CHARLESTON -- It's always a good thing when a football team comes into a new season as a reigning champion. That is what the Charleston Bluejays will be doing this year after winning the Class 2 District 1 championship last season. Something that hasn't been done in Charleston since 2004.

"Considering that we graduated several seniors the year before and had several inexperienced kids, I thought they did an excellent job," Bluejays head coach Dan Kesselring said about last season. "We brought a district championship back to Charleston and that's what we're always aiming for."

The Bluejays were narrowly defeated by Crystal City in a thrilling sectional round game in the playoffs last year, losing by just one point. They finished their district title winning season with a 4-6 record.

After winning three out of their last four games last season, Charleston will hope to build off that momentum and try to start off strong.

"I was hoping that attitude and enthusiasm that we had at the end of the season would carry over and start us off on the right track," said Kesselring.

One thing the Bluejays will have to overcome early in the season is the Charleston Fighting Squirrels Senior Babe Ruth baseball team.

The recent success that the Squirrels have had with their World Series run at Newark, Ohio, has caused a little bit of concern for some Bluejays players. Kesselring said that the kids that participated with the Squirrels have not been with the team very long and just will make the eligibility mark. It also means that an adjusting period may be needed between the glove and the helmet.

"We do have a good core of kids, but a problem we ran into was that Babe Ruth baseball," Kesselring said. "Some of that core we're trying to get eligible for the first ballgame and we're going to struggle for a while until we get everybody gelled together. We're probably about a week behind where we should be because of the baseball."

Players who wish to participate in the football program must have a minimum of 14 practices before the first game of the season to be eligible to play.

"Hopefully, after that we'll get back on track and be able to do the things we like to do," said Kesselring. "We like to be able to run the option a little bit and that will depend on how well we gel together as a team."

One of the players that the Bluejays will be counting on is returning quarterback Chase McClendon. McClendon will be coming off of his junior season to be one of the Bluejays go-to guys in his final year. He will have to adjust to a brand new receiving core this season. '

Alan Hemphill was McClendon s biggest target last year, catching 17 passes for 466 yards and seven touchdowns in a predominately run-based offense.

Hemphill and defensive lineman James Davenport are some of the key players that the Bluejays lost due to graduation.

They will be expecting big things off the ground from Jerquawn Sherrell, who is returning for his final season as well. If he can be cleared to play.

Sherrell has been battling with a high blood pressure issue and has had a tough time trying to get back on the field because of it. Which may lead Kesselring to mainly rely on an untested backfield.

"We have a decent backfield but they're untested," Kesselring said. "Tony Riggens has came back out and we're hoping that he'll get some carries for us and we have a sophomore, Claude Armstrong, and a senior that hasn't played for a couple years, Ronson Beard, to also carry some for us."

On the defensive side of the ball, Garrison Eastman, Zack Rowland, Ben Mali and newcomer Nathaniel Burton will be what Kesselring will send out to be his stoppers in the linebacker positions. They each will also try and protect their quarterback on the offensive line.

As the Bluejays look at their schedule, Kesselring feels that the very first game will hold the key to their season.

"After last year, we re looking at our first ballgame to being the key to our season," he said. "I think if we was to win that first ball game it would really set the tone for what we're trying to do."

And as always, the Charleston-Sikeston rivalry game is sure to be a fun start to the season for both squads in week two.

"The Sikeston ballgame is always a winner," said Kesselring. "That sets the tone for our fans and our kids because that really would get them excited if we could win that Sikeston game."

Overall, Kesselring would like to see his players progress with each game this season. If they would happen to do that, defending their district title could be within reach.

"Our main expectations is to get better everyday," he said. "Everyone would like to go 10-0 and we'd like to win as many ballgames as we can. What it boils down to is getting ready for the playoffs and winning that district and getting as far as you can in the playoffs."