Clarksdale High School will be looking to bounce back from a 21-14 overtime loss at Greenwood last week when the playoffs open on Friday night, Nov. 2.
The Wildcats (6-4, 3-1) could have won Region 3 in Class 4A with a victory against Greenwood and had a 14-7 advantage going into the fourth quarter, but could not hang on in overtime.
Greenwood took a 21-14 lead and senior quarterback Cameron Matthews fell 1-yard shy of the end zone, losing a fumble. That gave Greenwood the district title.
Now, the Wildcats – the second-place team in their division – will have a chance to redeem themselves when Itawamba Agricultural, the No. 3 team in its division, comes to town at 7 p.m. Friday for the first round of the playoffs.
The Wildcats have been a playoff team all six seasons Henry Johnson has been the head coach.
Johnson did not say much to his team after the loss to the Bulldogs, but he expects the Wildcats to be able to prepare for Itawamba Agricultural.
“We’ve just got to go back to work Monday,” he said after the loss Friday. “We’ve got to bounce back. We’ve just got to bounce back. What can I say? Tough loss.”
This is the second consecutive season the Wildcats fell shy of a district championship with a loss against Greenwood in the regular-season finale.
Clarksdale also hosted a playoff game in 2017, but fell short with a 14-7 loss against Corinth.
The Wildcats have been in Class 4A for the last two seasons after moving down from District 5A in 2016.
