Malden looks to claim SEMO East title
Since losing their first game in Week 2, the Green Wave (5-1, 2-0 SEMO East) have been on a roll and are a win away from securing their fourth straight SEMO Conference title when the Bluejays visit the Swamp Friday.
After snapping a three-year losing streak last season, the Bluejays (3-3, 1-0) have won three of their last four games, matching their 2016 season win total. Charleston junior running back Q'nairies Anderson crossed off one of his goals last week after eclipsing the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the second consecutive year in the Bluejays' 60-6 win over Kelly. Anderson is averaging 192.7 yards on 22 touches with 15 touchdowns.
Malden, which received votes in the latest Class 2 media state rankings, will counter with senior running back Tray Stevenson, who cleared the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the second year in a row a week earlier. Stevenson, who is coming off a 255-yard performance in the Green Wave's 54-32 win over Hayti, is averaging 210.5 yards per game with 19 touchdowns on 133 carries.
This will be just the second regular season meeting between the two teams since 2009. Malden won last year's meeting 54-22 and has vaulted past Charleston in each of the last three opening round district games, outscoring them by a combined 198-22.
-- BEN STRIKER