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Mules strike fast at Kennett
KENNETT — The Poplar Bluff football Mules picked up their third win of the varsity football season with a dominating 39-0 road victory over the Kennett Indians at Metz Cherry Stadium.
The Mules improved their season record to 3-5, while the Indians dropped to 0-8.
“The kids played a pretty good game tonight,” said Mules head coach Jeff Mannon. “They did a good job of executing, and I’m proud of the way they played.”
Mannon was especially pleased with the shutout performance from his defense.
“We did a good job to execute what we’ve been working on the last few weeks on defense,” he said. “We’re just lining up and playing and doing our job.”
Poplar Bluff wasted no time in taking the lead, taking the opening kickoff and driving downfield for a 19-yard touchdown pass from Mules quarterback Jay Edmundson to wide receiver Hunter Clifford for a 7-0 advantage.
The Mules defense intercepted Kennett quarterback Ty Jones on the Indians’ first possession and took over at the Kennett 41-yard line.
Edmundson soon connected for another touchdown, this time a 29-yard strike to Xzavir Jones, putting the Mules up 14-0.
Kennett punted on its next series, which then led to another Mules touchdown, this time a one-yard run by Caden Jenkins to extend their lead to 21-0.
A partially blocked Kennett punt gave Poplar Bluff the ball at the Kennett 11-yard line, and Jones took the first snap across the goal line. The PAT was blocked, however, and the Mules led 27-0.
Kennett could not move the ball in the first quarter, failing to earn a single first down. Their next punt was received by Devin Ferguson, who weaved 40 yards through traffic down the near sideline for the Mules fifth touchdown. The PAT was wide left, and Poplar Bluff led 33-0.
Thanks to the size of their lead, Poplar Bluff rotated in several backup players toward the end of the first half and all of the second half.
“We started rolling some guys in the first half, so plenty of guys got on the field,” Mannon said. “I think we played a pretty good game overall.”
Kennett finally moved the chains early in the second quarter, but then fumbled the ball away on its next play. Two plays later, Jones ran 38 yards for touchdown number six. A two-point conversion failed, and Poplar Bluff led 39-0 at halftime.
Thanks to a Poplar Bluff facemask penalty early in the third quarter, Kennett made two first downs and drove the ball into Mules territory for the first time in the game, but the Indians eventually turned the ball over on downs.
Poplar Bluff, now led by sophomore quarterback Gage Earnhart as Edmundson and most of the starters were allowed to rest, was unable to make a first down, and a Mules punt ended the third quarter, which was running on a continuous clock due to the score.
Mules cornerback Jay’Lynn Chavers intercepted a deep pass from Jones to end Kennett’s first fourth quarter drive, but the offense couldn’t advance the ball.
Kennett fumbled on its last possession with 1:43 remaining in the game, and the Mules ran out the clock.
Poplar Bluff will end the regular season on the road next Friday at Hillsboro (4-4), who lost this week at Chaminade 62-35. The Mules beat Chaminade 14-12 in week two earlier this year.