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Mules get sequel with Farmington to open districts
The Poplar Bluff football Mules are riding high after a 3-1 finish to the regular season into a Class 5 District 1 showdown with Farmington this Friday.
Following a 36-28 road win at Hillsboro last week, the Mules finished 4-5 on the year with a 4-1 road record. Considering the Mules went 0-4 at home, Poplar Bluff may feel more comfortable as the visitors in Farmington.
Poplar Bluff head coach Jeff Mannon said the team has been working all season to grow into this quality of play.
“Our progress has been a result of the team coming together as the season has gone on,” Mannon said. “As we cleaned up turnovers and tightened assignments, the kids gained confidence, and the win over Hillsboro last week has been huge. That momentum has been important for them as we move into the playoffs. This was the first time that senior bunch has beaten Hillsboro, so it gives them a sense of growth that they may not have acknowledged yet.”
In the past four games, the Mules offense has averaged 32.5 points, eclipsing their season average of 22.9. In contrast, the defense has improved its season average of 31.7 points surrendered to a four-game mark of 22.3 points allowed.
Mannon credits his senior class leadership for their late-season success.
“Our seniors have been the glue that holds this team together,” Mannon said. “They’ve really laid the blueprint for what we envision our program becoming. Since spring, they’ve been all in, setting the tone for hard work and accountability.
“Family has been a big theme for us this year, and they’ve been great examples of that, making sure the younger players are always in the loop. They keep practices up-tempo and make sure everyone is putting in the work.”
Farmington beat Poplar Bluff 36-33 at the Mules’ homecoming game in week three, a game the Mules could have won if they had avoided costly turnovers and penalties.
Mannon knows what to expect from the Knights the second time around.
“Playing a team twice in a season is always challenging,” he said. “Farmington is a disciplined team that likes to run the option and relies on solid defense and special teams. For us, it’s about focusing on assignment football defensively and giving our athletes the ball in open space on offense. Both teams know each other’s tendencies, so it comes down to executing at a high level.”
Farmington finished 5-4, but has been up and down in the past four weeks, losing big to Cape Central and Festus but easily defeating Union and Park Hills Central. Their points scored/allowed ratio in those last four games is 26.3/34.3.
Poplar Bluff is 7-9 since 2010 against the Knights, and the Mules lost to Farmington 28-21 in district play last year.
Mannon isn’t changing up his formula from the past several weeks, sticking to the old adage, “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.”
“Offensively, our focus is on protecting the ball and finishing drives,” he said. “Defensively, we’re working on assignment football and ensuring we line up correctly with everyone clear on their responsibilities. Tackling well and avoiding missed assignments will be key against Farmington’s play style.”
It’s true in every sport: the playoffs are different from the regular season. Mannon’s strategy is to focus on the basics and let the intensity take care of itself.
“We’ve emphasized consistency all season, so we approach this week with that same focus,” he said. “Practices stay the same so the players can react and play freely without overthinking. They know it’s a big game, and at this point, we want them focused and ready to perform without needing extra motivation.”
Regardless of Friday night’s outcome, Mannon has seen that the values he encouraged the team to embrace when they were 1-4 have taken hold this season.
“I’m incredibly proud of how the kids have responded,” he said. “We faced some adversity early on, but they stayed committed, got more physical, and improved in every aspect of the game. It would have been easy to give up, but they kept pushing, refused to accept mediocrity, and worked to get better each week.”
Friday’s game begins at 7p.m. at Farmington High School. Gates open for fans at 5:45 p.m.