Menu
ROAD WARRIORS: Mules find success away from home this season
The Poplar Bluff football Mules have earned a well-justified reputation as road warriors this season.
All five of the Mules' wins entering Friday's district semifinal at Cape Central have come on the road, including a three-game winning streak that includes wins at Kennett, Hillsboro and last week's district opener at Farmington.
“I think we have a lot of distractions at home,” Poplar Bluff coach Jeff Mannon said. “The kids feel an extra pressure (to win) or whatever at home and be able to compete. (But) they go on the road, and they go back to what they know at practice and fly around with a little more pep in their step or whatever on the road. I think there's such an adrenaline rush at home, they almost wear out too soon. And we've just got to learn to adjust and overcome that in the future.”
Poplar Bluff senior lineman Carson Sitting echoes his coach's sentiments.
“We're a little bit better on the road than we are at home,” Sittig said. “I don't really know what it is about that. It's definitely something interesting that is a weird part of our team that we've got. It was fun taking down Hillsboro and Farmington (on the road). That was cool.”
Said Poplar Bluff senior lineman Kade Busse: “I think it's just more fun to go to other people's field and win there. I feel like there's a lot less pressure in front of people that you don't know rather than (in front of) people that you do.”
The Mules earned their first win of the season — and the first of Mannon's head coaching career — in week two at Chaminade, then won 27-26 at Sikeston in week six before beginning a three-game winning streak two weeks later at Kennett.
“We've always road warriors,” Poplar Bluff senior Chase O'Neal said. “Ever since I've been in high school, we've always won our big games on the road and had our small wins at home. But just winning on the road means a lot more, especially in the playoffs, because teams that are hosting always think they have it in the bag.”
Poplar Bluff then defeated Hillsboro — the 2023 Class 4 state runner-up — to close the regular season before dominating Farmington 56-21 last Friday in the Class 5 District 1 opener.
The win at Farmington was even sweeter, as the Knights spoiled the Mules' homecoming in week three and also ended Poplar Bluff's season last year in the district semifinals at Farmington.
“It felt amazing, especially after they came into our house (on) our homecoming and beat us,” O'Neal said. “It was nice to return the favor.”
It is no accident that the Mules are peaking later in the season, said senior offensive lineman Grant Wood.
“We've learned each other more, figured out each other's tendencies and how we can all work together for the betterment of the team,” Wood said. “We're getting better with time. … In the beginning of the season, we weren't as gelling together, but now we're gelling all together.”
Added senior lineman Kylar Wilson: “I think it's really boosting everybody's confidence. Throughout the season, we haven't had the best record, so (in) winning last three straight, I think we've got some momentum going into this next game (at Cape Central). I think it'll help us a lot.”
Mannon also agrees with his seniors' sentiments.
“These kids believe in one another, and it just took us being able to finally execute offensively and defensively (to) start putting it together,” Mannon said. “And it's coming together at the right time. … It just takes you a while to find your identity, and we just happened to find it about week five or six and been running since then.”