HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: CHARLESTON STEPS UP PLAY IN TIME TO MAKE PLAYOFFS

All but two of Charleston High's first six football games this season were against schools from larger classifications. So, even though the Bluejays started off 0-6, coach Brent Anderson tried to convince his players to hang in there, that better times were in their future.

Boy, was Anderson ever right. The Bluejays won their final non-district game of the season to pick up their first win, then rolled through Class 2A, District 2 play with a 3-0 record.

So the Bluejays, despite an unimpressive 4-6 overall mark, will head into tonight's first-round playoff game against visiting Malden (7-3) with plenty of confidence. The kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

"The kids know what's going on. They knew we were playing bigger schools. We were going to try to hold our own and win the game, but it's a different level, when you look across the field and they have 60 players while we have 30," said Anderson. "But we emphasized all year that districts is where it counts. And these kids have just played hard all year, no matter what the score is."

Part of the Bluejays' turnaround can be traced to Anderson scrapping his wide-open passing attack and going back to a ground-oriented scheme that has been Charleston's staple over the years. But Anderson said the Bluejays have also just been playing a lot better in recent weeks.

"Our kids are playing well. It's a total turnaround from early in the season," Anderson said. "The offense has made a big difference. Since the change, we've averaged about 260, 270 yards on the ground per game. And our offensive and defensive lines are playing as well as they have since I've been here."

Running back Jordy Mixon burned Scott City for nearly 200 yards rushing and three touchdowns during Friday's 34-21 win that clinched the district title. For the season, Mixon has gained almost 900 yards and scored 13 touchdowns.

Charleston quarterback Dontay Clark, who scored two touchdowns against Scott City, has more than 600 yards and 11 TDs for the season.

Malden, like Scott City, has won four straight games. The Green Wave, who beat Charleston 28-6 in the fifth week of the season, are led by shifty tailback Brandon Porter and bruising fullback Jon Matthews, who each have rushed for nearly 1,000 yards.

Another key player for the Green Wave is quarterback Conrad Ivie, who missed several games early in the season with an injury but is nearly 100 percent now.

Poplar Bluff

at Parkway South (5A)

A lot of football fans in Southeast Missouri were looking forward to a matchup between Jackson and Parkway South -- both undefeated and ranked among the state's top five teams.

But Poplar Bluff upset those plans by stunning Jackson 27-16 Friday to win the District 1 title. And now the 7-3 Mules will get a crack at the 10-0 Patriots in tonight's 7 o'clock sectional game.

The Mules, whose defense has come on in recent weeks to virtually match their high-powered offense, are led by record-setting quarterback Stan Revelle. The senior has passed for more than 2,300 yards and 26 touchdowns this year.

Tailback Erik Schuermann has rushed for nearly 900 yards and averages well over 5 yards per carry.

Fifth-ranked Parkway South is led by Jeff Styles, who has rushed for more than 1,600 yards and scored 22 touchdowns. Patriots' quarterback Josh Broeker has thrown for nearly 1,500 yards and 14 TDs.

New Madrid at Festus (3A)

Will there be any slowing New Madrid County Central's high-flying Eagles in the playoffs?

Festus will get the first shot, although the 8-2 Tigers will be huge underdogs against the 9-0 Eagles in tonight's 7 o'clock sectional matchup.

New Madrid has outscored the opposition 380-54 and has had just one game closer than 31 points, that being a 20-7 win over 4A playoff squad Cape Central in the second week of the season.

Dereke Tipler leads the Eagles' balanced rushing attack with nearly 1,000 yards. Multi-talented quarterback Byron Minner has passed and rushed for almost 1,000 combined yards.

For Festus, Dustin Brown has rushed for almost 1,300 yards