Malden keeps Bluejays winless, 48-21

sd_sports@yahoo.com

MALDEN -- The Malden Green Wave kept their playoff hopes alive while dashing Charleston's with a 48-21 win on Friday night in Malden.

With the win, Malden (7-2) will host East Prairie (6-3) on Thursday with the winner qualifying for the Class 2 playoffs.

The Green Wave wasted no time jumping on the Bluejays, scoring less than a minute into the game when Quentin Jackson intercepted a Jamaul Gray pass and raced 35 yards for the touchdown.

Malden's Percy Johnson then scored on a 6-yard touchdown run before catching a 37-yard touchdown pass from Tanner Murphy to give Malden a 21-0 lead.

Charleston attempted to get back in the game on the ensuing kickoff as Gray returned the kick 95 yards for a score, followed by a two-point conversion pass from Gray to Krushon Scott, to cut the lead to 21-8.

The Green Wave ended any thought of a Bluejay upset however, as they scored 20 points in the first half, giving them a 41-8 halftime lead, before adding another touchdown in the third quarter.

Charleston tacked on two fourth quarter touchdowns from Gray, but it wouldn't be enough for the Bluejays.

Charleston (0-9) will finish their season on Thursday when they travel to Caruthersville to take on the undefeated district champion Tigers.

First Quarter

M -- Quentin Jackson 35 interception return (Kyle Lemarr kick), 11:01.

M -- Percy Johnson 6 run (Lemarr kick), 4:21.

Second Quarter

M -- Johnson 37 pass from Tanner Murphy (Lemarr kick), 11:23.

C -- Jamaul Gray 95 kick return (Krushon pass from Gray), 11:06.

M -- Patrick Wilson 13 run (pass failed), 9:12.

M -- Jackson 25 pass from Murphy (Murphy run), 4:13.

M -- Jackson 26 pass from Murphy (kick failed), 1:22.

Third Quarter

M -- Justen Rowe 63 run (Lemarr kick), 10:56.

Fourth Quarter

C -- Gray 4 run (Ethan Browning kick), 7:39.

C -- Gray 16 run (kick failed), 1:44.

TEAM STATISTICS

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing

Charleston -- Jamaul Gray 12-88, Maurice Moore 9-20, Robert Bogan 6-28, Krushon Scott 3-(-15), Claude Armstrong 2-28, Demontrail Clark 2-25. Malden -- Romello McCoy 11-75, Tanner Murphy 4-24, Justen Rowe 3-81, Ray Wilson 3-61, Patrick Wilson 3-19, Dajuan Criglar 3-5, Percy Johnson 1-6, Kyle Lemarr 1-3, Chris Johnson 1-(-1), Darren Green 1-(-2).

Passing

Charleston -- Jamaul Gray 5-10-1 34, Ethan Browning 1-1-0 6. Malden -- Tanner Murphy 8-10-0 198, Darren Green 1-1-0 5.

Receiving

Charleston -- Maurice Moore 3-13, Krushon Scott 1-10, Jamaul Gray 1-6, Deiontral Winston 1-11. Malden -- Quentin Jackson 5-102, Percy Johnson 3-96, Gunner Jones 1-5.