Plant and Drive: Poplar Bluff defense eager to take the field

Connor Stevens, then junior, hypes up the Poplar Bluff Mules football team during their first game last season.

DAR/D’Courtland Christian

For the next campaign, the Poplar Bluff football team will welcome back a few key defensive seniors to Mules Stadium, and they can’t wait to take the field with some new faces and a new coaching staff.

Before the start of the sports dead period, the Mules had the chance to do a light scrimmage for some live reps and senior Connor Stevens couldn’t be more eager to get back to the action on the football field.

Stevens noted that even though the Mules still have some work to do before they are prepared to play Valley View of Jonesboro, Arkansas in their game opener, the environment is very different this year and he feels more focused than before.

“Being back on the field just feels awesome,” Stevens said. “There’s a new culture and energy surrounding the entire team, and I can really feel it. It feels really great to be back out here with the guys and start working. Though we have some new faces out here, everyone has been locking in a little bit extra hard, staying after practice and even putting in work over the weekend, so I can really see everyone’s dedication to this team.”

Last season, Stevens received All-Region and Academic All-State honors and played a solid role on the defensive side for the Mules. He collected 41 tackles, one fumble and an interception with a few sacks.

As Stevens prepares for the opening snap, he said his main goal is getting everyone on the same page and believes that the rest will take care of itself.

“There were a lot of new changes during the offseason, and we want to be one on the field,” Stevens said. “I really just want us all to come together, so my goal is to try and lead everyone and make sure that we all are doing good and working hard as a unit.”

When it comes to having a defensive presence on the field, the Mules won’t be lacking in that area as they will also be returning All-Region, All-District, All-Conference and Academic All-State defensive-end and right tackle, senior Lincoln Warren.

Warren finished second in tackles for the Mules with 53 last season. Since stepping back onto the field, he expressed excitement about returning to the field after a six-month absence and praised the new coaches for improving the intensity within the team.

“We’ve really been meshing so far,” Warren said. “The intensity and focus and just way up this year. Compared to last season, I can just tell and feel that our camaraderie is way better than it’s ever been.”

Warren said his main focus during the offseason was getting his body right and eating properly. He’s been hitting the weights extra hard this summer and is excited to see what the Mules can do once the ball kicks off in a few weeks.