Semoball

Upset-minded Charleston ready for challenge

Charleston's Almarieon Williams (3) looks to dodge the flying tackle attempt of Sikeston Dontrez Williams (23) Friday, Oct. 21, 2022, at John H. Marshall Field in Charleston, Mo. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat)
By David Jenkins/Standard Democrat

After just two wins in the past two seasons, the Charleston football team has rebounded with a breakthrough year.

But the Bluejays (7-2) still have goals they hope to complete, including an upset at St. Vincent (7-2) in the MSHSAA Class 1 District 1 Tournament on Friday night.

“It truly has been an incredible turnaround,” said Charleston coach Justin Hutchings. “I credit a lot of it to our guys who came this summer and our seniors who have matured greatly. We also focused on rebranding who we are and what we do, along with expectations of how we do things. With Covid the last two years it was more trying to keep kids out because it made it so easy to quit everything and now we have kids more locked in and ready to play.

“We expected to be better than the previous years however, we didn't expect to have this season,” he continued. “We just didn't know how the guys would respond to the summer and the beginning of August. But like I said before, they matured and were very focused on the season to be successful.”

Maturity has been a recurring theme for the team this season. The Bluejays have won some dogfights and overcame some sticky situations this season, whereas Hutchings said some of the previous teams would have folded.

“The seniors and juniors have stepped up as leaders this year,” Hutchings said. “I barely have to coach anything, we barely have to punish anything. Those guys handle it all. They lift each other on the field and call out their own mistakes. They have truly grown up and I am very proud of those guys.

“I think the reasons for their maturity are that they were tired of losing,” he continued. “We also held after-season meetings with the guys and I told them some truths that they needed to hear. It helped put things into perspective so they could achieve success this season.”

Charleston will have its hands full against St. Vincent. The Indians have a dynamic offense and will be hungry to right the ship after being upset in their regular season finale.

“They are a tall task,” Hutchings said. “We are extremely focused and ready to go this week. We got thumped by them last year so that is some good motivation. I think we have a solid game plan, all we have to do is execute on Friday. Execution, we just have to execute on all facets. It's playoff football now, we have to be locked in and ready to go.”

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