Andy Matthews returns at end and defensive back for the Green Wave. [Click to enlarge]

By ROB TATE ~ DAR Sports Writer

MALDEN -- As Malden football head coach Gary Blaylock sat in his office with his coaching staff this past Friday evening prior to the team's jamboree, there was a sense of calm. While the players were getting psyched to do some hitting on the field, the atmosphere in the small room adjacent to the locker room had a relaxed feel.

But almost certainty -- after going 3-7 last season -- this year will be anything but calm and relaxed.

Last season, Blaylock, who is entering his fourth year as head coach and "around his 25th year" in the Malden program overall, gave his players plenty of opportunity to prove themselves on the field. This year, however, the leash will be much shorter on his players if the results aren't there.

"Everybody (on the roster) is gonna get a shot," Blaylock said. "Last year, the seniors -- I gave them five games before I yanked the chain on them for lack of effort. This year, I told my seniors that they got one game. If they ain't gonna play hard their first game, then we are gonna start letting young guys play."

Blaylock's squad never had a consistent feel to it last season. Right out of the gate, the Green Wave dropped their first three games of the season against Scott City, Hayti and Thayer by a combined score of 89-20.

After the discouraging start to the 2007 season, Blaylock opted to give then-junior Kaleb Loughary a shot at quarterback. Loughary showed his worth to the coach as he will begin this Friday night under-center for the Green Wave.

"I got his feet wet last year," Blaylock said.

What Blaylock saw from Loughary's audition was a kid who can take over his huddle and showed some leadership as a junior.

"He's ready for his turn," Blaylock said. "He's been waiting for his shot."

Loughary stands at 5-foot-9 and 160 pounds. Loughary can do multiple things in the backfield that, hopefully in turn, will give the Green Wave multiple offensive threats.

"He's not real tall," Blaylock said. "But he can scramble, he can roll out. He's got real good arm in medium distances."

In the past, Malden has been known for "pounding the ball" as they've had several 1,000-yard rushers in the past few seasons. But this season, Blaylock might look to the air with Loughary a little more frequently as they will try to give the defense some different looks as they will set up in the shotgun on occasion.

"We kind of went to the 'gun to give (Loughery) time to roll out and see (the field)," Blaylock added.

Joining Loughary in the backfield will be a whole committee of running backs. Sophomores Patrick Wilson and Kyle Lemarr, junior Ryan Cain, and seniors Josh DeBerry and Josh Louis.

Joining the Green Wave on offense is a returning All-Region tight end in senior Andy Mathews.

Louis and Cain have the edge over the others according to Blaylock as they got some playing time last season.

Training camp has been quite successful for the Green Wave. Blaylock noted that just one player quit the team and the practices have been solid.

"That's why we have our hopes up," Blaylock said. "We are hoping that want to change the way things happened last year. The attitude has been pretty good. I'm from the old school where if you start patting yourself (things) are gonna happen bad. If you don't pat yourself on the back, maybe something good will happen."

Some other positives Blaylock has seen so far in practices is improvement in the tackling of his defense. The team's formation has switched from a three-man front last season to a four-man front.

Blaylock still has some concerns with the blocking and tackling. The team will also look to capitalize on takeaways this year. According to Blaylock, the Green Wave scored just two defensive touchdowns all of last season.

"If we can tackle, we will be in the game," Blaylock said. "We've been concentrating on being aggressive and trying to stay in the game. Those three weeks last season where we got pounded -- that left a bad taste in our mouths."

Charleston should be the top-of-line team in the Green Wave's district again this season, but Blaylock knows it will be an up-hill climb to reach their caliber.

"We've been picked to be a doormat this year," Blaylock said. "But we are tryin' to fight it."

The start of the trail to redemption for the Green Wave begins at 7 p.m. Friday at Scott City.