NEW MADRID - The New Madrid County Central Eagles football team will entertain the Poplar Bluff Mules for the first time in 15 years.
The two teams have played a total of four games against each other all from 1988-1991, with the teams splitting the four games. The Eagles won the first matchup 20-6 over the Mules.
Poplar Bluff has played a tough couple of games to begin the 2006 season. The Mules lost to Parkway North in Week 1 and last week, Blytheville, Ark. defeated the Mules 42-24.
The Chickasaws rushed for 421 yards as a team against the Mules and individually Melvin Brooks rushed for 295 yards on only 16 carries.
"We have been struggling on defense to start out the year," said first year Poplar Bluff head coach Brian Robbins. "We haven't stopped anybody on the run yet. We have worked and worked on defense this week in practice and hopefully on Friday we can stop somebody."
The Mules were almost exclusively a passing team until Robbins took over the helm. Now, the Mules have an option offense that can still burn you with the pass.
"We can still put the ball in the air," said Robbins, "but we want to establish an effective running game to set the tempo. We would like to limit their offensive possessions and the best possible way to achieve that goal is to have the running game click."
Through the first two games of the season, Poplar Bluff has rushed the football 82 times, compared to 21 passing attempts.
Senior Jimmy Dye (5-8, 190) is the leading rusher for the Mules with 104 yards on 34 carries. Quarterback Asa Wyatt (5-10, 200) is second on the team in rushing yards with 85 on 26 carries and has scored two touchdowns.
Wyatt seems to be adjusting well to the new run-oriented offense which is a credit to Wyatt because last year he led the area in passing yardage.
Last year's area receiving leader, Nick Stith (5-11, 160), has also adjusted to the new Poplar Bluff offense with 12 carries for 38 yards and has caught a touchdown pass for 26 yards.
"We are going to have to stop their veer offense," said NMCC head coach Arlen Pixley. "They are going to take it right at us and we have to force them into long yardage situations. Poplar Bluff has excellent skill plays led by Wyatt who is a threat at quarterback.
"Their linemen are quick and if we don't attack at the right places on the defensive line, their fullback could have a big game."
The Mules have given up an average of 38 points in their first two games. Poplar Bluff averages 205 pounds along their defensive lines, but the mainstay of the Mules' defense is speed.
"Poplar Bluff will switch it up along the defensive lines," said Pixley. "Their 4
-2-5 scheme is something we have not seen this year but we run something similar so it is not that foreign to us. Their defense snap-reads and we are going to have to account for everybody across the ball."
NMCC is off to its best start since 2001 when the Eagles started 5-0 that season. With the 32-30 win over Cape Central last week, morale is high at NMCC.
"I think the kids might be riding too high after our two wins to begin the season," said Pixley. "Our practices have not been that stellar this week, but the kids know what to do. We are going to do the same thing we have been doing and that is hammer the football inside. We like to see how tough people are inside and when they adjust, we adjust."
Senior running back Marqueses Gates (5-11, 175) had a stellar game against Cape Central with 25 carries for 201 yards and a touchdown.
"Gates had a good game but he did put the football on the ground five times," said Pixley. "He is an excitable athlete who runs the ball hard at every opportunity. The fumbles occur when he tries for that extra yard."
DeAnton Brown (5-11, 175) also had a nice game for the Eagles last week with 108 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown. Quarterback Leslie Williams (6-0, 190) will also get involved with the running game as he has rushed for 73 yards on 13 carries and has scored three touchdowns this season.
"New Madrid has a dangerous backfield," said Robbins. "They don't have a lot of variety in play calling, but they have a big and quick offensive line that allows them to be effective in the running game.
"Their quarterback runs the option very well and No. 5 (Gates) is as good a running back we have seen this year. Plus, they have a fullback that is also good at running."
Williams is running the Eagle offense well early on in the season with emphasis on the running game, but he can also be effective in the air.
Williams has completed three passes, all for touchdowns, and has 89 passing yards on the season.
"Leslie is doing a great job so far," said Pixley. "I am waiting for a team to take away our running backs so he can explode. We have a passing game and it is effective when needed."
Robbins stated that the Eagles' defense plays an eight-man front that is keyed on stopping the run.
"They just have great personnel on the defensive side of the football," said Robbins. "They are extremely quick and play with a high-energy level."
The key to victory for the Eagles is relatively simple according to Pixley.
"We cannot turnover the football and allow them numerous opportunities to score," said Pixley. "We have to be solid in our kicking game and play a field position game. Which ever team forces the most turnovers, will win the game. Poplar Bluff has played two very good football teams to begin the year. They are probably one or two plays away from being in both games. Coach Robbins is trying to run a system and once the kids fully understand that system, they will be a tough team to beat."
Robbins echoes the sentiments of Pixley.
"We must limit their offensive possessions and take care of the football," said Robbins. "They have a quality returner on their team so we have to shore up our special teams. I believe field position will play a vital role in this game."