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Mules tune up in debut scrimmage
Fans of the Poplar Bluff Mules football team are eager for the upcoming season of Southeast Missouri’s version of “Friday Night Lights.”
This hunger for high school football was evident last Saturday as parents, students, and community supporters filled the north side bleachers about 75% full at Mules Stadium.
What they came to see wasn’t even a game, but the crowd was pleased nonetheless.
New Mules head football coach Jeff Mannon brought out his entire squad — varsity, junior varsity, and freshman — for a controlled scrimmage that simulated certain game time situations to test the progress of both the offense and defense.
Varsity and jayvee wore either white or maroon jerseys, while the freshman squad wore gray uniforms.
Quarterback Jay Edmundson was one of the standout players of the evening, leading the white team on several scoring drives that featured a combination of running and passing plays.
It’s difficult to judge the quality of play in general, as both offensive and defensive coaching staffs were on the field, and many of the qualities of actual game play were not present.
The emphasis on both sides of the ball appeared to be execution and positioning — players knowing what their role on the field is and carrying that out in a variety of different situations.
Because the white team had success moving the ball into the red zone, the maroon team defense experienced a number of goal-line plays.
They succeeded in keeping the white team out on a couple of occasions, but the white team scored their touchdowns as well.
The scrimmage also featured referees, and while there was no outcome to be involved in, they did call a holding penalty that negated an exciting 45-yard touchdown run.
This experience, however, is crucial for success in the regular season, something that everyone in the stadium on Saturday night is hoping for.