Brian Rosener is the keeper of the Semoball Cup which is presented to the school with the most successful season. It is based on a formula that takes into account the combined winning percentage of all sports teams plus bonus points for advancement in postseason play for both teams and individuals. The bonus points are divided by the number of teams a school fields. Rosener has been the sports editor for the Daily American Republic in Poplar Bluff, Mo. since December 2001. He was born and raised in St. Louis, where he attended Lindbergh High School and Webster University. He is married to Jennifer, a Poplar Bluff native, has a son Jack and a dog named Satchel who stands in for his @semoballBrian photo.

Mules 35, Union 8

Posted Friday, September 4, 2009, at 11:59 PM

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Poplar Bluff's defense made a pair of goal-line stands in the first quarter, forced four turnovers and outscored Union's offense Friday night.

Nick Shrum returned an interception for a touchdown early in the second half and Josh Freeman forced a safety in Poplar Bluff's 35-8 win at Morrow Stadium.

The Mules (1-1) also had some offense with Eljie Johnson's 94-yard touchdown run, a pair of touchdowns from Greg Coble and Zach Ferguson's 75-yard touchdown run.

Union (0-2) took the lead late in the first quarter on a safety after the Mules stopped the Wildcats at the 2-yard line. Union's opening drive was stopped at the 4 by the Mules defense.

Johnson gave Poplar Bluff a 7-2 lead midway through the second quarter. His 94-yard run was a yard shy of the school record set by Russell Vaughn in 1967.

Union's lone touchdown with 3 minutes left in the first half followed one of Poplar Bluff's four turnovers. Sophomore quarterback Chris Savage hit Ross Groenke for a 49-yard touchdown pass to give the Wildcats an 8-7 lead.

The Mules answered with a seven-play, 70-yard scoring drive. Coble caught a 32-yard pass with a leaping catch on the sideline and scored two plays later on a 25-yard run.

Poplar Bluff led 13-8 at halftime but Shrum picked off Savage's pass and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown and a 20-8 lead.

Coble caught a 55-yard touchdown pass with 7:10 left in the third quarter for a 26-8 Mules lead.

In the fourth, Josh Freeman sacked Savage for a safety and Ferguson broke a 75-yard touchdown run with 4 minutes remaining.

Johnson led the Mules with 113 yards on nine carries while Ferguson added 94 yards rushing. Coble caught two passes for 87 yards, including a 55-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, while rushing for a 25-yard score with 42 seconds left in the first half.

Poplar Bluff quarterback Zach McAnulty was 5-for-11 for 114 yards passing, throwing three interceptions, and ran for 23 yards.

Savage threw for 238 yards on 23-of-41 passes, throwing three second-half interceptions. Ryan Baser ran for 83 yards on 18 carries while Bobby Vondora caught 10 passes for 105 yards.

Union took 87 snaps but gained 3 yards less than Poplar Bluff's 388 yards on 44 plays.

More in Sunday's DAR.

Comments

View 2 comments

Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.

Coble is performing like everyone thought he would the past two seasons. He has a chance to put together a huge season.

-- Posted by FreyGuys on Sat, Sep 5, 2009, at 8:42 AM
Union is far from what they were last season.

-- Posted by Showstopper on Sat, Sep 5, 2009, at 1:45 PM

Respond to this blog

Posting a comment requires free registration:

If you already have an account, follow this link to login
Otherwise, follow this link to register