Poplar Bluff quarterback Todd Bullington, left, hands off to Zach Ferguson during the first quarter Friday night at New Madrid. (Brian Rosener/DAR)

By BRIAN ROSENER ~ DAR Sports Editor

In the season-opening win Friday, Poplar Bluff's defense helped out the offensive unit with turnovers and good field position. This week when the Mules travel to Union, it will be up to the offense to help play some defense.

Facing an offense that averaged 545 total yards and 49.2 points per game last year, the Mules want to keep the Wildcats and quarterback Jordan Webb off the field for as long as possible Friday night.

"I think the key is try to keep the ball in our own hands," Mules coach Shane Kearbey said.

If Webb gets his hands on the ball, look out.

Last year as a junior, the Kansas-bound QB threw for 4,279 yards by competing 63.5 percent of his passes. He had 55 touchdowns to only six interceptions and was named the Class 4 Offensive Player of the Year by the coaches' association.

"This kid gets your attention right away on film because he just puts the ball right where it needs to be and doesn't make a mistake," Kearbey said. "Kansas is very fortunate, I think, to get this kid."

The 6-foot-1, 223-pound Webb also has wheels. He ran for 633 yards and 11 touchdowns last year and scored all three touchdowns with runs of 37, 2 and 24 yards in the opener last week.

Union's no-huddle spread offense managed 313 total yards in a 21-7 win against Rockwood Summit.

"We were OK offensively last week," Union coach Brent Eckley said. "Nothing to write home about."

In contrast, the Mules (1-0) scored more points (26) with fewer total yards (198) thanks to four turnovers forced by Poplar Bluff's defense. The key stat for the Mules this week will be time of possession.

"I think we're going to be seriously challenged in this game with the offense that we'll see from Poplar Bluff," Eckley said. "With what they do well, it's definitely going to be a test for our defense."

Union's defense held Summit to a first-quarter score and 196 total yards last week but last season the Wildcats gave up an average of 30.9 points per game with both losses coming in shootouts, 65-40 and a 57-56 overtime loss in the playoffs to Ozark.

A high-scoring game Friday night would be just fine with the Wildcats, but Eckley is not sure that will be the case.

"I think they're going to play good, sound defense," he said. "I do anticipate us being better on offense than what we were last week. I expect us to execute a little bit better; we just don't know what we're going to see defensively."

Union, which returns all but two starters on offense from a team that finished 9-2, had 11 dropped passes in the opener, Eckley said.

Malcolm Stanley (5-11, 179, sr.) is the leading returning receiver after catching 62 passes for 1,065 yards. He was third on the team in receiving yards last year and caught four passes for 96 yards last week. Isaac Purnell (5-10, 172, sr.) had seven catches for 93 yards last week and is one of two new starters along with Andrew Bromet (6-0, 162, sr.)

Running back Adam Amato (5-1, 164, sr.) ran for 721 yards last year but is also one of Webb's many targets. Webb is protected by a line that averages 243.6 pounds but Kearbey said the quarterback is smart enough to give himself a little extra time in the pocket.

"The key for us is getting pressure on him," Kearbey added. "Our secondary is good but if we're not getting pressure on the quarterback, it's really handcuffing the secondary."

Ben Knuckles got Poplar Bluff's first interception last week, his third career pickoff, while Greg Coble has four career interceptions. Cornerbacks Kerey Smith and Zach Ferugson, who had one interception last year, along with linebackers Colby Geringer and Caleb Conover will be tested often Friday.

"This week we're really going to find out what these guys are made of because I really do believe that they're athletic enough and gifted enough to go up there and pose problems for Union," Kearbey said. "They need to bring their 'A' game because this guy is an 'A' player."