The Clinton News from Clinton, Mississippi • Page 14

14 The CEnton News Thursday, September 30, 1999 1 i ar tb i wma a a i TL mMS. Clinton High's Clarence McDougal is off and running on a kickoff return. Arrow running back Coco Hodge blasts past a Murrah defender in route to a 52-yard touchdown run. Clinton whips Minrah in district clash Li tlV W-7 time from six yards out. Shapley's extra point made it 21-10 with 5:22 left.

For Hodge, it was his fourth game of the year to break the 100-yard rushing mark. The junior running back lead the Arrows with 22 carries for 158 yards. Clinton still wasn't finished scoring for the night. Senior fullback Brett Hazelwood scored on a six-yard run to cap a five-play, 56-yard drive. Kicker Carter Mascagni, a sophomore, added the extra point to make it 28-10.

Hazelwood had seven carries on the night for 55 yards. "I think the biggest series of the game was when they lead 10-7 and then intercepted," Bradberry said. "We didn't panic, but went out and took care of business for the rest of the game. "I liked the way we handled it and came back. Hopefully, that will help us later on in the season." Friday night will be homecoming at Clinton High School as the Arrows host the Greenville Hornets.

Clinton has won all four previous meetings with Greenville. Kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m. with pregame activities starting at 7 p.m. By Danny C. Davis i Special to The Clinton News i The Clinton High Arrows gled the first three quarters last Frill day night against the underdog Murrah Mustangs at Roy Burkett Field.

Until midway in the fourth quar-IJ ter, Clinton didn't resemble a Top 10 football team. Murrah held a 10-7 lead over the Arrows with less than eight minutes i remaining in the game. But in the end, the Arrows scored 21 unan-11 swered points in the game's last seven minutes to take a 28-10 if! "Look, I'm proud of this team and the way they fought back in the fourth quarter and took control of the game," said Arrow head coach David Bradberry. "You've got to give credit to Murrah, though. They are better thanalotofpeo- pie thought.

Their quarterback (DeAndrew Smith) is good and "made a lot of plays for them." After a scoreless first period, "Murrah lead 3-0 on a 25-yard field goal by Robert Ezelle with 7:15 left in the half. Clinton answered with a nine-play, 73-yard drive capped by Mario King's five-yard run. Andrew Shapley's extra point gave Clinton a 7-3 lead with 3: 12 left in the half. King finished the night with 116 yards on 11 carries. Clinton's offense continued to sputter in the third period.

The Arrows drove to the Mustang 10 where the drive stalled, and then they missed a 27-yard field goal. On its next possession, the Arrows drove 52 yards to the Mustangs one-yard line where King fumbled into the end zone and Murrah recovered for a safety. Murrah took a 10-7 lead on Smith's three-yard run and Ezelle's point-after kick on the first play of the fourth quarter. On Clinton's next offensive play, quarterback Blake Jones was intercepted, and the Mustangs had possession at the Arrow 47. But the Arrow defense stopped Smith short of a first down on a fourth-and-five at Clinton 25.

Two plays later, Coco Hodge burst up the middle for a 53-yard touchdown run to put Clinton ahead for good. Shapley's extra point made it 14-10 with 7:11 left. After stopping the Mustangs, it took Clinton only three plays to score. Hodge got the call again this wry 111 Jesse Worley Special to The Clinton News Clinton High running back Mario King rushes for 1 3 yards and a first down. MC Choctaws pull off victory against Jacksonville Dolphins 'oof'! By Brian Blackwell Special to The Clinton News A' ft-" 1 -TV sailed wide left, giving the Choctaws their third straight win of the season.

Though MC won in the end, the Dolphin offense looked unstoppable, collecting 417 yards to MC's 277. But it was the 10 penalties the Dolphins committed that kept the Choctaws in the game. The MC defense scored first on a safety and led 2-0 at the end of the first quarter. However, JU bounced back to a 7-2 lead when Gary Cooper threw a 43-yard pass to Ricard Tillman for the touchdown. In the third quarter, the Choctaws went ahead 8-7 as true freshman quarterback Payton Per-rett connected with fullback Alvin Peyton Jr.

The two-point conversion was missed. But JU would not give up. Cooper put his team back on top with a 49-yard touchdown pass to Brett Palmi. The two-point conversion failed and the Dolphins led 13-8. With Perrett out with an injury he sustained in the third quarter, freshman Ben Reed was called on to lead the Choctaws to another miraculous win.

And that he did, hooking up with wide receiver Kris Pickle. Reed's 11-yard pass gave MC a 14-13 win. Wide receiver Matt Murphy then scored on the two-point conversion, making the Choctaws unbeaten on the young season. This Saturday MC plays its first American Southwest Conference game on the road against Howard Payne, which is 1-2 on the season. Mississippi College dropped a 21-3 decision last year to Howard Payne JACKSONVILLE, Fla.

When will the miracles stop coming for Mississippi College? When the MC Choctaws kicked off the season, they faced a tough Stillman College team that was fielding its first football team in over 50 years. In the end, MC was victorious in overtime 10-7 on a Jeremy Bond 41-yard field goal. Last Saturday, the Choctaws (3-0) pulled off another thrilling victory, this time knocking off the Jacksonville University Dolphins (1-2) 16-13 in dramatic fashion. With only a few seconds remaining in regulation, JU quarterback Gary Cooper threw a desperation pass, setting up a 50-yard field goal attempt with less than four seconds left. But David Stickler's kick A Turnovers, penalties lead to Gators' win over Sumner Hill Known to his teammates as The Cat, Ladarra Richmond plays tight end on the offensive line.

He also is called upon for duty on the special teams for the Arrows. His size has equipped Ladarra with the necessary talents to block on the offensive line and to also be a big target on pass plays. In his spare time, Ladarra likes to play other sports and follow the Florida Gators and Dallas Cowboys. He's the son of Clark and Ametha Richmond. He credits his mother for inspiring him to participate in sports and for being his greatest fan.

His mother has been the source of that wonderful support that every young person needs and deserves. After graduation, Ladarra plans on pusuing a college degree. The Arrows are relying heavily on Jeremy McClen-don as offensive guard and defensive tackle. Known as Mo to his team mates, Jeremy is one of the largest players on the squad and is the son of Beverly Ainsworth. He enjoys hunting and fishing in his spare time.

Jeremy has started three years as a member of the varsity football squad. He was awarded five "player of the week" awards as a sophomore and three as a junior. He also received 1998 defensive player of the year and was selected to the second team all-district squad in 1998. Off the football field, Jeremy is active with his studies, SADD and FCA. Jeremy plans on attending Florida State and playing football for the Seminoles.

The Arrows are fortunate to have a long snapper of the quality of Matthew Pulliam. Matthew has earned the nickname of Big Unit. In addition to his snapping, Big Unit also plays offensive tackle for the Arrows. He was selected as "team player of the week" as a sophmore and junior. Matthew is active in the youth ministry at Morrison Heights Baptist Church and a member of Teenage Republicans and FCA.

He has a blackbelt in Shotokan karate and is a left-handed pitcher for the Arrow baseball team. He is the son of Ricky and Cindy Pulliam. Matthew recognizes his dad as an inlu-ence in his life and for teaching him to finish what he started. Matthew plans on playing college football and pursuing a degree in physical therapy. By Danny C.

Davis Special to The Clinton News 7:35 left in the first quarter. Sumner Hill's defense held the Gators on their next two possessions. Vicksburg drove to the Arrow 16 where the Gators were stopped, and to the Arrow 11 where the defense held. Sumner Hill then moved 60 yards to the Gator 35 and turned the ball over when Phillip Davis fumbled. On the Gators' next play, Justin Henry threw a 55-yard pass for a touchdown to Deldrick Taylor to tie the game 6-6 with just 51 seconds left in the half.

The second half started with the Arrows fumbling on the first play at the Gator 27. Vicksburg got the winning points on Henry's 25-yard touchdown pass to Taylor with 1:42 remaining in the third to make it 12-6. But Sumner Hill didn't give up. After Vicksburg blocked an Arrow punt and took over at the Sumner Hill 13, Chase Dorsey intercepted Henry's pass to stop the drive. With only 2 12 minutes remain- ing, Sumner Hill moved from its own 35 to the Gator 14 where Shar-marick Younger was run out of bounds as time expired.

The loss overshadowed a gallant effort by the Sumner Hill defense that limited Vicksburg to 41 yards rushing, including two yards in the second half. The Arrows also ran the ball well, rushing for 157 yards. Individually, running back Phillip Davis carried 15 times for 80 yards. Running back Sharmarick Younger carried eight times for 39 yards and quarterback Brad Davis had five carries for 32 yards. "I thought that we played a lot better defensively tonight," said Sumner Hill coach Kelly Greer.

"But offensively, we've got to do a better job blocking and stop turning the ball over so much. 'We'll work hard in practice to improve." Sumner Hill will play the Northwest Rankin Cougars at 7 p.m Tuesday at Roy Burkett Field. This will be the last home game of the year. The Sumner High ninth-grade football Arrows fell 12-6 in a heartbreaking loss to the Vicksburg Gators last week at City Park Stadium in Vicksburg. The game was marred by turnovers and penalties.

The Arrows lost despite outgain-ing the Gators by 157 total yards to their 120. The Arrows also had 10 first downs to only six for Vicksburg. Vicksburg got all of its points off two plays. Both were long touchdown passes. Things started well for Clinton.

On the first play of the game, Vicksburg fumbled. The ball was recovered by Avery Ford. Taking possession at the Arrow 23, Mike Cashion pitched out to tailback Phillip Davis who rushed 23 yards around right end for the score. The extra point failed. After a penalty, Sumner Hill was forced to attempt the extra point from 33 yards out that was wide right.

Sumner Hill lead 6-0 with JHS loses fight with Gators By Danny C. Davis Special to The Clinton Newt The Clinton Junior High School's eighth-grade Arrows were defeated 14-0 last week by the what would have been the tying points in the game, but the touchdown was nullified by a penalty. The Gators then intercepted an Arrow pass and returned it for a touchdown in the last few minutes of the game to make it 14-0. "I can't fault our effort tonight," said CJHS coach Terry Smithhart. "I thought that we played a lot better than last week.

"We'll just keep working real hard to get better." Clinton Junior High will play its final home game of the year Tuesday against the Northwest Rankin Cougars. Kickoff will be at 5 p.m. at Roy Burkett Field. Vicksburg Gators in a hard-fought contest at City Park Stadium. The game was closer than the score indicated.

The Arrows scored I.