Shirley, Evans score three times apiece as Morrilton rolls past Clarksville

Morrilton 42, Clarksville 7

October 16, 2026 | Hooten’s Arkansas Football |

CLARKSVILLE — Dalton Shirley and Jy’mire Evans each scored three touchdowns as Morrilton built a 42-point first-half lead and defeated Clarksville 42-7 Friday night in 5A-West play.

Shirley rushed for 101 yards on seven carries, scoring on three 15-yard runs. Evans gained 120 yards on eight carries with two rushing touchdowns and caught a 13-yard touchdown pass. The Devil Dogs scored touchdowns on their first six possessions and improved to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in conference play. Clarksville fell to 0-7 and 0-4.

Morrilton’s defense forced four consecutive three-and-outs to begin the game, repeatedly giving its offense favorable field position. The first scoring drive covered 57 yards in five plays. Ja’Kobe Chambers completed passes to Champ McNabb and Jaxon McCray before Shirley went through the middle for a 15-yard touchdown with 9:37 remaining in the first quarter.

Maddox Turnipseed directed the next series, which began at Morrilton’s 48. Evans gained 11 yards on a sweep, and Shirley followed with a long run, recovering his own fumble at the Clarksville 13. Turnipseed rolled left and found Evans in the end zone with 6:40 left. Giovanni Santos added the extra point for a 14-0 lead.

Chambers used his legs on the next drive, gaining 12 yards on a keeper and escaping pressure for a 19-yard scramble. A four-yard completion to Reed Brown put the ball at the 15, and Shirley scored again with 2:57 left in the quarter.

McNabb and Jorden Dickerson pressured Braxton Raburn into a third-down incompletion on Clarksville’s next possession. Morrilton took over at the Panthers’ 37 after the punt. Evans gained nine yards, then broke free for a 28-yard touchdown on third-and-one. Joel Lopez kicked the extra point, extending the lead to 28-0 with 1:22 remaining in the first quarter.

Clarksville moved to midfield on its next series but could not convert fourth-and-two. Chambers then supplied a 20-yard run, and Jashawn Walls caught a 12-yard pass as Morrilton moved back into scoring position. Shirley broke tackles in the backfield and near the goal line before diving toward the pylon for his third touchdown with 9:22 left in the half.

Evans finished Morrilton’s next scoring drive with a one-yard run. He also had gains of 23, 13 and 14 yards on the possession. Lopez’s extra point made it 42-0 with 6:16 remaining, and the entire second half was played with a running clock.

Clarksville avoided the shutout on Ty Kimbrough’s five-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. The Panthers covered 77 yards in 14 plays, with Rylan Melson making three first-down catches, including an 11-yard reception on fourth down. Raburn kicked the extra point.

The broadcast’s unofficial statistics credited Sonny Stover with seven tackles, Isiah Clemons with six and Otha Hall with five for Morrilton. Clarksville finished with 128 yards, including 43 rushing, after managing only 47 total yards before halftime.

Chambers completed five of six passes for 43 yards, while Turnipseed was two of four for 20 yards and the touchdown. Jadence Criswell, listed as a lineman on Morrilton’s roster, supplied 32 rushing yards on a team-high 12 carries.

Scoring summary

First quarter • 9:37 Morrilton — Dalton Shirley 15-yard run (Giovanni Santos kick). Morrilton 7, Clarksville 0.

First quarter • 6:40 Morrilton — Jy’mire Evans 13-yard pass from Maddox Turnipseed (Giovanni Santos kick). Morrilton 14, Clarksville 0.

First quarter • 2:57 Morrilton — Dalton Shirley 15-yard run (Giovanni Santos kick). Morrilton 21, Clarksville 0.

First quarter • 1:22 Morrilton — Jy’mire Evans 28-yard run (Joel Lopez kick). Morrilton 28, Clarksville 0.

Second quarter • 9:22 Morrilton — Dalton Shirley 15-yard run (Joel Lopez kick). Morrilton 35, Clarksville 0.

Second quarter • 6:16 Morrilton — Jy’mire Evans 1-yard run (Joel Lopez kick). Morrilton 42, Clarksville 0.

Fourth quarter Clarksville — Ty Kimbrough 5-yard run (Braxton Raburn kick). Morrilton 42, Clarksville 7.

Players who stood out

Jy’mire Evans, Morrilton: Eight carries for 120 yards, rushing touchdowns of 28 and one yard, and one catch for a 13-yard touchdown; 133 combined rushing and receiving yards.

Dalton Shirley, Morrilton: Seven carries for 101 yards and three touchdowns, each from 15 yards.

Ja’Kobe Chambers, Morrilton: Completed five of six passes for 43 yards; five carries for 58 yards.

Maddox Turnipseed, Morrilton: Completed two of four passes for 20 yards and a 13-yard touchdown to Evans.

Jadence Criswell, Morrilton: Team-high 12 carries for 32 yards, filling a backfield role despite being listed as an offensive and defensive lineman.

Sonny Stover, Morrilton: Seven tackles in the broadcast’s unofficial postgame count.

Isiah Clemons and Otha Hall, Morrilton: Six and five tackles, respectively; each credited with half a tackle for loss in the postgame statistical rundown.

Ty Kimbrough, Clarksville: Five-yard touchdown run; this is a scoring-play figure, not a full-game rushing total.

Rylan Melson, Clarksville: Three first-down catches on the 77-yard touchdown drive, including an 11-yard fourth-down conversion; no full-game receiving total available.