Mississippi Boys Finals: Clinton in a stunner; Long Beach repeats

Mississippi was the first state to crown champions this winter. Here are recaps from the title matches: <strong>6A: Clinton Arrows 1, Northwest Rankin Cougars 0 (OT)</strong> The game of the weekend in the state of Mississippi did not disappoint. The state's previous No. 1 Northwest Rankin was putting its undefeated record on the line against a familiar foe in Clinton. Less than a month ago, Northwest Rankin defeated Clinton 2-0. However, in this meeting, Clinton scored the game-winning goal in the first minute of the first 10-minute overtime period. Clinton senior Luke Hopkins (PRCC signee) got past the last defender and was going to score before he was tackled in the box and picked up the foul call. The initial penalty kick was denied, yet Hopkins (MVP of the match) was able to gather the rebound and put the game's only goal in the back of the net. Clinton was undeniably the more aggressive team throughout the contest and that style of play paid off and provided them with their first state championship since 2021 and 10^th overall and finished the year 15-5-2. The win by the Clinton gave Northwest Rankin its first loss of the season, finishing 24-1-1. <img class="size-medium wp-image-38907 alignright" src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/02/trophy-259x300.png" alt="" width="259" height="300" /><strong>5A: Long Beach Bearcats 4, New Hope Trojans 1</strong> The defending 5A state champion Long Beach Bearcats did not have many issues Saturday in their quest to go back-to-back. It took an early goal from New Hope on a penalty kick by Robert Parnell seven minutes into the game to wake up the Bearcats. Twenty-two minutes into the contest, Ethan Myers capitalized on a free kick of his own to tie it up 1-1. The free kick sparked the Bearcats and four minutes later Landon Vancourt scored off a deflection to make the game 2-1. Ethan Laborde and Dylan Kippes added insurance goals to push the lead to 4-1. Kippes, a junior, was also named the game's MVP. Long Beach ended the season 17-2-1. <strong>4A: Richland Rangers 2, Bay St. Louis Tigers 0</strong> Richland Rangers are no stranger to the 4A title game of late making their second appearance in three years. After a scoreless first half, both teams looked to come out of the half with winning adjustments. Those adjustments bowed well for the Rangers as just four minutes in, Jose Gutierrez scored to make it 1-0 Rangers. Gutierrez was also named the game’s most valuable player. Both teams looked to be settling into the game until Richland’s Jacob Young found Charles Williams in the 69^th minute to stretch the lead 2-0. Richland's defense was the difference in the contest only holding Bay to four shots on goal throughout the match. Richland Rangers finished the season 16-8-0 and earned their second state championship in three years. Bay high finished the season 17-8-1. <strong>1/2/3A: St. Stanislaus Rockachaws 1, St. Andrew's Saints 1</strong> Both teams are familiar with competing this time of year and are no stranger to the big stage. With 17 state appearances between the two schools and both competing in the title game for the third consecutive year, this clash between smaller division schools had the makeup to be a good one. St. Stanislaus came out the gates with a purpose and it showed when senior Christian Bourgeois found the back of the net 35 seconds into the game. Bourgeois was named the game’s most valuable player. After the early goal, both teams would battle for 79 minutes without either team finding the back of the net. Midway through the second half, the Rockachaws keeper Jackson Leblanc picked up a yellow card. Finely Williford came into the game for Leblanc and picked up a monumental save on a 1v1 opportunity. The save looked to be the game-clinching moment as both teams provided quality defense and the game ended in a 1-0 Rockachaws win. St. Stanislaus moved down a classification but found the same result in winning the State Championship for a third consecutive year and finishing with a 16-4-1 record. St. Andrews Saints finished 12-6-2 on the season.