Poplar Bluff's Zach Ferguson (33) runs across the 50-yard line as Dexter safety Jake Cox (1) attempts the tackle Friday night in Dexter. (Brian Rosener/DAR)

By BRIAN ROSENER ~ DAR Sports Editor

DEXTER -- With a big smile and plenty of the family business stuck in his facemask and on his jersey, Poplar Bluff senior Austin Williams soaked up the Mules' 38-13 win Friday night.

"It feels great," said Williams, whose family runs a sod farm. "I hate nothing more than losing. I'm ready to get this season rolling like it should."

Poplar Bluff's offense got rolling early, scoring on their first three possessions as the Mules (2-2) staked a 20-0 lead won on a night that featured plenty of rain and mud.

Williams, who blocked a punt and a point-after kick, made big hits and was one of eight ball carries as Poplar Bluff churned up 280 yards led by junior Zach Ferguson's 186.

"We thought it was time we tried to develop an attitude with our football team," Mules coach Shane Kearbey said. "We tried to pin our ears back and let our guys try to make plays."

Ferguson scored four times, three on 5-yard runs in the first half and on a 54-yard run early in the third quarter, taking the handoff on the first 11 snaps of the game during a 65-yard scoring drive that put the Mules ahead for good.

Pete Bryant, who ran for 58 yards on 17 carries, added a 5-yard touchdown run in the third quarter after Williams blocked a punt deep in Dexter's territory.

Caleb Conover scored his first career touchdown with a 1-yard run later in a quarter after fellow senior Ben Knuckles intercepted a pass. The drive started with a 23-yard run by Williams on his first career varsity carry filling in for injured starter Aaron Ellis.

"It's just nice to see all facets of the game tonight starting to form together and starting to gel," Kearbey said. "It was a good step for us in the right direction to prepare ourselves for that district time."

The Bearcats, 0-4 for the first time since 1994, got 115 yards rushing from Nick Hessling and 129 yards passing from quarterback Ben Mills but gave up 38 points for the fourth straight game.

"Poplar Bluff is a little more physical than us, obviously, and it showed," Dexter coach Aaron Pixley said. "On this surface right here, the most physical team is going to win."

Dexter quarterback Ben Mills runs upfield as Poplar Bluff's Ethan Hollins (75) and Percy Garcia (67) pursue from behind. (Alex Abate/DAR) [Click to enlarge]

Dexter couldn't stop the Mules until Caleb Stanley recovered a fumbled pitch midway through the second quarter. The Bearcats scored four plays later but needed to convert a fourth down pass by Mills to Brent Stidham, who caught the ball as he fell out of the end zone.

Hessling finished a 35-yard drive in the fourth quarter with a 10-yard touchdown run after Austin Mace forced a fumble, but the game ended with the Mules stopping Dexter at the goal line.

The night started with heavy rains and lots of runs by Ferguson. The junior finished with his second-highest career game total of rushing yards and touchdowns, a week after running for 142 yards. Unlike the previous three weeks, Poplar Bluff was able to run between the tackles.

"It's a heck of a lot easier calling a game when you can get that inside run game going because that opens up everything," Kearbey said.

Poplar Bluff quarterback Todd Bullington only attempted four passes, including a spike to stop the clock at the end of the half, but the combination of Ferguson and Bryant kept moving the ball for the most part.

"They're a good combination," Kearbey said. "We had a couple of different fullbacks in there that gave us a little brute-type of player out there (as well)."

Poplar Bluff led 20-6 at halftime before scoring twice in the span of 1:43 in the third quarter after forcing Dexter to punt on the opening possession of the second half.

Bullington faked a handoff to the fullback and hit Ferguson with an option play so good, the junior back went 54 yards down the right sideline nearly untouched for a 26-6 lead. Bryant later scored with 8:04 left in the third quarter following the blocked punt to put the Mules ahead 36-6.

"Anytime you can get something happening on special teams you're chances of winning are greatly increased," Kearbey said. "We kind of thought we could get to their punt and our guys got after it."

Notes: The last time the two teams met in Dexter, the game was postponed until Saturday because of lightning in 2006. The Mules led 7-0 when the game was stopped but lost 10-7 in overtime. … Mills completed 10-of-18 passes, hitting Hessling three times for 46 yards and Stanley three times for 30 yards. … Ethan Hollins and Michael Penney each recorded a sack for the Mules. … Five point-after attempts were unsuccessful as each team blocked a kick and the Mules had a two-point try stopped. … Dexter converted just 1-of-11 third downs and was 3-for-7 on fourth down. Meanwhile, the Mules were 6-of-11 on third down and 2-for-2 on fourth-down tries. … The last time Poplar Bluff didn't have a passing yard, the Mules won at Sikeston in 2006 in a game also played in the rain. … The Mules host North County for homecoming Friday while Dexter travels to Malden.