Charleston wraps up district title with 27-14 win over Malden Friday night

Sunday, October 28, 2007
Charleston quarterback Chase McClendon looks to avoid the tackle.

CHARLESTON - The Charleston Bluejays (3-6) did not let the rain wash away their district title hopes Friday night, as they clinched the Class 2, District 1 championship defeating the Malden Greenwave (3-6) 27-14.

"The kids fought hard," Charleston head coach Dan Kesselring said. "The first half we struggled. Second half we came out, we were determined to win this ball game and get a district title, so you have to give all the credit to the kids."

Chase McClendon stepped up big for the Bluejays. He accounted for two of Charleston's three offensive touchdowns, one on the ground and one through the air. Jerquawn Sherrell also had a big game. He led the Bluejays rushing attack with 134 yards on 17 carries and had one touchdown. Zach Rowland recovered a fumble in the end zone for Charleston as well.

Malden's Dealmour Moncrief had one rushing touchdown and led the Greenwave in rushing yards with 93 yards on 22 carries. Quarterback Kaleb Loughary had three completions on 14 attempts for a total of 46 yards. Loughary also rushed for a touchdown.

The Greenwave started the scoring on a one-yard run by Kaleb Loughary with 5:47 left in the first quarter.

Charleston's Matt Medlock, Garrison Eastman and an unidentified Bluejay stuff Malden's Ryan Cain.

Chase McClendon would then tie the game for the Bluejays on an impressive 17-yard scramble for a touchdown. McClendon jumped over one defender, spun away from another, then took a dive into the end zone with 32 seconds left to play in the first.

The second quarter saw nothing but defensive stops and turnovers by both teams. Both teams failed to put a point on the board and went into halftime with a 7-7 tie.

With 5:48 left to play in the third quarter, Chase McClendon would throw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Mike Spence to put the Bluejays ahead but would miss the extra point attempt making it a 13-7 ball game going into the fourth quarter.

Fresh into the fourth quarter, Jerquawn Sherrell would run for a 17-yard touchdown and then McClendon would cap it off with a successful two point conversion, making it a 21-7 lead for the Bluejays.

Malden would have to start a drive from their own two yard line, when Charleston's Garrison Eastman would make a hit on quarterback Kaleb Loughary to cause a fumble only to be pounced on by fellow Bluejay Zach Rowland for a touchdown. Charleston would miss the extra point kick, making it 27-7.

Charleston's Madd Medlock is tripped up.

The Greenwave cut the lead to 13 on a one-yard run from Loughary. Malden would then attempt an onside kick but failed to recover, sealing the win for Charleston.

Charleston will play host to Caruthersville next Thursday night as coach Kesselring and his Bluejays look to end the season on a good note. "We want to win three-and-out and try to salvage what year we have and win districts out right," Kesselring said. "And hopefully play in the sectional championship."

Malden will travel to East Prairie Thursday night with kickoff at 7 p.m.

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