By ROB TATE ~ DAR Sports Writer

When Malden lost to Caruthersville back on Oct.17 in the first game of districts, it was highly likely at the time that it would have been the two teams' only meeting of the season.

Considering the situation of the district, it looked like East Priairie would have no problem getting into the playoffs with its stellar running game and Caruthersville's win right off the bat.

But as Malden senior Andy Matthews put it after the Green Wave's regional victory Wednesday night at Scott City, the team really came together on that fall night in Caruthersville.

At the start of the fourth quarter, junior Robbie Duck was injured blocking on a kickoff return and was taken by ambulance off the field. After watching their teammate get taken away, the Green Wave went to work reeling off two touchdowns and pulling to within eight points of Tigers. Caruthersville scored one more time to take the 32-18 win, but the Green Wave has been inspired since that night.

Including the 15 points after Duck's injury against the Tigers, the Green Wave has outscored its opponents 81-34 and has reeled off three wins. It should be noted that Duck's injury wasn't serious, and he returned to the team and has been playing special teams since then.

"It all goes back to that game," Malden coach Gary Blaylock said. "I don't know if the injury has anything to do with it or not, but that's when it all started. I don't know if it's a mental thing or what but they finally kicked it in. We've been waiting for it all year to do it -- we just hope it won't stop anytime soon."

Blaylock has been impressed with what his players have done as of late. The 1-7 record going into districts didn't reflect on how hard the team was working in practice all year.

"They've turned it around. We were 1-7 looking at 1-9 and now we have a chance at another (win)," Blaylock said. "It's a big turnaround, they act different at school."

A big part of the winning streak and subsequent playoff run for the Green Wave has been their ability to stop the run. A major test was passed against East Prairie as they held senior M.C. Williams to below his game average.

The front four or the "backwall" as Blaylock refers to them as, of Ryan Cain, Josh Louis, Jonny Burton and Kwamena Bondzie has done a great job stopping the run in the three wins.

The Green Wave blitzed a lot to stop East Priarie but may look to do something different against Caruthersville, which ran for 287 in the previous meeting. The Tigers were led by Anthony Hopkins who ran for 191 yards.

"We don't want to do the same thing so they'll be ready for it," Blaylock said. "We gotta try to stop them in between the tackles, that's where they hurt us the most last time. Louis and Jonny (Burton) will try to take up the middle good and Kwamena and Cain will try to take out the outsides."

The Green Wave's leading rusher, Raphael Jones, should be available come Monday night after leaving late in the fourth quarter after getting kicked in the shin. Jones ran the ball just eight times against the Tigers for 119 yards.

Including the three district games and Wednesday night's regional, Jones has run the ball 54 times for 479 yards, an average of 8.6 per carry.

The Green Wave air assault has also worked better since the first Caruthersville game. Quarterback Kaleb Loughary completed just 9-of-20 passes in that game, but Wednesday was a very efficient 10-for-17 for 126 and one touchdown.

"He's taking what they give us," Blaylock said of Loughary. "Every time we get a one-on-one or someone cheating over to a side we try to test him and see if it goes. (Andy Matthews and Kaleb) have been working them fades after practice the last four or five and they're starting work every now and then. They just kind of go out there automatically and practice them."

Even though the Tigers hold a slight edge with the earlier win, Blaylock noted that the Green Wave are little bit older while the Tigers rely on younger players. Blaylock can see the fact that his seniors don't want to let the season go and hopes that experience will outweigh the Tigers' youth.

The game is slated for 7 p.m. Monday night at Caruthersville with the winner playing Saturday in the quarterfinals.