BRANDON – In evaluating his team’s North State championship matchup with Northwest Rankin, Clinton coach Jeff Long figured the game would come down to one lucky break.

The Arrows snatched it up early, then spent 70 minutes making sure there weren’t any more lying around. Clinton sophomore Taylor McKee scored a rebound goal 11 minutes into the game, and keeper Michael Goodlett made it stand up with a strong effort down the stretch as the Arrows beat Northwest Rankin 1-0 on Tuesday night.

The victory puts Clinton (21-3-4) into Saturday’s Class 5A championship game against Brandon. It’s the third appearance in the state finals in four seasons for Clinton, the defending state champion.

&#8220It feels better than last time, because this time was harder,” Long said of reaching the title game. &#8220I think, being in the North, a lot of people look at it as the tougher side to get through, but it makes you better. We had to go through the best to get to the state championship.”

Northwest Rankin (22-5-1) had plenty of opportunities to tie the game, especially down the stretch. The Cougars outshot Clinton 13-10, had a half-dozen corner kicks in the second half, and kept the ball in Clinton’s end for most of the last 20 minutes.

But Goodlett, who had eight saves in the game, turned the Cougars back time and again. He made several diving saves, as well as a number of plays on the ball before Northwest could get a shot off. His defense aided him by blocking a number of shots, clearing the ball promptly, and keeping up with the Cougars’ frenetic attack.

&#8220We were pressuring them all night. I thought our kids played about as well as we could play. We just couldn’t find the net,” Northwest Rankin coach Chris Gardner said. &#8220It hurts a little bit, because I know we put forth the effort to be successful tonight. It just didn’t bounce our way.”

The strong defensive effort made sure that one lucky break early in the game held up. Just after the 11-minute mark of the first half, Clinton’s Kyle Quick launched a clean shot from about 40 yards out. Northwest keeper Ryan McCarthy made the save but fell as he stopped the ball, and it squirted free. McKee, who was ahead of the initial shot, rushed in and knocked it off McCarthy’s back and into the net to put the Arrows ahead 1-0.

(G) Tupelo 2, Clinton 1.

Top-ranked and undefeated Tupelo (18-0-2) will be playing for a state championship against Brandon.

Bess Ruff scored from 20 yards out with 10 minutes to play to provide the deciding goal. Anna Merritt Roberts gave Tupelo an early 1-0 lead, but Clinton (17-7-1) scored on a Nikki Bush goal to tie the game at 1.