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.

Sikeston 28, Bluff 0

Posted Friday, October 23, 2009, at 11:02 PM

POPLAR BLUFF -- Sikeston clinched its first district title since 1995 and won a share of the SEMO North Conference with a 28-0 win Friday night at Poplar Bluff.

Sikeston improved to 9-0 and ended up earning the district title when West Plains beat Farmington. The Bulldogs can wrap up the conference title by beating Farmington.

The Mules (6-3) will face West Plains on Thursday with the winner advancing as the district runner up.

Eli Jackson had 109 yards rushing and a touchdown for the Bulldogs while Jarian Wims added 106 more and a score. Quarterback Juqualin Wiggins ran for 88 yards and threw for 84 more on 8-of-13 passes. He ran for a 7-yard touchdown and threw for a 7-yard score as the Bulldogs used 79 plays to gain nearly 400 yards and keep the ball away from the Mules for over 32 minutes.

Poplar Bluff senior Zach Ferguson ended the night 9 yards shy of breaking the career rushing record, running 10 times for 24 yards. Eljie Johnson, who already reached 1,000 yards for the season, was held to 28 yards on nine attempts. The Mules gained a season-low 136 yards and turned the ball over four times.

After a scoreless first quarter in which the Mules made a goal-line stand after turning the ball over at their own 1-yard line, Sikeston scored with 4:34 left in the half. Wiggins hit Jordan Williams for a 7-yard touchdown pass and the Bulldogs took a 6-0 lead into halftime.

The Mules forced two turnovers in the third quarter but couldn't pick up a first down. Sikeston's Tyler Combs recovered a fumble at the Poplar Bluff 18-yard line. After converting a third-and-8 on a reverse by Trey Lewis, Wims leaped over the left guard for a 3-yard touchdown with 3 seconds left. Wiggins ran in a two-point try for a 14-0 lead.

Trying to come back from a two-touchdown deficit in the fourth quarter for the second straight week, the Mules put together a 59-yard drive to the Sikeston 10. But on second down, Johnson's run to the 1-yard line was wiped out by a chop-block penalty. Zach McAnulty's pass on fourth down was broken up in the end zone by Niquavious Dixon with just under 9 minutes to play.

Sikeston put together a 10-play, 82-yard scoring drive to go up 22-0. Jackson scored on a 4-yard run with 4:35 to go and the Bulldogs got the ball back 10 seconds later on an interception by Wiggins.

The Bulldogs finished the game with a 10-play, 66-yard scoring drive finished by Wiggins' 7-yard run with 58 seconds left.

The Bulldog defense shutout their fifth opponent of the season and have given up just six points in the last three games.

It was the first time Poplar Bluff was shutout since 2005. The Mules came into the game averaging 39 points and 463 yards per game.

Poplar Bluff's defense made a key stop early in the game after the Mules fumbled a backward pass inside their own 5. Kyle Valentine pounced on the ball at the 1 but the Bulldogs fumbled the next snap for a 3-yard loss. After an incomplete pass on second down, Wiggins was hit for a 1-yard loss on third down before getting stopped by Ward Watts and David Lewis for no gain on fourth-and-goal at the 5.

The Mules also stopped Sikeston at the Poplar Bluff 25 early in the second quarter and the half ended with Greg Coble's interception in his own end zone. Coble had another interception, his 10th career pick, in the third quarter to tie the school record.

Sikeston punted just once on its first possession of the game and its average starting field position was the 50-yard line.

West Plains beat Farmington 21-14 to force a winner-take-all battle Thursday with visiting Poplar Bluff for the final playoff spot in the district. It also clinched the district title for Sikeston, which beat the Zizzers last week. Even if the Bulldogs lose to Farmington, they're the district champs based on the tiebreaker wins over either Poplar Bluff or West Plains. Sikeston will host the District 2 runner-up Nov. 4.

Comments

View 23 comments

Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.

I bet that a bunch of PB fans will not eat some crow after this but, what a game for the Dawgs! I do not think I HAVE SEEN A SIKESTON DEFENSE LIKE THIS SINCE 1995 District Champs! Guys flying to the ball and sticking some people here and there! We have to finally earn some Respect... We beat a good team and controlled them with our Defense. PB who averaged 4oo plus yards per game were held to 136 total yards. THAT IS PRETTY SALTY! On to Thursday and beat those Knights!

-- Posted by Haterade on Sat, Oct 24, 2009, at 12:29 AM
Also the tailgating was fun and wish I would not have been out there all day by myself!!!

GO DAWGS!!!!!!!

-- Posted by Haterade on Sat, Oct 24, 2009, at 12:30 AM
Sikeston d is the real deal I will be the first to come on here and eat some crow, to hold us to 0 points is really an awesome job I would have lost alot of money if somebody would have wanted to bet me they would shut us out.

-- Posted by BIGELW on Sat, Oct 24, 2009, at 7:15 AM
Where's kidrayray? LOL..J/K!

-- Posted by sportsfanatic on Sat, Oct 24, 2009, at 8:43 AM
I would love to hear some analysis. Just how good is Sikeston's first team defense? I ran some numbers last night and here is what I came up with:

1. As a TEAM, Sikeston has given up 44 points all season.

2. 6 of those points came on an interception return in the Cape game (NOT a score against the defense) that leaves 38 points against the first team defense

3. New Madrid's second score, West Plains lone score and Fredericktown's last score were all against Sikeston's JV defense - that leaves 19 points.

4. Therefore, Sikeston's first team defense has given up a grand total of 19 points all season. Six on a 70 yard run by G'darius Stevenson and 13 to Fredericktown after turnovers very deep in Sikeston's end.

These numbers are amazing. First team giving up only 19 points...6 on one big play and 13 on very short field after turnovers. And now to completely shut down two very good backs and a potent offense in Poplar Bluff. I ask again, How good is this defense? Now that Sikeston is in the playoffs, can this defense keep them in games against tougher opponents as they (hopefully) advance in the playoffs?

-- Posted by pigdog on Sat, Oct 24, 2009, at 9:21 AM
As a Sikeston fan, I am not going to get on here and beat up the PB team or fans because we are very likely to play them again and any thing can happen in high school sports. However, I don't think PB has faced a D as good as our this year. I knew PB didn't have many yards on offense, but to hold them to 130 or so yards is awesome!! On another note, does anyone know why Sikeston didn't look to CJ Council's side when we passed the ball. We finally did toward the end of the game, but CJ had single coverage with no deep help all night. PB had 8 to 10 guys in the box almost every play. I am just surprised we didn't try to take advantage of that. Maybe PB's corner is the next Deion Sanders and the Sikeston coaching staff knows that. I'm not trying to be critical because we played very well. I just think that could have softened up the PB defense for our ground attack.

-- Posted by Rocket689 on Sat, Oct 24, 2009, at 9:23 AM
Rocket689,

CJ has been hobbled with an injury. He is not full speed. My suspicion is that CJ was used, perhaps a bit as a decoy more than anything. Certainly, I could be wrong, but I know CJ is hurting and has been out of the starting lineup since the Kennett game. CJ has largely been replaced by Trey Lewis and Tanner Bryant...depending on the formation we're in. Hopefully we can get a healthy CJ back for the playoff run. He is a valuable player both on offense and defense.

-- Posted by pigdog on Sat, Oct 24, 2009, at 9:50 AM
True pigdog. He has had an ankle sprain for the last few weeks. They taped it heavily last night, but you could tell on a few plays that he still had a slight limp going.

-- Posted by sportsfanatic on Sat, Oct 24, 2009, at 12:49 PM
Those are good points about Sikeston's defense pigdog. They've been doing this all year so it shouldn't be that big of a surprise. Although I'll admit I didn't think they could shutout PB. Also, great atmosphere last night at PB. That's what high school football is all about!

I need to be careful when I say this about Stevenson cause NMCC fans will think I'm blasting them. Let me start by saying he is a great player, one of the best in our area. But one thing to remember on Stevenson's long run in the NMCC game, Sikeston's defense still wasn't totally full strength that game. Wiggins wasn't playing defense on that particular play while he was nursing his injury. Treston Pulley was out for that game. Eli Jackson was out for that game. That was Sikeston's first game without Odell Thompson.

-- Posted by semohoops on Sat, Oct 24, 2009, at 2:29 PM
I think you are talking about Niquavious Dixon. He had single coverage all night.CJ is the guy that goes in motion, he is not used as a WR. Plus he did not play very much.last night

-- Posted by HeHateMeToo on Sat, Oct 24, 2009, at 2:37 PM
Hello, I think you are right. I believe it was Dixon. Either way, the point is the same. He had single coverage all night.

-- Posted by Rocket689 on Sat, Oct 24, 2009, at 8:36 PM
it was a good game. and our d held for a long time but got tired. and the refs sucked might i add. watchin film there were SO many penalties that they didnt call. but congrats to sikeston. we'll see them Nov 4th

-- Posted by mule76 on Sat, Oct 24, 2009, at 8:53 PM
mule76,

Wouldn't it be Nov 9th? Assuming both teams continue winning.

-- Posted by pigdog on Sat, Oct 24, 2009, at 9:31 PM
Always some excuse with the PB folks! LOL..If you don't like the ref's take the test and do better!

-- Posted by sportsfanatic on Sat, Oct 24, 2009, at 10:59 PM
Shouldn't Bluff fans be worried about a trip to West Plains rather than a rematch with Sikeston? There's a lot that can happen between now and then.

-- Posted by semohoops on Sun, Oct 25, 2009, at 12:51 AM
First of all CJ ran the ball 1 time in motion and was hurting after that play. So that was Dixon that was open all night and was on the side the wind was blowing to, but we kept throwing long passes againt the wind and picked once. I didnt understand that at all!

Sikeston defense is the real deal, PB is very good and they shut them down, until Sikeston was playing prevent defense towards the end of the game and allowed some long pass plays.This game could have been alot worst on the scoreboard, as Sikeston could have scored 3 more times in the first half.

-- Posted by tlks2much on Mon, Oct 26, 2009, at 8:35 AM
you are saying it could have been alot worse and they could have scored 3 more times in the first half, give pb some credit on defense we pretty much shut them out in the first half also. Sikeston has a very good defense and they just kept our offense off the field and our d on the field for way to long can't expect any team to stay on the defense that much and continue to hold a team as good as Sikeston for long

-- Posted by BIGELW on Mon, Oct 26, 2009, at 9:47 AM
I agree BIGELW. PB's D was pretty dang good Friday night and that WAS the reason that Sikeston didn't score those times.

-- Posted by sportsfanatic on Mon, Oct 26, 2009, at 11:38 AM
The initial fumble recovery at the 1-yard line was actually a touchdown. Replay on KFVS showed it was and also the webcast. The officials just didn't know what to do, whether it was a lateral or a pass. So they just did the easy thing and placed it at the 1-yard line. Sikeston then fumbled the snap. But PB's defense buckled down and held them out after that.

-- Posted by semohoops on Mon, Oct 26, 2009, at 12:38 PM
In a bizarre sort of way, as a Sikeston fan, I'm a bit pleased we DID NOT score on that series. If we had, I am afraid that in the future we may be tempted to once again call fade patterns, toss plays and the like when we are in a first and goal situation. Sikeston has a 325 pound center and a 270 pound guard. Every back in Sikeston's backfield, including the quarterback, weighs over 200 pounds. Not to mention the fact that, if appearances are accurate, it didn't appear that Poplar Bluff had a defensive lineman much over 200 pounds. If we can't run the ball between the tackles four times in a row and score in that situation...then we don't deserve to score.

-- Posted by pigdog on Mon, Oct 26, 2009, at 12:51 PM
Anybody know how many offensive plays Bluff ran against Sikeston.? And how many Sikeston ran? I heard or read the Bluff coach say he thought his D was on the field for roughly 80 + plays....I just wondered how many O plays Bluff ran ..

-- Posted by Headhunt on Tue, Oct 27, 2009, at 11:21 AM
The newspaper showed PB for 10 pass plays and 28 run plays, so I would figured about 38 plays. That's a pretty big discrepancy and probably a big reason for the shutout. PB's offense was on the sideline for most of the night. Sikeston had a great game-plan of ball control offense.

-- Posted by semohoops on Tue, Oct 27, 2009, at 12:28 PM
I agree pigdog. Pound it up the middle with the big guys and take a chance. Odds are probably better than running the spread from the goal line. But, on the flip side it's hard to question a coach who is 9-0 at this point in the season. Hopefully they get a grasp on the kicking game or 2 point conversions come playoff time.

-- Posted by sportsfanatic on Tue, Oct 27, 2009, at 4:03 PM

Respond to this blog

Posting a comment requires free registration:

If you already have an account, follow this link to login
Otherwise, follow this link to register