By Thomas Sellers Jr.
The perfect ending for Millington Central High School Homecoming 2016 came when Trojan freshman signal caller Tommy Clifton dropped back and located tight end Shamal Macklin.
Macklin hauled in the 3-yard pass and raced to the end zone to break a 20-20 fourth quarter tied with the Kirby Cougars. After Millington Trojan place kicker Stephen Carter drilled the extra point, Millington was ahead 27-20.
The Trojan defense locked down. When Millington’s Kaison Higdon batted down a Kirby pass with less than a minute remaining, Clifton took to the field to run the victory formation. And wearing the jerseys made famous by the regular season unbeaten 2007 and 2008 squads, Clifton had his first victory as Trojan quarterback 27-20.
When Clifton was a ball boy for the Trojans, he watched Randon Fryerson quarterback Millington in the uniform the team decided to wear for Homecoming 2016. And Clifton’s first pass in the jersey was memorable finding receiver Dayan Miller for an 84-yard score.
Miller caught the ball in stride and used his track speed to outrun the Cougars to the end zone for the 7-0 lead.
Kirby tied the game later in the first quarter with a touchdown pass. The Cougars were ahead 13-7 at the break after a big play of their own — an 87 yard TD pass.
The Trojans regrouped at halftime as the school celebrated the Homecoming victory of senior Gabby Meyer. The football team gave the Millington faithful more reason to celebrate when Clifton scored on a 4-yard run to regain the lead at 14-13.
Millington’s lead grew to 20-13 in the fourth quarter when Justin Coleman capped off a drive with a 1-yard TD run.
The Cougars answered a couple of minutes later with a 31-yard run by the quarterback. The score was deadlock at 20-20.
The Trojans’ spirit didn’t have enough time to break when senior D’Monte Kemp field the kickoff and raced 66 yards to the 9 yard line.
A few play later Clifton threw the game-winning pass to Macklin. The Trojans look to make it two wins a in row traveling to Melrose Stadium next Friday to take on league rival Kingsbury. The kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
