Caruthersville tops Malden in final minute

By ROB TATE

Daily American Republic

CARUTHERSVILLE -- Malden's resurgence on the football field came up just short Monday night in a repeat visit to Caruthersville.

After reeling off three straight wins to make it to the playoffs for the first time since 2000, the Green Wave took an early lead in the MSHSAA Class 2 Sectional playoff against the Tigers.

But in the end, Caruthersville proved to be just a little too much as they scored with 38 seconds left to take a 28-21 victory for its second win of the season at home against the Green Wave.

The Tigers (5-7) move on to play the No. 1-ranked team in Class, Maplewood (12-0) Saturday.

Afterwards, Malden coach Gary Blaylock was real proud at how his team turned a 1-7 record into a 4-8 season and how they gave a tough battle in a sectional game. It didn't seem so likely the Green Wave (4-8) would of made this far the last time they found themselves in Caruthersville.

"I wish we had about five more games," Blaylock said. "If they would've played the whole year the way they played these last four to five ballgames--they made it fun. They turned a crummy season into an exciting season. I know we lost eight ballgames but let me tell you something--these guys can play some football, they just figured it out a little bit too late."

It looked like the Green Wave were poised for a victory and a spot in the quarterfinals late in the fourth quarter.

With 2:41 to play, senior running back Raphael Jones continued his Herculean-like performance on the field as he battled injuries all night long to score a 3-yard touchdown to give the Green Wave a 21-20 lead.

But the Tigers answered as Jovon Hagerman completed a 9-play, 63-yard drive with a 7-yard run to take the lead for good.

Until the final score by Caruthersville, had the Tigers lost the game, the key turning point of the game could have gone back to just before halftime.

The Tigers tried to add some cushioning to their 20-14 lead by adding another score before the break. But a mistake by young quarterback David Shaw, who is a sophomore, didn't come back to haunt Caruthersville.

With the clock ticking away and no timeouts left, Shaw accidentally kneeled the ball with about three seconds left at the 3-yard line instead of spiking it to stop the clock.

"(He) got down to the goal line at the end of the first half and you've got a first-year player at quarterback and in the heat of the moment instead of spiking the ball, he took a knee," Caruthersville head coach Brad Gerling said. "Just a little confusion there. He wont do that again, I promise you."

It could of been a game changer, but according to Blaylock, his team didn't have a whole lot of confidence at halftime.

"Believe it or not at halftime, we were walking around like we were gonna lose," Blaylock said. "We had the same look like we did down here last time."

Another big play for Malden that in the end didn't matter was a gutsy run by senior Andy Matthews who scrambled on a fake punt for a first down. Matthews looked for an open receiver and when he found no one he tucked the ball in, broke about three tackles and sprinted down the field for a first down. It was all for naught though for Malden who stalled later in the drive.

All signs pointed to a successful game early on for the Green Wave. On its first drive of the game, Malden traveled 47 yards on five plays with senior running back Raphael Jones punching it in for seven yards out.

The Green Wave would score again on the first play of the second quarter as senior quarterback Kaleb Loughary found Matthews who tipped it to himself for a 27-yard score.

Down 14-6 in the second quarter, Caruthersville would bounce back with two touchdowns. Elbie Fonda ran in a 58-yard touchdown a minute after Matthews' score and the Tigers scored again wit 1:51 left in the half on a Vohland Fonda 24-yard completion from Shaw.

Gerling wasn't 100 percent happy with how things went, but will be glad to be playing Saturday.

"It was a sloppy, sloppy game for us," Gerling said. "I didn't think we executed especially well but give credit to Malden. They came out in the last few weeks since we played them in the regular season, in the first round of district. They've come a long way. But I like to think that we have too. It just kind of showed the character and heart of our kids with a little over 2 minutes left in the game to come down and make that game-winning drive the way they did. I'm just as proud as I could be of them."

The Tigers were missing their leading rusher the previous game against Malden in Antonio Hopkins who suffered a knee strain during practice. The sophomore ran for 191 against the Green Wave back in October.

"They played their guts out and left it on the table and come up short," Blaylock added. "I guess we scored too early. We had our hands on them and we just couldn't keep them down."

Blaylock was glad they didn't have to hang their hats on what could of been just a one win season.

"We were 1-7 and looking at 1-9," Blaylock said. "All the sudden we get a little fire going. We finished up 4-8 which ain't a real good record. But the teams we beat at the end of the year -- that got us respect. These last four weeks has given our team the chance to walk the halls tall at school. They've gotten a little pride in themselves and they changed their whole attitude about how the game is played."

Blaylock voted against the playoff system allowing the 2nd place team from each district a chance to play in regionals. But since the vote, he has changed his mind.

"I voted against this playoff system and now here we are getting in it because of that," Blaylock added. "But I'm here to tell you if they I had to vote again I'd vote for it because the turnaround it made on our team was just difference between night and day. I know it ain't a winning season but them guys deserve to have one the way they played the last month."

First quarter

MAL -- Jones 7 run (Hansen kick)

CAR -- Shaw 1 run (kick failed)

Second quarter

MAL -- Matthews 27 pass from Loughary (Hansen kick)

CAR -- E. Fonda 58 run (run failed)

CAR -- V. Fonda 24 pass from Shaw (E. Fonda run)

Fourth quarter

MAL -- Jones 2 run (Hansen kick)

CAR -- Hagerman 7 run (E. Fonda run)

RUSHING -- Malden, Jones 20-74. P. Wilson 5-22. Cain 1-4. Matthews 6-0. Loughary 2-(-21). Caruthersville, E. Fonda 18-141. Hagerman 7-37. Williams 5-24. V. Fonda 2-3. Shaw 9-2. Smith 1 (-3).

PASSING -- Malden, Loughary 10-19-0 147. Matthews 0-2-0 0. Caruthersville, Shaw 9-15-2 148.

RECEIVING -- Malden, Matthews 5-88. Lemarr 3-40. Jones 1-12. P. Wilson 1-7. Caruthersville, Smith 3-64. Williams 2-41. Hagerman 1-25. V. Fonda 2-17. E. Fonda 1-1.

MISSED FIELD GOALS -- Malden, Hansen 47 (blocked)