Clinton tested by Grace Christian
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Clinton quarterback Mason Eckerson rolls out of the pocket during the Dragons’ preseason scrimmage against Grace Christian Academy on Friday night. The Dragons used the controlled scrimmage to evaluate the team ahead of the 2026 season. - Tony Cox
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Clinton senior running back La Dainian Pendergrass hauls in a pass out of the backfield during the Dragons’ preseason scrimmage against Grace Christian Academy on Friday night. - Tony Cox
Clinton High School had its first dress rehearsal for the 2026 football season Friday night.
It looked like anything but a typical first scrimmage. In fact, it more closely resembled a regular-season game.
“We were down-and-distance the whole time,” Dragons Coach Jake Dawson said after Clinton visited Knoxville Grace Christian Academy.
“Coach (Justin) Price and I both wanted to see what we looked like in third-and-long and third-and-short on both sides of the ball.”
Dawson and Price also got a look at their special-teams units.
Clinton’s lone score came when senior quarterback Mason Eckerson connected with Austyn Phillips on a 56-yard touchdown pass. Emmanuel Ortiz added the extra point in the Dragons’ 39-7 loss.
Despite the score, Dawson found plenty of positives as his team squared off against one of the area’s top Division II-AA programs.
“That’s a really good team over there,” Dawson said of Grace Christian.
“I think we still have some things to work on, but I’m happy with where we are,” he said. “We have some work on film, and now we can dissect that. For us, as coaches, that makes it fun.
“We didn’t rely on shots (on offense),” Dawson said. “We took a few shots, but I thought we moved the ball well at a consistent pace. Defensively, I think we started a little slow and had a couple of busts with our younger guys, but I feel pretty good about our starters when we play in 18 days.”
Clinton will scrimmage at Rhea County on Friday. Action begins at 6 p.m. in Evensville.
The Dragons will then compete in the Roane County Football Jamboree on Aug. 14.
