Brian Rosener is the keeper of the Semoball Cup which is presented to the school with the most successful season. It is based on a formula that takes into account the combined winning percentage of all sports teams plus bonus points for advancement in postseason play for both teams and individuals. The bonus points are divided by the number of teams a school fields. Rosener has been the sports editor for the Daily American Republic in Poplar Bluff, Mo. since December 2001. He was born and raised in St. Louis, where he attended Lindbergh High School and Webster University. He is married to Jennifer, a Poplar Bluff native, has a son Jack and a dog named Satchel who stands in for his @semoballBrian photo.

Central-Bluff countdown

Posted Tuesday, October 16, 2007, at 7:49 AM

First a history lesson:

The Tigers have owned this series of late. Cape Central has won the last five meetings by a combined score of 177-90. This will be the 82nd meeting between the two schools with the Tigers holding a 46-31-5 advantage in the series.

Last year, the Mules turned the ball over seven times and trailed 23-7 before a late rally kept Poplar Bluff's slim playoff hopes alive with a 23-20 loss. Central recovered an onside kick with 14 seconds left, then beat West Plains the following week to clinch the district title.

In 2005, Central won 31-28 by scoring 21 first-quarter points at Poplar Bluff. That game ended with the Tigers intercepting the ball at their own 20.

Of course, everybody remembers 2003 when the Mules were 8-0 before Central scored 21 first-quarter points to win the district title, 49-28.

Poplar Bluff's last win over the Tigers was 26-10 in 2001, back when the two teams met during Week 4. The last time Poplar Bluff beat Central in a district game was 1999.

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I saw Bluff at Jackson, and despite losing, I thought they looked pretty good. I thinnk they are now the favorites in that district.

-- Posted by mizzou44 on Tue, Oct 16, 2007, at 10:58 AM
I think this district is wide open as all teams are under .500, and while Bluff is playing better this year, West Plains is always solid. They are usually a wild card as no one sees them much during the regular season because of their locale. Also, Cape Central has won this district 5 of the past 7 years I believe, and have shown they can win it even after struggling through a regular season schedule. Sikeston is also struggling as are all 4 in this district, and I don't know if they have enouigh to mount a threat to the other three and their chances to win it. But under Gibbs, they will show up and play hard. It should be entertaining and competitive.

-- Posted by Oschemer on Tue, Oct 16, 2007, at 12:50 PM
I also saw Bluff at Jackson..

Cape will have their hands full when they meet.

-- Posted by trekker on Tue, Oct 16, 2007, at 4:03 PM
Before the season I thought it would be between Cape & Bluff but after the jamboree I knew that Bluff would be the team to beat. Sikeston is much improved and has a chance. West Plains is hard to gauge. I don't think they are as good as last year but yet they play in a tough conference.

-- Posted by Lion83 on Tue, Oct 16, 2007, at 4:57 PM
Sikeston's season took a major hit when their top running back went down in the first game. Then the number two running back went down. It's been a tough year down there.

-- Posted by semohoops on Wed, Oct 17, 2007, at 8:13 AM
Lion 83, the spread?

-- Posted by mizzou44 on Wed, Oct 17, 2007, at 11:48 AM
PB by 17

-- Posted by Lion83 on Wed, Oct 17, 2007, at 4:08 PM

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