Poplar Bluff runs over SHS

POPLAR BLUFF--The Poplar Bluff Mules were up next on the schedule for the Sikeston Bulldogs football team on Friday night, and the Mules took care of business on their home field, defeating the Bulldogs by a final score of 50-6.

The running game was hampered for the Bulldogs due to the muddy field conditions, and what offense the red and black did conjure up against the Mules came in the air from quarterback Chase Ferrell, who was 13-for-26 passing with 132 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

Sikeston started out with ball, receiving the opening kick from Poplar Bluff, and came out firing through the air.

"(We) started out well," Sikeston head coach Kent Gibbs said. "(We) moved the ball up the first six plays throwing the ball."

Gibbs was pleased with the way his team started out the game, but for the remainder of the game was displeased with the Bulldogs performance.

Sikeston's Gavilan Bland avoids Poplar Bluff's Austin Sutton.

Sikeston's Gavilan Bland avoids Poplar Bluff's Austin Sutton.

Both teams exchanged hands on the ball the first few possessions, until the Mules took the early lead scoring on a 27-yard touchdown run from Zach Ferguson at 3:13 in the first quarter. Josh Thompson added one on the extra point kick.

The Mules quickly retained possession after three-and-out for the Bulldogs, and put up one more score before the first quarter was over, when quarterback Todd Bullington connected with Tim Stonecipher from 24 yards out for their second touchdown at 1:27, and Thompson added his second extra point on the night.

The Bulldogs went scoreless in the first quarter.

Poplar Bluff wasn't slow to get things going in the second quarter, as Ferguson added his second rushing touchdown of the game at 5:44 from 37 yards out, and Thompson did his duty and added one.

After a Bulldog punt, it was Ferguson again, this time from 58 yards out for the score at 2:24, with Thompson doing the honors with the extra point.

The Bulldogs weren't finished off yet however, and with 26 seconds to go in the first half, Ferrell hit Niquavious Dixon from 23 yards out for their first score, followed by an extra point attempt that was missed to the right from Ferrell.

The Mules got the ball back with seconds to go in the half, and Bullington tried to add to the highlight reel when Adrian Dixon nailed him for the sack in the backfield for a 12-yard loss, and the home team let the clock run out to end the half, with the score at 28-6 in favor of Poplar Bluff.

In the second half, it was all maroon, as the Mules scored quickly into the third quarter, at 10:45, on another Ferguson gallop down the field from 43 yards out this time followed by another Thompson kick for one.

Just minutes later, Ferguson put in his fifth score of the night, on an 11 yard run at 7:35, and the Mules changed it up this time, as Ben Knuckles took in a run of his own for the two-point conversion, putting the score at 43-6.

An added bonus for all of the fans in attendance on a chilly night, the home team put one more score in at 9:39 in the fourth quarter, when Job Rabideau ran in from three yards out and Thompson added his final extra point of the night, giving the Mules the 50-6 victory.

"We didn't play good," Gibbs said. "They were more physical and stronger than us. They mastered us."

The Mules had a solid offensive outpour against the Bulldogs, putting up 380 total yards of offense, but it was Ferguson who stole the show Friday night, carrying the ball 19 times for 253 yards, including the five touchdowns.

"We can talk all night about Zach's (Ferguson) ability," Poplar Bluff head coach Brian Robbins said. "A lot of that is Zach, and a lot of that is we're not going to be stubborn."

"They were giving us the run game with him," he added. "So, we took it."

Bullington completed just one pass on four attempts, but his one completion went for a touchdown to Stonecipher for 24 yards.

"We could have probably thrown it again later," Robbins said. "If you dare us to throw it, we'll throw it. It was a good job by Todd (Bullington) of executing."

Sikeston was led offensively by Niquavious Dixon, who had three receptions for 43 yards and a touchdown.

"They did what they wanted to, when they wanted to," Gibbs said. "We didn't really have any answers to be honest with you."

"They have made a big improvement over last year," he added. "I think it's pretty evident that they've been in the weight room and they've done what they've needed to do to make themselves better."

Gibbs also commented on the fact that the Mules didn't have many seniors on the field tonight, indicating that they would have an increasingly better program for years to come, and that he hoped his own team could improve in the upcoming offseason.

"We've got Cape Central this week," Gibbs said. "(We'll have) a couple of practices this week and we'll be ready to go. (We'll) do what we can."

"I hope we show up," he added. "And I hope we play well, and try to get a little momentum going into our off-season."

Sikeston will travel to play Cape Central on Thursday night at 7 p.m. Thursday's game will be played at Houck Stadium.

Up next for Poplar Bluff is West Plains and the district championship, played on West Plains home turf, at 7 p.m. on Thursday night.