Eckerson ignites Dragons
Clinton passing game soars through final preseason tests
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Clinton quarterback Mason Eckerson gets the pass away under pressure from an Oliver Springs defender during the Roane County Jamboree on Friday night in Harriman. Eckerson and the Dragons turn their attention to the regular season as they prepare to open the 2026 campaign at Heritage on Friday, Aug. 21. - Tony Cox
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Clinton junior receiver Austyn Phillips fights through the grasp of Oliver Springs’ Trenton Tucker after hauling in a pass during Friday night’s Roane County Jamboree at Harriman. Phillips and the Dragons shut out the Bobcats 14-0 in their final tuneup before the regular season. - Tony Cox
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Charlie Turbyville charges into Oliver Springs defender Trenton Tucker during Clinton’s matchup against the Bobcats in Friday night’s Roane County Jamboree. - Tony Cox
The Clinton Dragons may have a strong passing game in the 2026 season after senior quarterback Mason Eckerson threw for six touchdowns over the course of two scrimmages and a jamboree.
Clinton kicks off the new season this Friday at 7 p.m. with a non-region game at Heritage.
The Dragons capped their preseason competition last Friday at the Roane County Jamboree, hosted by Harriman.
Clinton played in the evening’s last two quarters, each of which used a 20-minute running clock.
Eckerson threw a 25-yard TD pass to Will Young, and Charlie Turbyville ran 9 yards for another score as the Dragon varsity team defeated Oliver Springs 14-0.
Manny Ortiz booted both extra-point kicks in the win.
In a JV quarter, Midway topped Clinton 7-0.
Also playing in Harriman along with the hosts were Anderson County, The King’s Academy, Kingston, Rockwood, and Scott. Clinton was the only team playing two quarters at the jamboree.
Grace Christian Academy outscored the visiting Dragons 39-7 in Clinton’s first scrimmage on July 31.
Eckerson was 8-for-16 through the air for 111 yards and a touchdown.
Austyn Phillips reeled in the scoring pass on a 56-yard play early in the scrimmage for Clinton. Ortiz kicked the point-after. Phillips led Dragon receivers with three catches for 78 yards.
Three turnovers hurt the Dragons’ chances at Grace. Each drive in the scrimmage started on a team’s own 30-yard line, and younger players saw action at the end of the evening.
On Aug. 7, Clinton traveled to Rhea County in Evensville to take on the host Eagles, Bradley Central, and Coahulla Creek, a school from Dalton, Georgia, in a four-way scrimmage.
The format saw the teams start on the opposition’s 40-yard line going in, so that the squads could be paired off and play at the same time. Each varsity drive was capped at 10 plays and JV drives at five.
The Dragons scored four touchdowns in the scrimmage, all against Coahulla Creek.
Eckerson finished with 16 completions in 25 attempts for 225 yards and four TDs with no interceptions.
Young caught five passes for 110 yards and three scores, and Phillips had six catches for 77 yards and a TD.
Eckerson completed a 20-yard TD pass to Young and a 26-yarder to Phillips in a varsity matchup against the Georgia team. Eckerson also was under center in a JV series and threw a 40-yard TD pass to Young.
Later in the scrimmage, when the usual down-and-distance procedure was used, Eckerson found Young on a 37-yard TD pass.
Ian Jacobs and Gabe Sanders recorded a sack each for the Dragon defense at Rhea County.
In other matchups in Evensville, Clinton gave up one TD each in three shutout losses to Bradley Central and three to Rhea County, going from 10-play varsity and five-play JV series to a down-and-distance series with the varsity.
The Rhea County scrimmage began with each team practicing kickoffs, punting, and extra points before the 40-yard drives started.