By Josh Troy
Clarksdale Advocate
Curtis Kemp Jr. was the quarterback for the Clarksdale Wildcats in high school and the team’s longtime offensive coordinator. After a year as the Northside High School coach, Kemp was able to come back and lead the Wildcats’ football program. In Kemp’s first year at the helm, the Wildcats (7-3, 5-0) went undefeated in division play to win the Region 1-5A championship. Clarksdale capped off the regular season with a 32-0 win against Pontotoc at home on senior night, Nov. 2. The Wildcats started off 2-3 on the season before sweeping their district opponents. They won their final two regular-season games by a combined score of 73-0. Clarksdale defeated Corinth on homecoming night 41-0 and then Pontotoc 32-0.
“The kids are buying into the system and program and trusting each other,” said Kemp after the win against Pontotoc. The Warriors attempted an onside kick to open the game, but Clarksdale recovered the ball at its own 49-yard line. Sophomore quarterback Tommie Magsby ran for a 25-yard touchdown on the opening drive, but it was called back on a penalty. Magsby scored another touchdown on a 13-yard keeper with 8:34 remaining in the first quarter, and no flags were thrown. Senior kicker Fares Moggali missed the PAT, so the Wildcats led 6-0. Junior Mecos Maiden ran for an 8-yard touchdown with 1:04 remaining in the first quarter and then scored the 2-point conversion to extend the lead to 14-0. Senior Tyrese Lewis ran for a 5-yard touchdown with 7:59 remaining in the first half to give Clarksdale a 20-0 lead. Moggali missed the PAT. Senior Monrekus McGregory intercepted a pass and ran it back 40 yards for a touchdown with 7:03 remaining in the first half. The 2-point conversion failed, so Clarksdale led 26-0. Magsby ran for a 1-yard touchdown with around 2:00 remaining in the third quarter. Moggali missed the PAT, so Clarksdale led 32-0. The mercy rule was in effect for much of the second half, which means there was a running clock. “I feel pretty good,” said Kemp after the game. “We have a lot of work left to do.” Kemp was glad he had the opportunity to play several of his younger athletes, saying they were the future. “We’ve got to grow them up,” he said.
Clarksdale hosts Cleveland Central in the first round of the playoffs at 7 p.m. Friday. It is a rematch from the season opener when Cleveland Central won at Clarksdale 14-10. Kemp said he will not need to motivate his athletes for the rematch on Friday night. “I don’t think I’ve got to tell them too much,” he said.
