STARKVILLE — Every team that’s faced Kemper County High School this season has attempted to slow the quarterback-wide receiver tandem of Eric Clark and DJ Clayton, and each team found the task to be easier said than done.

Charleston joined the ranks of those teams Saturday afternoon at Mississippi State’s Davis Wade Stadium, as Clark and Clayton combined to score all 12 of Kemper County’s points in its 12-8 victory over the Tigers, which gave the football program its first state title in school history and capped a 15-1 season.

Trailing 8-6 in the fourth quarter, Clark and Clayton connected for the go-ahead 48-yard touchdown, made possible by a video game-like spin move from Clayton that shook his defender and cleared a path to the end zone.

Clayton accumulated 229 yards and two receiving touchdowns, nabbing game MVP honors in the process, and Clark tallied 251 passing yards and two passing scores.

“I’ve had confidence from the first day I saw DJ and Eric connect,” Kemper County head coach Chris Jones said. “They’ve been throwing together for a long time, and it’s just natural that they’ve got great chemistry. So, when we get in crunch-time situations, it’s not about what I know, it’s about getting the ball to my best players.”

Kemper County’s defense, overshadowed by the Wildcats’ prolific offense at times this season, held Charleston’s offense to 202 yards. Trajan Tanksley anchored the Wildcats defense with a team-high 10 tackles. Kemper County also forced two fumbles and recorded an interception, and the defensive unit allowed just two completions. 

“We’ve got a tough group of kids on defense; they love being on the field,” Jones said. “They embrace the moment, and they understand how important it is to get stops… the defense did their thing today. I’m just proud of the win.”

At the start of the game, Kemper County didn’t waste time going for the jugular, as Clark threw deep to wide receiver Jonathan Pollock, but the ball fell just out of Pollack’s reach. Four plays later, Jones again dialed up the long ball. This time, the call resulted in a 64-yard touchdown pass from Clark to Clayton, who raced 40 yards to the end zone to give the Wildcats a 6-0 lead with 9:29 remaining in the first after a failed two-point conversion try.

“It’s like a lifelong dream,” said Clark, who was visibly emotional after the game. “I’ve always said I was going to play for the state championship when I was younger, so we’re here now. That’s just me and DJ — he’s one of the best guys I know, on and off the field. I know what type of player he is, and I know all I have to do is put the ball up there and give him a chance to make plays.” 

On the Wildcats’ next possession, Clark again found Clayton for what appeared to be a 71-yard touchdown, but officials ruled Clayton was down at the 2-yard line. Charleston’s defense forced a turnover on downs on a fourth-and-6 when Clark was sacked for a 6-yard loss.

Facing fourth-and-3 from its 40-yard line, Charleston gambled with a fake punt that resulted in a 26-yard gain when Rickey Sutton was taken down at the Kemper County 34-yard line. Charleston moved the football to Kemper County’s 14-yard line but turned the ball over on downs on fourth-and-14 to stall the 18-play, 8-minute drive.

AJ Reed gave Charleston its best field position of the first half when he took a short Kemper County punt to the Wildcats’ 9-yard line, but the Tigers started with the ball on the 19 after a block-in-the-back penalty during the punt. The Wildcats’ defense again buckled down and menaced Charleston quarterback Tre Truly in the backfield, resulting in a holding penalty against the Tigers on fourth down, which Kemper County declined and took over on offense at its 35-yard line with 7:08 left in the second quarter.

After receiving the football to start the third quarter, Clark was intercepted by Laderius Curtis after Clark’s pass was batted at the line and fell into Curtis’ arms. Two plays later, Wildcats’ cornerback Gus Nave intercepted Truly, giving Kemper County the ball back at its 4-yard line. 

“We knew coming in they were going to be tough and focused mentally,” Nave said. “But we played disciplined on defense and held them. I couldn’t be more proud of that.”

Later in the quarter, Charleston running back Fred Hervey bounced his way into the end zone on an 11-yard rush with 2:42 remaining in the third to tie the score at 6. The Tigers took an 8-6 lead when Harvey dove over his offensive line for the two-point conversion, capping a four-play, 44-yard drive.

Kemper County’s offense received the football with less than six minutes left in the contest. On the Wildcats’ first play from scrimmage, Clark rifled a pass to Clayton, who hauled it in, spun around to shake his defender and jetted into the end zone for a 48-yard touchdown, giving the Wildcats a 12-8 lead with 5:42 left in the fourth after a failed two-point try.

“It’s a great feeling; we’ve put in work all summer and spring, and it all paid off, and I thank God for it,” Clayton said. “I knew I had to just keep making plays for my team, and I knew we’d find a way to win. It’s great to be able to do this for the community, and they’ve been wanting it for so long. It feels good to be a part of history.”

The Wildcats’ defense came up with the game-clinching sack with 1:37 left in the fourth. 

“All I can say right now is that this is the best feeling ever,” lineman John Dale said. “We won two state championships (basketball and football) back-to-back. It’s about going out there and getting the job done. It feels great to do this with my brothers — it’s the only thing we’ve been talking about ever since we were little.”