CLINTON — Around the eight-minute mark in the fourth quarter, the home side of Arrow Field began to thin out as Clinton’s fans and supporters accepted the inevitable.

Clinton lost its Class 6A quarterfinal matchup to Starkville, 45-27, in a game that was mostly dominated by Starkville’s ability to run the ball and score on defense and special teams. Starkville moved on to host Madison Central in the semifinals next week.

“I think we played hard all night long and played a good football team,” said Starkville coach Ricky Woods.

The Yellowjackets have home field against Madison Central, but Woods said he was glad to come away from this one injury-free.

Starkville is back in the Class 6A semifinals for the second consecutive year, and in the state semifinals for the fourth time in five seasons. It reached the Class 5A championship game in 2011 and won the 5A title in 2012.

“When you get in these contests it’s battles and battles, but we are proud to go back home,” Woods said.

Clinton has not been past the second round of the playoffs since 2004.

The Arrows gave up a lot of opportunities Friday night by dropping 19 passes.

“I think that was huge. I think we did some uncharacteristic things,” said Clinton coach Judd Boswell. “We got great ball skills in our receivers, but tonight just wasn’t their night. They made some great plays now, they just didn’t make some of the ones we need to make to keep drives alive and put points on the board.”

While the Yellowjackets jumped to a 10-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, Clinton was able to gain control midway through the third quarter when Cam Akers lateraled to Kam’ron White on Starkville’s 12-yard line, and White scored to cut the deficit to 17-14.

After an interception by Armani Lewis gave the Arrows the ball back, Clinton took its first lead of the game, 20-17, when Akers punched it in from the 3-yard line.

The first play of the fourth quarter saw Akers breathe hope back into the stands on a 76-yard touchdown run. The Alabama commit avoided a sack and juked defenders to make his way in the open field for a 31-27 score.

“He’s got the opportunity to run or throw it,” Boswell said of Akers. “He’s the captain out there. He does a good job of managing.”

However, Avery Brown —who was unstoppable all night with 200 rushing yards on 30 carries — ignited the separation between the Arrows and Yellowjackets on a screen pass for one of his four touchdowns and a 38-27 lead.

“Avery’s a good football player. He’s consistent. He gets better as the game goes on,” Woods said. “He’s better in the fourth than he is in the first and actually had a bum foot.”

Jacquez Wilson returned a kickoff from around their 25-yard line for Starkville’s second touchdown and Willie Gay scored the Yellowjackets final touchdown on an 82-yard interception return.