Malden football team rolls into Class 2 semifinals

ST. LOUIS -- The Malden Green Wave's dominant season continued on Friday night, rolling past Cardinal Ritter 47-6 in a Class 2 quarterfinal game.

With the Lions focusing on the Green Wave ground attack, Malden went to the air as junior quarterback Chapen Riley threw four long touchdown passes.

Riley hit senior wide receiver Parker McCormick for a 35-yard touchdown with 9:45 remaining in the first quarter to open the scoring. Cortez Dobbins added the two-point conversion to give Malden a 8-0 lead.

Riley then hit senior Jeremy Jones for a 23-yard touchdown and added the conversion when he found Nick Thompson for the 16-0 lead with 2:56 left in the first quarter.

After a 15-yard run from senior running back Dremond Robinson, Malden held a 22-0 lead early in the second quarter. Cardinal Ritter drove down the field, but what looked like a touchdown ended up being a fumble at the one-yard line and recovered by the Green Wave.

Malden then marched 99 yards, capped off by a 27-yard run by Jones to give Malden a 28-0 lead with 1:42 left in the first half.

The Green Wave recovered a fumble on the next offensive play from Cardinal Ritter and wasted no time making the Lions pay as Riley hit Robinson for a 45-yard touchdown pass to give Malden a 34-0 halftime lead.

The second half was just like the first as Malden scored on their first possession on a 4-yard run from Robinson. Riley's point-after kick gave the Green Wave a 41-0 lead.

Riley then hit Robinson on a 73-yard touchdown pass to put Malden ahead 47-0.

Cardinal Ritter (6-7) added a touchdown with 1:45 remaining to end the shutout.

Malden (13-0) will next host No. 1 ranked Lamar on Saturday in a Class 2 semifinal. Lamar knocked off No. 2 ranked Stafford 48-17 on Friday night.