Mannon excited for Mules to tangle with tough foes

The Poplar Bluff Mules football schedules have been released for the next three seasons (2025, 2026 and 2027), Poplar Bluff High School athletic director Kent Keith announced on Tuesday.

The Mules’ 2025 schedule is identical to this past season’s schedule, other than switching from playing at home to on the road, and vice versa.

Poplar Bluff opens the season Aug. 29 at Valley View in Jonesboro, Arkansas, followed by a Sept. 5 home game against Chaminade.

Poplar Bluff football coach Jeff Mannon describes the 2025 schedule as “a great test” for his team.

“Valley View is coming off a semifinal run in Arkansas, and they’ll bring a physical, disciplined style of football that will push us right out of the gate,” Mannon said. “Chaminade showed their talent last season and made a strong playoff run after we beat them early in the year, so they’ll definitely be a tough opponent again.”

That will be followed by road trips to Farmington (Sept. 12) and Cape Central (Sept. 19), followed by home games against Jackson (Sept. 26) and Sikeston (Oct. 3). The Mules head to West Plains Oct. 10 before wrapping up the regular season with home games against Kennett (Oct. 17) and Hillsboro (Oct. 24).

“Farmington is always a physical football team, and with a new coach, they’ll bring a fresh energy to the matchup,” Mannon said. Cape has a lot of talent returning after making it to the district championship, so we know they’ll be a tough team. Jackson has been the standard in our conference for years, winning the district title consistently, and it’s always a battle when we face them.

“Sikeston has been rebuilding, but they’re making strides and will be improved from last year. West Plains is another tough opponent coming off a quarterfinal run, where they lost in the final minute, so we know they’ll be prepared to compete. Kennett will have a new coach, but they’re always athletic and dangerous, and Hillsboro is a program known for their physicality year in and year out.”

Bigger changes will comes to Poplar Bluff’s schedule in 2026 and 2027, when the Mules will drop Valley View, West Plains and Kennett and replace them with Jefferson City, North Point of Wentzville and Festus, the Class 4 state runner-up this past season.

“We’re really excited about the 26-27 schedule because it gives us a great mix of competition to help prepare our team for the postseason,” Mannon said. “Jefferson City is historically one of the toughest programs in the state, and starting the season with them will give us a good measure of where we stand.

“North Point is a newer school, but they’re a Class 6 program with a lot of potential, and we’re looking forward to seeing what they bring to the field. Festus just made a run to the Class 4 state championship game, so we know they’ll be an elite team that forces us to be at our best.”

The Mules will open 2026 at home against Jefferson City on Aug. 28, followed by road trips to Chaminade (Sept. 4) and North Point (Sept. 11). Farmington and Cape Central come to Poplar Bluff on Sept. 18 and 25, respectively, followed by road trips to Jackson (Oct. 2) and Sikeston (Oct. 9). Festus comes to town Oct. 16, then the Mules head to Hillsboro on Oct. 23 to conclude the regular season.

The 2027 schedule will be the same as 2026, with the home and road sites flipped. Chaminade (Sept. 3), North Point (Sept. 10), Jackson (Oct. 1), Sikeston (Oct. 8) and Hillsboro (Oct. 22) all will play at Mules Stadium in 2027, while Poplar Bluff will travel to Jefferson City (Aug. 27), Farmington (Sept. 17), Cape Central (Sept. 24) and Festus (Oct. 15).

“This schedule reflects our philosophy of playing strong opponents to prepare for the postseason,” Mannon said of the upcoming seasons. “By testing ourselves against some of the best teams in Missouri and beyond, we’re helping our players grow and develop into a program that can compete at a high level year after year.”