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Mules get rematch with Cape Central
The Poplar Bluff football Mules will follow up their 56-21 postseason victory over Farmington last week with a Class 5 District 1 semifinal showdown at Cape Central this Friday.
Poplar Bluff improved to 5-5 on the season with a dominating road victory, with all five wins so far coming on the road.
Poplar Bluff head coach Jeff Mannon said playing on the road is a positive for the team.
“The kids are able to focus on the game without the distractions that sometimes come with a home game,” Mannon said. “They’re proving that it doesn’t matter where we play — they’ve developed a ‘road warrior’ mentality that’s really helped our confidence. We feel good going into Cape’s territory with a unified focus.”
The Cape Central Tigers have a 9-1 record and come off a 42-7 home playoff win over Webster Groves last week. They average 43.1 points per game on offense, while holding their opponents to an average of 11.3 points.
In spite of the challenge, Mannon says his team is up to the task.
“The team absolutely believes in their ability to compete and win,” he said. “Beating some tough teams over the last few weeks has shown the kids what they’re capable of, and each win has built our momentum. “Knowing they can finish strong against any opponent has given them a confidence boost that’s valuable heading into this game.”
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.
Although Cape handled the Mules easily with a 49-6 win at Poplar Bluff in week four of the regular season, Mannon says his squad has come together in the second half in a way that has paid dividends on the gridiron.
“From my perspective, seeing the team ‘clicking’ means that we’re executing plays the way they’re designed, with everyone understanding their roles and trusting each other to handle theirs,” Mannon said.
“Earlier in the season, we focused heavily on the basics and fundamentals, and now we’re seeing that pay off. The kids are really tight as a group, and they’ve bonded well, both on and off the field, which shows in how they play together.”
The Mules have a season average of 26.2 points per game on offense against a defensive average of 30.6. However, these averages include some early-season losses. In the last three games, Poplar Bluff averaged 43.6 points on offense while holding opponents to 16.3 points.
“The last time we played Cape, we had some issues with turnovers, defensive lapses, and special teams errors, so we went back to basics and simplified things,” Mannon said. “This time, we’re focused on finding open space for our playmakers and keeping our offense balanced. It’s about being smart with the ball, limiting mistakes, and making sure each player is in a position to make plays,” he said.
“We want to go in confident and composed, executing our game plan without overthinking it.”
On defense, Mannon continues to focus on the fundamentals.
“Cape is a high-scoring team, and we know they have a powerful offense, so our focus is on fundamentals and assignment football,” he said. “We’re especially emphasizing stopping their two-headed running game and minimizing big plays.
“Our defensive preparation has been consistent, allowing the kids to build instinctively week by week. It’s all about keeping Cape from finding those gaps and making sure we tackle well and stay disciplined.”
After a rocky start and a disappointing record, the Mules have been flying high at the end of the season.
“The team is having a blast right now,” Mannon said. “Football is always a grind, but the hard work is paying off, and seeing the kids enjoy it makes everything worth it. “It’s a fun time to be out there, and I think everyone feels like all the effort we put in since the summer is finally paying off. They’re ready to keep it going.”
Friday’s game begins at 7 p.m. at Cape Central High School. Gates open for fans at 5:30 p.m.