Several teams in the area this year will have to replace quarterbacks and other key personnel at the skill positions.

Not Charleston.

The Bluejays return 17 starters including the entire backfield for the 2001 season, and that has Bluejay fans excited.

Seniors Jordy Mixon, Dontay Clark and junior Orrice Stanback rushed for more than 2,000 yards combined last year and scored 28 touchdowns.

The trio will form one of the best backfields in the area, a good starting point toward improving on last year's 4-7 record. Mixon has all-state potential after rushing for 1,097 yards and 14 TDs.

"I'm glad we don't have to play against them," said third-year Charleston head coach Brent Anderson. "Mixon is the power, inside-the-tackle runner, Stanback can run inside, outside and do just about anything, and Dontay brings a little flash to it when we run a little option with him.

"I like to think we have one of the best backfields in the area, if not the best."

A year ago, Anderson was certain that his offensive philosophy, a spread attack similar to the West Coast offense, would be a refreshing change to the traditional ground game that the Charleston Bluejays built its tradition.

After little success through the first half of the season, Anderson realized that his passing attack just didn't cut it.

After swallowing some pride and admitting he was wrong, Anderson made a bold move and scrapped the offense, reverting back to the Bluejay running game, even switching quarterbacks in the process.

"It took me a little bit to realize that we weren't going to be able to (pass) like that," said Anderson. "So it's hard to go away from something completely and go to something totally different. The kids really took pride in it and that was the key."

The result? After Charleston started 0-6, the Bluejays finished the regular season with four straight wins including their first district title in Class 2A.

Charleston went from throwing more than 20 times in a game to not throwing at all. The last two games of the year the Bluejays didn't attempt a single pass.

"You want to do what best fits your team," said Anderson. "If it takes us running the ball 45 times a game, then we'll run the ball that many times. If it takes us throwing the ball 25 times a game, then we'll throw it. If they trust what we're doing, then they're going to do it well. They really enjoy running the football here so we're going to do that."

Anderson says Clark, who is a running back by trade, has improved as a passer. He completed 7-of-9 for 77 yards last year, but most of the time he would scramble for big yardage after dropping back to pass. He rushed for 670 yards with 10 touchdowns.

"His passes aren't pretty, but he's very accurate," said Anderson. "He's taken strides this offseason and I'm excited about that. You never know, we may throw the football more than I anticipate."

Clark's top targets are his tight ends, senior Tiyez Whitney, junior Dustin Smoot and sophomore Travis McCann.

Year after year, Charleston's offensive line is either small, or lacks quality depth. Anderson thinks that area has been solidified by some young talent.

"We think we're pretty deep on the line this year we're about two-deep at each position," he said.

Headlining the defensive side of the ball is returning leading tackler Hall, who registered 109 stops last year. Hall will play strong safety next to free safety Mixon, who was a solid linebacker last year.

Dontay Clark (eight interceptions) and Williams will be the cornerback tandem.

"(Clark is) the best corner I've ever coached," said Anderson. "He shuts down almost his whole half of the field."

Smoot, Dadrian Jones and Whitney will form the linebacking corps. Adam Bowles and Tyler Collier are the defensive tackles and Eric Kent and Stanback are the ends.

With some top playmakers on defense, especially in the secondary, Anderson is hoping for improvement in an area that hasn't been a strongsuit for the Bluejays.

"In the past we haven't been real solid on defense," said Anderson. "We've been average at best and that is one of the things that we're trying to improve. We want to get in that upper echelon of defenses in the area."

CHARLESTON

COACH: Brent Anderson, 3rd year

2000 RECORD: 4-7

ENROLLMENT, CLASS SIZE: 387, 2A District 2

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: (RB) Jordy Mixon, (QB/CB)

Dontay Clark, (RB) Orrice Stanback

KEY PLAYERS LOST: (LB) James Shelby, (TE/DB) Russell

Crawford, (OL/DL) Aristeve Townsend

RETURNING STARTERS: 17

DISTRICT: 2A District 2

CONFERENCE: SEMO Central

2001 SCHEDULE:

Aug. 31 vs. Kennett

Sept. 7 at Sikeston

Sept. 14 vs. Caruthersville

Sept. 21 at NMCC

Sept. 28 vs. Malden

Oct. 5 vs. Dexter

Oct. 12 at East Prairie

Oct. 19 at Crystal City

Oct. 26 vs. Grandview

Nov. 2 at Scott City

2000 RESULTS (4-7):

Sept. 1 Kennett L 19-6

Sept. 8 Sikeston L 22-14

Sept. 15 at Caruthersville L 20-16

Sept. 22 NMCC L 40-0

Sept. 29 at Malden L 28-6

Oct. 6 at Dexter L 42-12

Oct. 13 East Prairie W 24-0

Oct. 20 Crystal City W 30-3

Oct. 27 at Grandview W 39-14

Nov. 3 Scott City W 34-21

Nov. 8 Malden L 34-14

MAGNIFICENT ELEVEN

OFFENSE

QB Dontay Clark, 5-10, 160, sr.

RB Jordy Mixon, 5-10, 195, sr.

FB Orrice Stanback, 5-11, 190, jr.

OT Adam Bowles, 6-0, 230, jr.

OT Tyler Collier, 6-2, 235, so.

OG Dadrian Jones, 6-0, 195, jr.

OG Wesley Patterson, 5-11, 185, jr.

C A.H. Marshall, 5-10, 165, so.

TE Travis McCann, 6-0, 175, so.

TE Tiyez Whitney, 5-10, 180, sr.

WR - Henry Hall, 5-10, 180, sr.

DEFENSE

DE Orrice Stanback, 5-11, 190, jr.

DE Eric Kent, 6-0, 205, jr.

DT Tyler Collier, 6-2, 235, so.

DT Adam Bowles, 6-0, 230, jr.

LB Dustin Smoot, 5-10, 170, jr.

LB Dadrian Jones, 6-0, 195, jr.

LB Tiyez Whitney, 5-10, 180, sr.

CB Dontay Clark, 5-10, 160, sr.

CB Desrone Williams, 5-9, 160, sr.

SS Henry Hall, 5-10, 180, sr.

FS Jordy Mixon, 5-10, 195, sr.

KEY SUBSTITUTES

(WR/CB) Deshaundray Hamilton, (OL/DL) Danny Farmer,

(FB/DL) Paul Brown, (QB/DB) Andrew DeField, (RB/LB)

Blake Earnheart, (DB/WR) Zecoby Moore, (OL/DL) Chris

Groves, (RB/LB) Trentez Lane

SPECIAL TEAMS

K Marcus Dixon, 5-8, 210, so.

P Paul Brown, 5-11, 205, jr.

KR Orrice Stanback, 5-11, 190, jr.

PR Dontay Clark, 5-10, 160, sr.

THE GOOD .....

* Charleston returns 17 starters this season, the most experience in years.

* Good speed and overall talent in the backfield.

* Improved defense with playmakers in the secondary

THE BAD, AND UGLY

* Unproven offensive line

* Kicking game has been suspect in recent years

* Rugged schedule

HOW BOUT IT COWBOY?

Inside the mind of senior SS

Henry Hall:

KEYS TO THE SEASON

"Our offensive line will have to step it up and our running game will have to pick up where it left off last season. We have some people playing new positions but our defense will be real strong this year."

BEST THING ABOUT FOOTBALL

* You've got to love the game and I love defense. Defense is what I take my pride in."

SUPERSTITIONS

* No, not really.

PERSONAL GOALS

"I want to be all-state this year and hopefully break the school record in tackles. I also want to win another district championship and try to advance."

QUICK DRAWS

Since going 11-1 in 1996, the Bluejays are just 16-23 over the last four seasons...The Bluejays are 5-11 against SEMO Central foes the last four years...Last year's district championship snapped a three-year streak without winning a district title, Charleston's longest since a six-year drought from 1983-88...Jordy Mixon became the first Bluejay running back to rush for 1,000 yards as a junior since Larico Coleman in 1996...Games will be broadcast on B98/FM 97.9.