Mules show grit and potential in jamboree tune-up

The Poplar Bluff Mules got their first dose of high school football this past Friday.

The Mules went head-to-head against three other teams in the Festus Football Jamboree as a tune-up to kick off the season. The jamboree gave the Mules the chance to participate in a live-action contest to see where they stood before the ball snapped on Friday.

“Everything went pretty well for our first time out,” Mannon said. “We were able to rotate a lot of guys, and it gave us a chance to see what we had and what areas we must work on. I thought the team showed great effort and enthusiasm, which was great because we’re still trying to build the culture back up to the point where kids are excited about playing football.”

Mannon said defensively that the team could've utilized their starters more, but it was a great chance to allow more players on the field to gain some more experience. Offensively, he said the Mules moved the ball well and did a great job with execution. With it only being a jamboree, Mannon wanted to focus on sticking to their base plan for their week one opponent. Overall, he said the team did well on what they needed to do, and they will be ready for opening night.

In a few trips up and down the field against Farmington, Seckman, and Festus, the Mules collected 212 yards, which were comprised of 143 yards rushing and 69 yards passing. Senior quarterback Jay Edmundson threw 7/15 with one touchdown and an interception while running back Caden Jenkins collected 53 yards with one touchdown.

Though it wasn’t Mannon’s first official game as the head coach, he said seeing everyone on the field was a good feeling. In order to stay well-balanced as the Mules’ new leader, he has done a lot of pre-planning to stay one step ahead of everything that’s on his plate.

“The jamboree was sort of a dress rehearsal for us,” Mannon said. “I’ve already made a list of first-year coaching things that I try to keep tabs on. I’m not really stressed out about this being my first year. I want everyone to remain positive and make sure we are where we need to be. So far, the kids are having a good time, the coaches are enjoying it, and most of them are just as excited as I am to start the season.”

With only a few short days until the Mules open their season at home against Valley View High School, Mannon wants the team to remain focused on the task they have in front of them and try to improve one snap at a time.

“Our top priority is to take care of the basics and execution,” he said. “We're working on blocking, tackling, and lining up, which are small things that can turn into big problems, so we have to clean that up. We’re just taking it one week at a time. We have our game plan set up for Valley View, and hopefully, that works out pretty well.”