When soccer is mentioned, it has become a tendency throughout the state to think about Clinton.

Next years season is already looking like a talker for the Arrows, whose 2-0 win over Gulfport Saturday for the Class 6A state championship was a record ninth Mississippi High School Activates Association boys soccer championship.

The win marked 13th-year Arrow head coach Jeff Longs fourth state title. He also directed CHS to titles in 2005, 2006 and 2009. Hugh Christian directed CHS to soccer championships in 1991,1993,1994, 1996 and 1997.

Longs record in Clinton stands at 240-58-17, thought to be one of the MHSAA all-time best records for high school soccer.

He sees next year as the opportunity for championship No. 10.

We are looking forward to next season, Long said. Zaac Crosby, a transfer from Hawaii, will be back. Gustav Wiman from Sweden was valuable, and we would love for him to return if possible.

Jimmy Doonan and Reese Everett should have great seasons next year. Juniors Graham Bobo, Conner Graham, Calvin Asemota, Reid Westover and Maurice Whalen return, along with sophomores Trey Wilkerson and Jackson Oliver.

As a team, the Arrows gave up only 13 goals the entire season. That in itself set a new team record.

Goalkeeper Jake Files was the difference all season as well as the championship game, said Long. This was as good of defense as I have ever coached."

Russell Macoon, Asemota, Nathan Usry and Bobo were on the same page all season long, Long said. Joe Meadors was vital to us in the defensive mid and outside midfielders.

Datti Jinkiri, Doonan, Grant Gillam, Wiman and Graham were solid all year long, giving us one of the strongest and deepest outside midfields around, Long said.

Michael Orcutt has been with the program since 2005 as a ballboy and will be missed tremendously, said Long. He scored 23 goals with 9 assists and had 9 winning goals.

On Saturday, Long said, this team wanted to prove a lot of people wrong. No one expected us to win this year and not get a single card for conduct. They represented this city and school to the highest level.

The Arrows, who finished 23-2-2, scored two early goals against Gulfport and then leaned on Files and its defense to win the title game.

Five minutes into the game, James Oliver scored off a throw in by Bobo. Eleven minutes later, Markel Gladney scored to put CHS up 2-0.

Markels goal was huge and gave us the cushion we needed to relax a bit, substitute and give our starters a needed rest, said Long.

In the final 66 minutes, the Admirals had numerous opportunities off corner kicks, but time after time, Files and the Arrow defensive players protected the net.

Files had 9 saves on 9 shots on the goal from Gulfport. He had a record 103 saves (record/season), and 15 shutouts (record/season) including 8 consecutive. He only allowed 12 goals in 26 games this season.

It is a great feeling to win it all, said Files. This was our first one really for us seniors. We were on the team in 2009, but were freshmen and not starters.

It was the best game our defense has played all year, said James Oliver, a senior forward.

Gladney, who scored the other goal for the Arrows, also had praise for the defense.

Thanks to Jake and our back four, they really played their hearts out tonight, said Gladney.

We came out and wanted to come out and go up early and thats what we were able to do , midfielder Meadors said. Winning state championships is tradition. It is what we do here at Clinton. We have the best coach in the state and the best program.

There was never any panic once we got the lead, said defender Macoon. We had Jake in the goal and they were not going to score. What a way to go out, our senior year, winning the state championship and setting the defensive records for the team.

This win just makes you proud of where you live, said Usry, who had numerous long kicks to the other end of the field to help keep the Admirals out of striking distance. Our town with all its fans makes us that much more to be the best and show them were the best.

We want to thank our fans who were so supportive all year, said Long. Lori Bobo and our booster club provided us everything we needed. Fulltime assistant Michael Pardue and Hunter Evans, Brant Bower, and Brett DiBiase volunteered their time. We wouldnt have had a great season without them.