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.

LIVE from Morrow Stadium, Sikeston vs. Poplar Bluff

Posted Friday, September 17, 2010, at 6:47 PM

No room for the press in the pressbox tonight so I'll provide updates at Twitter and Facebook.

The Poplar Bluff Mules (1-2) host the Sikeston Bulldogs (3-0) at 7 p.m. tonight at Morrow Stadium in a SEMO North Conference game.

I'll provide updates here during the game as well as on Twitter and Facebook.

Here's a look at five storylines to watch tonight:

* Can the Mules stop Sikeston QB Trey Lewis? The senior is averaging 226 total yards a game. Poplar Bluff "held" New Madrid Central's G'Darius Stevenson to two TDs and 204 yards in Week 2 but Sikeston's front line averages 226 pounds and returns three linemen.

* Will the fifth-ranked Bulldogs pitch a shutout? Poplar Bluff is coming off a shutout loss to Savannah last week while Sikeston kept Dexter off the scoreboard. In the first of two meetings last year, Sikeston held Poplar Bluff's record-breaking offense scoreless.

* Can the Mules get going on first downs? Poplar Bluff's offense has gone three-and-punt 13 times in 36 drives this season and have only converted 5-of-25 third downs. One reason has been a rough start on first down in which the Mules have been hit for a loss or gained no yards nearly 40 percent of the time.

* Can the Bulldogs bottle up Bryant? Pete Bryant ran for 266 yards against New Madrid Central but was held to 64 yards last week. The senior has accounted for half of Poplar Bluff's total offense this season. Bryant needs 115 yards to reach 1,000 for his career.

* Who will have more tackles, Poplar Bluff's Eric Ramos or Sikeston's Ray Clark? Ramos has 30 in the last two games while Clark, an all-state linebacker, leads with 34. Having your free safety leading the team in tackles is not a good sign for the Mules, who were led last year by linebacker Josh Freeman.

If you go, local veterans will be honored before the game. There will be a parade starting about 6:15 p.m. with the Sho-Me Marching Band and the Reserve Officers Training Corps escorting the vets.

Interesting note about Poplar Bluff's game last week here.

Also happy birthday to my father, Gary, who was born in the last year in which Poplar Bluff and Sikeston did not play each other.

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Ray Clark also has been playing a little bit of offense this year. I hear if he gets the ball some tonight, Ramos might as well kiss those tackles goodbye.

-- Posted by CL on Fri, Sep 17, 2010, at 12:04 PM
another Sikeston Blowout...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

-- Posted by RedShirt on Fri, Sep 17, 2010, at 1:24 PM
Dont forget to watch # 64 Treston Pulley. The other inside backer has been a wrecking crew all by himself this early 2010 fall. 6 ft tall and about 200, he brings a load, and only knows one speed...wide open ......and just when you think you cut back on Treston, Mr Ray Clark will "introduce himself" as well. NO mater what, Bluff and Sikeston is always a hard htting game.

Best of luck to both squads.

-- Posted by Headhunt on Fri, Sep 17, 2010, at 1:29 PM
They "held" G'darius Stevenson to 240 rushing yards not 204.

-- Posted by BuckMajor on Fri, Sep 17, 2010, at 1:58 PM

Brian Rosener
I had him for 204. Not 240 that night.
Thought PB qb was a gammer. Playing both offense and defense seemed to be making or in on every tackle. As for there running back, think he might have let up after being racked a few times. He started having cramps which is a little rare in forth game of season and a cool night. PB will have a hard time getting a win the rest of season.

-- Posted by lastride67 on Sat, Sep 18, 2010, at 11:36 AM

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