Charleston runs wild on Crystal City

CHARLESTON - The Charleston Bluejays got off on the right foot in the Class 2, District 2 opener on Friday night against Crystal City.

The Bluejays rattled off 42 unanswered points to defeat the Hornets 42-20, improving to 3-5 on the season.

Charleston, the two-time defending district champions, are now 1-0 in district play. Crystal City falls to 2-6 on the season an 0-1 in district play.

Crystal City scored on its opening drive of the game, but Charleston's Deshaundray Hamilton returned the ensuing kick 78 yards for a touchdown.

Marcus Dixon's extra point gave the Bluejays a 7-6 lead and they never looked back.

"We didn't start off real well," said Charleston head coach Brent Anderson. "They took it to us on their first drive. Deshaundray gave us a big spark. That woke us up. We were a little flat coming out but he gave us a huge lift with that return."

After that it was the Orrice Stanback show. The senior scored on touchdown runs from 44, 2, 2 and 4 yards out in the first and second quarters to open up a 36-6 halftime lead.

Stanback, Southeast Missouri's leading rusher, finished with 191 yards rushing on 20 carries.

"He played well," said Anderson. "The kids up front are really jelling right now. They've been playing better for the last two weeks. I think we've got one of the better front lines around here."

A.H. Marshall added a 5-yard run in the third quarter to give the Bluejays a 42-6 lead. Crystal City scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter against the Bluejay junior varsity.

Marshall threw for 75 yards, completing 3-of-5 passes. He also rushed for 34 yards on five carries and he had two two-point conversion runs.

Dadrian Jones had 32 yards on seven carries while Vernon Haynes added 31 yards on five carries.

The Bluejays will play at Grandview next Friday at 7 p.m.

"We're where we need to be," said Anderson. "We're not going to see a team like Dexter or Sikeston or any team of that caliber the rest of the way."