Mules 38, Dexter 13

It was a wet night in Dexter. Here's a short story from the game:

DEXTER -- Zach Ferguson fought through the rain, mud and the Dexter defense, scoring four times and rushing for a season-high 186 yards Friday night to lead the Poplar Bluff Mules to a 38-13 win.

The Mules (2-2) scored on their first three offensive possessions in a steady rain to take a 20-0 lead on three 5-yard runs by Ferguson. The junior later added a 54-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter before Pete Bryant scored on a 5-yard run and Caleb Conover added a 1-yard touchdown run later in the quarter.

Nick Hessling led Dexter (0-4) with 115 yards rushing and a touchdown while quarterback Ben Mills completed 10-of-18 passes for 129 yards. Mills hit junior Brent Stidham for a 10-yard touchdown pass with just under 5 minutes left in the first half.

The Mules ran for 280 yards with Bryant chipping in 58 and senior Austin Williams adding 27 on two attempts.

Ferguson got the ball 11 straight times to open the game for the Mules, who lost in overtime the last time they visited Dexter. The junior scored with 6:54 left in the first quarter on a 5-yard run led by two blockers up the middle.

After a Dexter punt, Poplar Bluff's offensive line went to work again clearing holes for Ferguson and Bryant during a 10-play, 58-yard scoring drive. Ferguson put the Mules up 14-0 after a 5-yard run with 1:25 left in the quarter.

Conover recovered a fumble at Dexter's 22-yard line to set up Ferguson's third score, another 5-yard run with 9:46 left in the half.

Poplar Bluff's Dylan Janes recovered another fumble later in the second quarter, but the Mules fumbled it right back two snaps later as Dexter's Caleb Stanley ended up with it at the Poplar Bluff 15-yard line.

On fourth-and-5, Mills found Stidham just inside the right sidline in the end zone but Williams blocked the extra point to put Poplar Bluff's lead at 20-6 at halftime.

Poplar Bluff's defense forced a three-and-out on the first possession of the second half and the Mules scored two plays later when quarterback Todd Bullington faked a handoff to the fullback and pitched it to Ferguson, who went 54 yards down the right sideline for his fourth touchdown.

Williams blocked Dexter's punt at the Bearcats' own 5-yard line and Bryant finished the job with a 5-yard run on the next snap for a 32-6 lead.

The Mules added another touchdown in the third quarter following an interception by safety Ben Knuckles. Eight plays and 53 yards later, Conover punched it in from 1 yard for a 38-6 advantage.

Dexter scored with 10:07 left in the fourth quarter when Hessling finished a six-play, 35-yard scoring drive following Poplar Bluff's second fumble. Austin Mace recovered the ball for the Bearcats, who were stopped at the goal line as time expired to end the game.