Reece Eftink scores four touchdowns as Hawks pound Panthers

The Kelly Hawks improved to 5-0 on the season with a 36-26 win on the road against Principia on Saturday, Sept. 23, in St. Louis.

Senior running back Reece Eftink scored three rushing touchdowns to double his season total and also caught his first touchdown pass.

With the win, Kelly has matched its win total from the previous year (5-5) in only five weeks. The offense has gone from averaging 18.7 points per game in 2022 to a whopping 35.8 points in 2023. The Hawks’ defense has also reduced their opponents’ scoring from 20 points per game to 14.8.

The Hawks got on the board in the first quarter with a one-yard rushing touchdown by Reese Eftink. The senior running back entered the game with 596 rushing yards on 66 carries, which is dwarfed by only Portageville running back Jamarion Smith, who had 83 carries through four games.

The Panthers responded with a rushing touchdown of their own on a quarterback keeper, but a failed two-point conversion maintains Kelly’s 7-6 lead early in the second quarter.

The Hawks clawed back with an eight-yard touchdown run by junior Grant Burleson, who normally scores through the air. The defense forced a turnover on a fumble in the ensuing drive to set up another touchdown by Eftink, this time on a 43-yard pass from junior quarterback Skyler Still.

The Panthers lost another offensive possession on a fumble but the defense made up for it with a touchdown on an interception to cut the Hawks’ lead to 21-12 going into halftime.

The Hawks started the second half by handing the ball off to their bell cow for another rushing touchdown by Eftink, pushing Kelly’s lead to 28-12 with 10:32 left in the third quarter.

For his third rushing touchdown, Eftink cut out the middle man by taking the snap himself and ran outside the line for a one-yard score with a little over three minutes left in the third quarter. The Hawks missed the two-point conversion, settling for a 34-12 lead, but they made it up with a safety in the fourth quarter.

The Panthers scored two more touchdowns but time was on the side of the Hawks, who held on and secured the win. Kelly is now one of two unbeaten teams in Class 2 District 1, alongside New Madrid County Central. The Eagles (5-0) opened their five-game homestand with a 27-0 shutout win over Caruthersville on Friday.

Kelly hosts rival Scott City with hopes of earning its sixth win of the season.