BATESVILLE — Two lengthy lightning delays, including one that pushed kickoff back 30 minutes, did not stop the Clarksdale Wildcats from staying in the game until the clock hit zero at South Panola Friday night, but not capitalizing on fourth downs proved costly.
The Wildcats (2-2) lost their first game on the field of the football season 24-20 at South Panola. The other loss was by forfeit due to COVID issues.
"I expect to win. We practice to win and I just thought we missed some opportunities,” said coach Henry Johnson after the loss. “We missed three or four or five opportunities in that ballgame. That was the difference in that ballgame."
Clarksdale traded scores with the Tigers all night, but could not convert on two fourth downs in the red zone in the second half. One came on a fumble on a rushing attempt near the goal line. Quarterback Kelly Jones, who was starting for an injured Martez Williams, was sacked at the South Panola 15 on a third and goal. He threw an incomplete pass the following play on fourth down.
"You can't get inside the 5 and not score,” Johnson said.
With 3:44 remaining in the fourth quarter, South Panola threw a 14-yard touchdown pass on a fourth and 10 to take a 24-20 lead.
"They made one more play than we made and we didn't capitalize on about five things we can name,” Johnson said.
The game’s scoring got going early.
South Panola took a 2-0 lead on the opening possession as the Wildcats snapped a ball snapped out of bounds on a punt attempt.
Following a Dominick Hill interception, Jones ran for a 15-yard touchdown with 4:28 remaining in the first quarter. Jones ran in the 2-point conversion to give Clarksdale an 8-2 lead.
That was the biggest lead on either side.
Running back Amari Gipson had a 1-yard touchdown run with 9:13 remaining in the third quarter to give Clarksdale a 14-9.
Jones, who also had an interception on defense, ran a punt return for a touchdown with 10:38 remaining in the fourth quarter to give Clarksdale a 20-17. However, the Wildcats could not hang on.
"Kelley is the man,” Johnson said. “He is a full grown man. He is a great ball player."
Johnson said Jones is an all-around player.
"I feel like we could run the ball,” Johnson said. “I think we're good on defense. I think our special teams is coming around. I think yard for yard, we may have manhandled South Panola, but we still lost."
Clarksdale hosts Charleston for homecoming at 7 p.m. Friday. Johnson hopes the loss against South Panola betters the Wildcats for their upcoming game.
"You can't do nothing but learn from this,” Johnson said. “What else can you do but learn from it?
"I think we've just got to stay healthy. Keep working and stay healthy."
Tickets for Clarksdale’s game against Charleston can be purchased at https://gofan.co/app/events/394132?schoolId=MS13223. Tickets will not be sold at the gate.
