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Muddy Mayhew: Clark and Betts lead Charleston past Portageville
CHARLESTON, MO. — The remnants of Hurricane Helene brought a taste of the tropics to Missouri on Friday Night, as Charleston emerged victorious 34-12 over Portageville at John H. Marshall Field.
The game was played under challenging conditions, with heavy rain and wind gusts reaching 30 mph.
However, both teams, known for their power run offenses, were well-suited to the adverse weather.
“It was challenging but the breaks went in our favor,” said Charleston coach Justin Hutchings. “We played hard and did what we needed to do. We knew we needed to limit the mistakes, run the ball hard and have some fun.”
The Blue Jays (3-2, 2-1 SEMO South) struck first, with CJ Kimble breaking through for a 21-yard touchdown run with 4:06 left in the opening quarter.
The successful 2-point conversion made it 8-0.
“It was a great cut, coming up the middle and breaking an arm tackle,” Hutchings said. “He did a fantastic job making a play to get us an early score.”
The Bulldogs (3-2, 1-2 SEMO South) responded early in the second quarter when Jayquan Bogan scored on a 14-yard run, cutting the lead to 8-6 after the unsuccessful conversion attempts.
Charleston extended the lead just before halftime with a 58-yard touchdown run by Trez Clark, making it 14-6 at the break. This crucial play highlighted the Blue Jays’ ability to capitalize on their opportunities and maintain momentum heading into the second half.
Charleston immediately increased the lead to 20-6 with 10:05 left in the third quarter after Bernard Betts scored on a 19-yard jet sweep.
Betts, known for his exceptional speed, has also made a name for himself in track, helping the Blue Jays capture a state title in 2023.
“You have to honor our jet sweep,” Hutchings said.
Bogan cut the lead to 20-12 with a 34-yard touchdown run with 5:09 left in the third quarter, but this was Portageville’s last significant offensive effort. The Bulldogs’ chances were diminished by four lost fumbles and several more that halted plays
The rest of the game belonged to the Blue Jays. Betts added a 74-yard touchdown run on nearly an identical jet sweep, making it 28-12 with 2:12 left in the third quarter.
“[Betts] has the juice,” Hutchings said. “We had to get out of the heavy set and spread it out. He ran that outside sweep great.”
Clark sealed the game with a 1-yard touchdown run with 2:50 left in the fourth quarter, finishing with over 100 yards rushing for the third time this season.
“[Clark] He ran very well tonight,” Hutchings said. “He can pound the defense. Especially, in these types of offenses and it was awesome seeing him break one loose.
“Our offensive line did a fantastic job,” Hutchings continued. “They were firing off low and getting a good push. I was really proud of them too.”
The Blue Jays’ win snapped a four-game losing streak in the series against the Bulldogs.
Next Friday, Charleston travels to Hayti (2-3, 1-1 SEMO South), while Portageville travels to Malden (0-5, 0-3 SEMO South).