High school football: Kelly shows its more than Eftink, beats Malden

BENTON — The Malden High School football team is a work in progress.

For now, though, progress is measured in pain. Growing pains, that is, after

Malden now falls to 0-2 on the season.

At least the Green Wave staved off the turbo clock for part of the third quarter this week.

Kelly showed its more than just Reece Eftink, although he still played a major role in the Hawks 50-14 victory at Lambert Field on Friday night.

“I thought Malden showed a lot of effort on their side of the ball, and they took it to us in the second quarter,” Kelly head coach Lance Powers said.

Powers said he was pleased with how the entire Hawks offense performed, calling it team effort.

Kelly scored the first 30 points of the game — all in the opening quarter — with Eftink punching in the first one.

Jayden McGee recovered the subsequent kickoff for the Hawks, with Ryder Krauss rushing in from four yards out for the TD.

The Green Wave made their share of mistakes ranging from penalties to a bad snap resulting in a safety.

Ethan Graham added a pair of TD receptions from Skyler Still, who also scored on a quarterback keeper.

Malden cracked double digits for the first time this season as Quamareous Farmer connected with Amerious White on a pair of second-quarter TD. Farmer added a two-point conversion, making the intermission score 37-14.

Kelly (2-0) will hit the road for the first time this season, playing slightly more than 10 miles away at Chaffee.

Malden finally has a home game next Friday beginning at 7 p.m. versus equally winless Charleston.

Eftink produced his second straight 100-yard plus rushing game in as many weeks.