Bluff-Jackson football

UPDATE: The Mules will not have RB Pete Bryant for tonight's game. All coach said was "no Petey."

With four football teams a combined 7-20 on the season and none with more than three wins, District 1 might just be redemption central in Class 5.

The race for the playoffs starts tonight.

"That's what can define you as a football team," Poplar Bluff coach Shane Kearbey said.

The Mules (1-6) open with a trip to SEMO North rival Jackson (2-5) with a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday night.

It's been a long, strange season for Poplar Bluff, which advanced to the Class 4 playoffs last year as the district runner-up. The Mules have lost five straight by a combined score of 257-39. Plagued with injuries before the season even kicked off, Kearbey has pointed his team toward district play all along.

"We know that's when the money games start, that's what gets you into the playoffs and that's what's important," Kearbey said.

All four teams of the district have been outscored by wide margins this season -- Jackson (143-243), Summit (167-218), Seckman (60-234) and the Mules (85-323) -- but all play tough schedules either in the SEMO North or Suburban South conferences.

"I believe it is wide open and our kids understand that too," Kearbey said. "They know that we've played a heck of a tough schedule, we're playing people that are ranked about every week."

The Mules will have seven new starters this week after losing four players with injuries in a loss Friday to Cape Central. Two-way starters Josh Freeman, Nick Shrum and Dustin Hibler all suffered knee injuries while William Whitfield suffered a broken leg.

Sophomore Kortez Ellis will get his first varsity start at quarterback with Jeff Rowland as the backup, Kearbey said.

Poplar Bluff will also move offensive lineman Kyle Nelson to the backfield requiring a number change.

You can read more about the game here.

Here's the first-week matchups for tonight:

Class 5 District 1

Poplar Bluff at Jackson, 7 p.m.

Rockwood Summit vs. Seckman, 7 p.m.

Class 4 District 1

Cape Central at Farmington, 7 p.m.

Perryville at Sikeston, 7 p.m.

Class 3 District 1

Kennett at Dexter, 7 p.m.

Fredericktown at New Madrid Central, 7 p.m.

Class 3 District 2

Kennedy at Park Hills Central, 7 p.m.

Ste. Genevieve at Lutheran South, 7 p.m.

Class 2 District 1

Malden at Caruthersville, 7 p.m.

East Prairie at Charleston, 7 p.m.

Class 2 District 2

Scott City at Herculaneum, 7 p.m.

St. Pius X-Festus at Crystal City, 7 p.m.

Class 1 District 1

Cabool at Portageville, 7 p.m.

Thayer at Hayti, 7 p.m.

Class 1 District 2

Chaffee at St. Vincent, 7 p.m.

Valle Catholic at Cleveland, 7 p.m.