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.

Bluff 19, Festus 14

Posted Thursday, November 5, 2009, at 1:22 AM

FESTUS -- A special teams play kept Poplar Bluff's special season alive Wednesday night.

Nick Shrum blocked a punt and Jake Smith fell on the ball in the end zone to give the Mules the lead with 9:41 remaining in the MSHSAA Class 4 regional playoff. Poplar Bluff stopped a pair of Festus drives after that for a 19-14 win, setting up a rematch with unbeaten Sikeston.

It was the first playoff win for Poplar Bluff since 1993 when the Mules reached the quarterfinals.

The Mules (8-3) will travel to 11-0 Sikeston for a playoff at 7 p.m. Monday with the winner advancing to the quarterfinals. Tickets will go onsale at both high schools starting Thursday afternoon, Poplar Bluff Athletic Director Jim Brown said.

Poplar Bluff trailed 14-13 at halftime after the Tigers (6-5) got a 41-yard touchdown pass from halfback Donta Taylor to Cody Roberts with 2 seconds left in the half.

After a scoreless first quarter in which Poplar Bluff fumbled at the Festus 2-yard line, the Tigers marched 98 yards to strike first. Quarterback Shawn Crump ran untouched 12 yards up the middle with 11:54 left in the half.

The 7-0 lead lasted just 53 seconds.

Eljie Johnson, who missed the game last week with an ankle injury, ran right to the sideline and scored with a 90-yard rumble. Chance Berry's kick tied the game at 7-7.

The Mules went ahead with 5:48 left in the half on Johnson's 32-yard run. Festus, however, blocked the extra-point attempt as the Mules led 13-7.

Poplar Bluff missed another opportunity in the red zone after Kerey Smith's interception when Zach McAnulty's pass was picked off at the 1-yard line. The Tigers avoided a safety twice and was forced to punt from their own end zone.

Festus forced a three-and-punt with a minute left in the half and, after a 23-yard run by Crump, the Tigers took a shot at the end zone with 2 seconds left.

The teams combined for three first downs in the third quarter as Festus started winning the field-position battle. The Tigers started a drive at Poplar Bluff's 44 midway through the quarter, but a fumbled snap on fourth down ended the drive at the 21.

The Mules answered with a 10-yard pass from McAnulty to Jake Smith on third down and later got a 26-yard run by Zach Ferguson to flip the field at the end of the third. A fumbled snap on third-and-3 at the 19 and a penalty on fourth down forced a punt.

Poplar Bluff's David Lewis hit running back Jordan Ruffin for a 7-yard loss on second down and after an incomplete pass, the Tigers were forced to punt from their own 11. Shrum got through the right side and the ball hit the junior square in the gut, rolling into the end zone where Jake Smith fell on it for a touchdown.

A two-point try failed and the Mules led 19-14 with 9:41 remaining.

Greg Coble then broke Poplar Bluff's career interception record when he picked off a pass at his own 16. The Mules were forced to punt with 5:11 left after a penalty wiped out a touchdown catch by Coble.

Festus put together a drive starting at its own 25, converting a third down with a 31-yard pass by Crump to Cody Roberts. On second-and-10 at the Mules' 30, Poplar Bluff's Josh Freeman got a sack and the Mules got the ball back after consecutive incomplete passes with 1:36 left.

The Mules ran out the clock after that to advance.

Ferguson ran 21 times for 212 yards, missing a few plays in the fourth quarter with a shoulder stinger but later returned. Johnson had 10 carries for 202 yards while Pete Bryant added 11 yards on two carries. McAnulty completed 2-of-8 passes for 22 yards, one to Johnson for 12 yards and another to Jake Smith for 10 yards.

Crump ran for 79 yards on 25 carries and threw for 96 yards on 5-of-18 attempts. Roberts caught four passes for 123 yards.

The Mules fumbled six times but lost just one and finished with 401 total yards.

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Brian,

I value your opinion as a sports journalist, and I would love to hear your thoughts on the rematch between Bluff and Sikeston. From my perspective, Sikeston is the more athletic team top to bottom; featuring an offensive attack with multiple, effective ball carriers as well as an above average and improving passing game. The defense has been more than sound all year. Despite the fact that Sikeston won 28-0 at Bluff a few weeks ago, I believe the score does not reflect the tight nature of the contest. The game was close (14-0) as I recall heading into the 4th quarter until Sikeston's big backs were finally able to start wearing down the Bluff defense.

Even though this game is in Sikeston, I think Bluff has a few advantages: 1) they've been in tough contests (Farmington and Festus) and found a way to win. Sikeston has yet to be challenged. If they find themselves behind in the 2nd half, how will they respond? Bluff will have the opportunity to review film from the last contest and four days to remedy the deficiencies from the last game.

On paper, Sikeston is the better team, but this Bluff team will come in with revenge on their mind, looking to show that the last game was a "fluke". I could definitely see Bluff pulling off the upset, but I could also see Sikeston, with its wealth of athletes getting the repeat win and heading to the quarterfinals.

What are your thoughts?

-- Posted by Cully Bryant on Wed, Nov 4, 2009, at 11:32 PM

Brian Rosener's response:
My thoughts are (1) I can't wait until Monday night and (2) don't miss this game.
I would assume the game will be a little better this time, but I'm still going with the Bulldogs.

-- Posted by FarmBoy06 on Thu, Nov 5, 2009, at 9:55 AM
I think last time, Poplar Bluff ran into a problem where for about five series in a row, Sikeston's defense kept them pinned deep in their own end, forcing them to punt - giving Sikeston the ball back at midfield or inside PB territory. Eventually, unable to "flip" the field, Bluff gave up a score allowing Sikeston to go up by 2 scores. From there, Sikeston's defense was able to contain Bluff and preserve the win.

If Bluff had been able to scratch out a few first downs and change the field position situation, the game could have been different.

Sikeston looked better on kickoff and punt return last night than its looked all year and their defense was stifling. Both teams are evidently healthy.

Both teams will need to play their best game of the year. These are two senior heavy teams who know how to play the game. Like most games, mistakes (turnovers and penalties) will be huge in this one.

-- Posted by Cully Bryant on Thu, Nov 5, 2009, at 10:04 AM
So...football monkey...Sikeston wasn't "challenged" when the played Bluff last time? If you are saying they haven't been "challenged" all year, then you are saying that Bluff was no competition for them the 1st time. Did you also forget that Sikeston played Farmington as well?

-- Posted by sportsfanatic on Thu, Nov 5, 2009, at 10:05 AM
I agree with you sportsfanatic. Sikeston and Bluff have had some common opponents like Farmington, New Madrid, and others. To say that Sikeston wasn't challenged against a team that Bluff was challenged against really says that Sikeston is probably the better team since the game was apparently easier for them. I agree that Bluff did very well at containing the Bulldogs for most of their first game, but Sikeston just has too many weapons.

-- Posted by Boss Man on Thu, Nov 5, 2009, at 10:48 AM
sportsfanatic,

I am in no way saying Poplar Bluff wasn't a challenge. Poplar Bluff was a huge challenge and a very tough game. Did you not read the first paragraph where I comment on what a tight contest the game was? How the final score was not indicative of the actual closeness of the game? What I am saying is that Sikeson has not had that "gut check" game - a game where they have had to figure out a way to win - a game in which they have trailed and had to come from behind. Sikeston was unquestionably challenged by Bluff, and challenged mightily. Bluff, on the other hand, has had to figure out a way to win some tough contests, and for the most part, they have.

If you are trying to suggest that I am implying that Bluff was not a challenge, you are dead wrong, and if you read my whole post carefully, I think that will be clear. Poplar Bluff offers unique problems for Sikeston, and Bluff has an outstanding chance to win this rematch.

-- Posted by Cully Bryant on Thu, Nov 5, 2009, at 10:48 AM
"What I am saying is that Sikeson has not had that "gut check" game - a game where they have had to figure out a way to win - a game in which they have trailed and had to come from behind."

Maybe they haven't needed a "gut-check" game because they don't put themselves in that position to have to come from behind to win. Not trying to argue, just saying.

I do think this will be a different game this time around though. Should be a good one!!

-- Posted by sportsfanatic on Thu, Nov 5, 2009, at 12:20 PM
Defy-

Those four or five plays would all have to be touchdowns if that was all they needed to win the game.

You can not win any game if you don't score points. How can you bluff people make excuses about how you played, when the bottom line is you didn't score a single point and got beat by 4 touchdowns.

-- Posted by HeHateMeToo on Thu, Nov 5, 2009, at 2:33 PM
In the first game, you had no passing attack at all and your fine running back was needing 33 yards to break an all time record and he only picked up 22. Looks to me like that anything you do would have to be an improvement, but will it be enough.

-- Posted by lastride67 on Thu, Nov 5, 2009, at 4:36 PM
Defy, you keep saying that the Bulldogs play excellent but that Bluff has no heart. I gotta say that that is total crap. You're saying that your guys didn't have the heart or the drive the first time the teams met up. Do you think heart is worth 28 points? I'll tell you what is and that is a good gameplan which the 'Dogs had in the first meeting. There's no way that Bluff just decided to not try and that is why they lost. Would the players on the Mule team like that you are saying they didn't care about the game against Sikeston? Probably not.

-- Posted by s-town4292 on Thu, Nov 5, 2009, at 11:07 PM
im just throwin this out here but have any yall noticed that we only lost on non-school days. NMCC and Hannible was on a Sat. and Sikeston was on a vaca day. this game is on a school day. better watch out :)

-- Posted by mule76 on Sat, Nov 7, 2009, at 10:56 PM
"7 year seniors and 25 year old players"

What on earth does that mean?

-- Posted by semohoops on Mon, Nov 9, 2009, at 8:34 AM

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