who didn't play in the first three games. Clinton took a 7-0 lead after King's 76-yard burst the first time he touched the ball, with 7:28 left in the first period. He finished the night with 129 yards on just 0 carries and played only 2 12 quarters. "It felt good to be back in there," said King, a junior.

"I had my mind made up that the first time I got the call I was going to score." Clinton's lead was brief. Three plays after King's score, Nashan Greenfield took a halfback pass and threw a 76-yard touchdown pass to Jamal Cowan who was 10 yards behind the Clinton defense, to make fourth quarterplaying against Arrow reserves. Clinton went on a tear, scoring 35 unanswered points. Clinton went ahead for good on Coco Hodge's 31-yard sprint down the left sideline to make it 13-7 with 2:09 left in the quarter. Hodge also only played 2 12 quarters, but he scored three touchdowns and had 109 yards on just 10 carries.

Clinton lead 21-7 on the third play of the second quarter to cap a five-play, 75-yard drive. Jones hooked up with Clarence McDougal for a 39-yard touchdown pass with 10:42 left in the half. Jones ran for the two-point conversion. On its next possession, Clinton went 52 yards in just four plays capped by Hodge's 28-yard run with 6:50 left in the half. Andrew Shap-ley's second extra point of the night made it 28-7.

The Arrows still weren't finished for the half. It was the defense's time to put points on the board. On the Rebels' next possession, facing a third-and-10, linebacker J. J. Grant sacked the Rebel Chris Norwood, causing a fumble.

Cofrazier Powell picked up the fumble and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown. Kicker Carter Mascagni kicked his first career extra point to make it 35-7 with 3:58 left in the first half. Clinton's offensive starters only played the opening series of the second half. Brett Hazelwood opened the series with a 29-yard run up the middle. Five plays later, Hodge scored his third touchdown of the night from five yards out.

Mascagni's extra point made it 42-7 with 9:12 left in the third. Clinton High defensive lineman Cofrazier Powell (34) and linebacker J.J. Grant (15) apply pressure to Forest Hill quarterback Chris Norwood. it 7-7 with 5:33 left in the first quar defensive reserves to make it 42-21. Arrow head coach David Bradber-ry, who collected his 104th career win and his 60th Clinton victory, was pleased with his team's Friday night the Arrows return to Roy Burkett field to host the Murrah Mustangs.

It will mark the first time the two teams have met since 1996 when Clinton won 48-14. Hazelwood finished the night with 57 yards on just five carries. The remaining 2 12 quarters were played by Arrow reserves. Forest Hill scored two touchdowns in the final quarter against "We played a lot of new people tonight and they stepped up and played well," he said. "Our non-district games have gone well and hopefully it will carry over to next week when we start district play." ter.

But after that score, the Arrow defense rebounded and the Rebels never threatened again until the X' JllJm 711 5SlZ3; MM oss Tj pawn 7 1, Cario Armstrong for a 1 Clinton running back Coco Hodge (1) rambles past Forest Hill cornerback Arrow running back Mario King (33) rushes for a first down before a Forest Hill defender can reach him. touchdown. MC snag win from Belhaven i jiiwmwm mm' By Brian Blackwell Special to The Clinton News br ff Ms yi) fj I i 1 i J.J. Grant 1 5) of Clinton nails Forest Hill quarterback Chris Norwood, causing a fumble to set up an Arrow touchdown. tm -'1119 -HP 4 IJJIIl.HUJMt II 1IIL IWM 7 With a record of 2-0 before Saturday's contest with the Mississippi College Choctaws (2-0), cross-town rival Belhaven College (2-1) faced one of its biggest challenges since the Blazers started its football program last year.

The Blazers knew the Choctaws as a whole would be a challenge, but one person they may not have prepared for was MC freshman quarterback Payton Perrett. He knew Thursday that he would be the starting quarterback for Saturday's match-up. With a crowd of 7,931 on hand at Robinson-Hale Stadium, Perrett led MC to a 38-21 victory. Against Stillman the week before, MC's quarterback duo of senior Shane Tapper and freshman Ben Reed combined for four interceptions and only 89 yards through the air. But against Belhaven, though pressured countless times, Perrett threw only one interception.

When his night was over, Perrett looked as if he were a veteran, completing 25 of 34 passes for 281 yards and four touchdowns. "It's exciting," said Perrett, surrounded by fans and a chorus of reporters. "Everybody came out and worked hard in practice. "Everybody around me, all the seniors, they did great. The whole team contributed." MC head coach Terry McMillan felt the win was a combination of things.

"Practice, concentration, it was a whole lot of things." On Blazers ensuing possession, Choctaw linebacker Kyle Crager intercepted a Ricky Frenin pass to set up MC's first touchdown of the game. Perrett connected with wide receiver Vance Andry for an 11 yard touchdown to put the Choctaws ahead 7-0. On Belhaven's very next drive, Frenin was picked off again, this time by free safety Wayne Butler. However, the Choctaws failed to profit off the turnover, failing to score. Belhaven put some points on the board on their second possession in the second quarter.

After Belhaven's Eric Bingham intercepted Perrett's pass, Frenin rushed to the right side for a four-yard touchdown, tying the game at 7-7. Later in the second quarter, Choctaw wide receiver Kris Pickle caught what would be his first of three touchdowns on the day. Pickle's initial touchdown came via a 39 yard strike from Perrett to put MC ahead 14-7. Pickle ended the day with eight catches for 130 yards. The Choctaw defense came up big again with 48 seconds remaining in the first half.

Belhaven, facing a sit- -m i 'W Mississippi College quarterback Peyton Perrett scrambles for yardage against Belhaven College. uation of second down and nine yards to go on the Blazer 20 yard line, fumbled the ball. Free safety Wayne Butler pounced on the ball to set up a Jeremy Bond 18 yard field goal. At halftime, MC led 17-7. After halftime, the Blazers were determined to trim the Choctaw lead.

Belhaven did just that on their opening possession. Johnnie Horn rushed 20 yards on fourth down and two for a touchdown. Later in the third, MC extended their lead. Perrett launched a 45-yard pass to Pickle, who scored to make the game 24-14 in favor of the Choctaws. Belhaven's final touchdown of the day came on their first possession of the fourth quarter.

Frenin connected with Nick Helms for a 42-yard touchdown pass to pull the Blazers within three at 24-21. But MC was too much in the end. Pickle scored his third touchdown of the day when Perrett threw the pass 16 yards for the score. A few moments later, running back Jimmy Dottolo put icing on the cake by scoring MC's final touchdown of the day. Dottolo, who rushed for over 100 yards against Stillman, accumulated 88 yards on 13 carries.

MC heads to Jacksonville University for a Saturday match in the final game before American Southwest Conference play.Kickoff is set for noon. Dyson (20) rushes for a first down before being dragged down by Forest Hill's Leroy Smith. Clin-: ton, which defeated the Rebels 42-2 1 last Friday night, entertain Murrah this week. Photos Jesse Worley 1 I.