From staff reports

Clinton built a 31-0 lead and then held off a late Vicksburg charge to post a 31-14 win Friday night at Memorial Stadium.

The loss ends a long season for the Gators at 1-10.

“In the first half, we reverted to a lot of bad habits,” Vicksburg coach Alonzo Stevens said. “But in the second half, we moved the ball pretty well and did some things.

Clinton, meanwhile, improves to 10-1 and will face Southaven next week in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs.

The Arrows broke on the board in the first quarter when Alex McWilliams caught a 3-yard TD pass from Elliot Brashier. Will Nation’s kick made it 7-0.

Juan Dixon then scored on runs of 11 and 10 yards as the Arrows extended the lead to 28-0 by halftime. Akio Thompson had a 1-yard TD run for Clinton’s other score.

Chad McCraney closed Clinton’s scoring on a 34-yard field goal in the third quarter to make it 31-0.

Vicksburg got on the board late in the third quarter on Travis Haas’ six-yard TD run. Haas added the kick to make it 31-7.

The Gators final score of the season came on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Cameron Cooksey to Alventray Tarleton. Haas’ kick made the final, 31-14.

Cooksey finished 20-of-27 passing for 215 yards with one touchdown, while Tarleton caught five passes for 104 yards.

Stevens is optimistic about the future despite the subpar record. The Gators faced eight playoff teams in 11 games this season.

“I’m proud of these guys for sticking together,” Stevens said. “I think next year this is going to be a special, special group. I told them Monday that we’re going to get ready for Gulfport. We’re not going to get any rest.”