By Josh Troy
Clarksdale Advocate
First-year Clarksdale High School football coach Curtis Kemp Jr. used his team’s scrimmage as an opportunity for the junior varsity players to see more action. The Wildcats fell to Rosa Fort High School out of Tunica 14-0 in a scrimmage at Coahoma Community College last Friday.
“The young kids needed some time to play,” Kemp said. “They missed the junior varsity schedule last year, but they just needed some time to get on the field and play. They deserved it. They worked hard all summer.”
After the Lions scored a touchdown and made the 2-point conversion to take an 8-0 lead, the Wildcats created an opportunity of their own. Junior quarterback D’Mario Stapleton kept the ball for a 26-yard run, giving Clarksdale a first down at the Rosa Fort 27. That came after runs from junior Mecos Maiden. The Wildcats turned the ball over on downs and could not capitalize on the opportunity.
“We drove the ball down the field pretty well for it to be early in the season,” Kemp said. “We’ve just got to finish those drives.”
Sophomore Tommie Magsby saw action at quarterback for the junior varsity. Junior Antrale Newson had a tackle for a big loss, while junior Kacy Gilmore had a sack. Kemp could not evaluate Clarksdale’s strengths and weaknesses after the game.
“We’ve just got to put in some more work and keep working,” he said. “Honestly, the game went so fast you couldn’t really tell the weakness.”
Clarksdale opens the season at home against Cleveland Central at 8 p.m. on Friday in a non-district matchup.
“That’s the part we’re going to have to work on now,” Kemp said. “The effort, we’re going to have to work on that. We’re just going to continue to keep working.”
