Clarksdale High School won the 7-on-7 football matchups at the JT Gray & Elgton Jenkins fourth annual Backyard Dawgz Football Camp on Saturday.
The Wildcats defeated Leflore in the finals and Quitman County in the semifinals. Greenville and Leland high schools also participated in the 7-on-7.
Clarksdale coach Curtis Kemp Jr. talked about his team’s assets.
“I like the togetherness they have,” he said. “They play together. They kind of bond. I’m just excited to see them year by year.”
Kemp said he is trying to get the kids to do what the coaching staff wants them to do.
“We came up with a little hurrah, a little more hard-nosed from coaches,” he said. “Nowadays, you’ve still got to be hard-nosed, but still firm.”
Kemp said it is important to be able to teach the athletes so they understand what the coaches are trying to do.
The Wildcats advanced to the semifinals two years ago, but had less experience in 2024 with eight new defensive starters. Those same eight starters will be back this year and Kemp hopes to capitalize on the experience.
“Hopefully, we’ll be pretty good on defense,” he said. “I hope so.”
Kemp said the Wildcats are playing as a team.
“We don’t have a lot of individuals stand out, but we play together,” he said.
Kemp also talked about former Wildcats coach Henry Johnson, who was inducted into the Mississippi Association of Coaches Hall of Fame on Friday. Kemp went to support Johnson at the induction.
“I learned so much from Johnson,” Kemp said. “I learned about doing stuff the right way. I learned about how to be a leader and how to be a professional.”
Johnson first coached at West Bolivar High School where he won two championships and then Clarksdale where his teams made the playoffs every season he was the head coach.
