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.

Sikeston at Bluff: Any questions?

Posted Thursday, October 22, 2009, at 6:38 AM

Sikeston (8-0) and Poplar Bluff (6-2) face off Friday night at Morrow Stadium in Poplar Bluff with a SEMO North title on the line and, mostly likely, a trip to the Class 4 playoffs.

It's the biggest game of the year for both teams to date, so we're going all out this week. We'll start off with any questions you have for me that I need to ask the coaches heading into the game. I'll try to answer what I can and we'll get into some matchups later in the week.

THURSDAY THOUGHTS

Preview in today's DAR. Will post some more after deadline, but here's a couple of quotes from the coaches:

"This is going to be a big game," Mules coach Shane Kearbey said. "We've been telling the kids all week, this is what it's all about.

"It's about something on the line, a championship, two good teams getting after it and figuring out who's the best around."

Sikeston coach Kent Gibbs said, "I think you've got to be excited about it, as a coach ... as a player. If you're a competitor these are the kind of games you look forward to."

WEDNESDAY THOUGHTS

Last year the game was tied 28-28 after the teams traded the lead twice in the fourth quarter. Sikeston pulled even with 6:16 left in the fourth and each side got the ball after that until the Bulldogs punted with 3 seconds to play, then won on a last-second interception. You can read my post from that game here.

I won't be able to do a live blog from the stadium because our laptop is heading to the state softball championships with Alex. (I may not even get a seat in the pressbox anyway with all the media outlets coming for this one.)

Directions to Morrow Stadium: The field is located at the Junior High on the northeast corner of Westwood Blvd. (Business 67) and West Pine (Business 60). You can find it on this map here.

Parking can be found across Westwood (west of the stadium) at First Baptist Church. I'm not sure how early that fills up since my house is two blocks away and I usually walk, but there is street parking to the east of the stadium as well.

Morrow Stadium has hosted a state championship game (back in 1969 when Malden lost 13-6 to Aurora in the 2A final) but this is probably the biggest game there since 2003 when the unbeaten Mules faced Cape Central in the final week of the regular season.

By the way, last week was not the biggest comeback for the Mules in recent memory. In 1999, Poplar Bluff trailed at Kickapoo 35-7 with 2:48 left in the first half. It was 43-14 early in the third quarter before the Mules rallied to win 51-50 on a last-second touchdown. The winning points came on a reverse run for a two-point conversion by P.J. Brown, who happened to be standing on the sideline Friday night at Farmington.

Already talked with Mules coach Shane Kearbey and will track down Sikeston coach Kent Gibbs later for a story that will run in Thursday's DAR. I'll also run a story Friday about Poplar Bluff's senior class.

TUESDAY THOUGHTS

This is a big game for both teams. The SEMO North title is at stake. If the Mules win, they run the table. If the Bulldogs win, they earn at least a share heading into their final game with Farmington.

In terms of the district championship, the winner almost (key word there) punches their ticket to the playoffs. If the Bulldogs win by 13 or more, they're in the driver's seat heading into the final week. If the Mules win by 6 or more, they're leading the standings with one game to play. Either team could win Friday and still not make the playoffs based on what happens Friday in West Plains and what the final margin of victory is at Poplar Bluff. (If three teams finish 2-1, the tiebreaker is the point system with the lowest team out and the district winner based on head-to-head).

Sikeston is unbeaten. Last time they started 9-0 was in 1976 under coach Terry Smith. That year, the Bulldogs edged Poplar Bluff 14-7 in the final week of the season before losing to Ladue in the playoff.

Of the last 32 meetings (since '75), 16 of them have been decided by 10 points or less with three going to overtime.

It will be the Mules' final home game and senior Zach Ferguson is 33 yards shy of breaking the career rushing record. Poplar Bluff has clinched its first winning season since 2003 and is looking to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2000.

And then there's last year's meeting ...

Comments

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Coach PB,how do you bottle up the Sikeston offense,what could be the key?Coach Sike,does PB have any advantages and if so what way do you foil them?

-- Posted by DonaldTrump on Mon, Oct 19, 2009, at 7:11 AM
Bluff has the homefield to their advantage,there's no way around that.There's no bigger game for Bluff this year,other than the playoffs.8-O Sikeston,with a potent offense and smothering deffense,its clear to see that they are the team to beat.Bluff was tested by Farmington in dramatic fashion.24-7 defecit is not easy to overcome on any level.Sikeston really didn't show any signs of letting up against West Plains.I really like Bluff at home and I think these two teams will be in the playoffs,hands down.I think Bluff can beat Sikeston once and if they happen to meet again,I think the Dogs can beat them.Bluff will destroy West Plains too.So the next few weeks will be intense!!!

-- Posted by DonaldTrump on Mon, Oct 19, 2009, at 7:26 AM
First of all, thanks for giving a vote to Sikeston in the state polls. I agree this will be "THE" game in the district and I also

agree it could go either way both times.

Yes Sikeston has played alot of teams with bad records but, they also have destroyed everyone of them in every game.The good thing about all of this is alot of boys,are getting good experience with varsity level. I believe Sikeston will win, but not by much. 24-21

-- Posted by tlks2much on Mon, Oct 19, 2009, at 9:17 AM
Do you anticipate this will be a high scoring game?

-- Posted by drawmules on Mon, Oct 19, 2009, at 1:24 PM
Sikeston people don't think so, because they have shut down some bad 2a and 3a teams and 2 0-8 5a teams and a 1-7 4a team. new madrid was the only game they can hang their hat on. Can you say overrated. Bluff 42-28.

-- Posted by Kidrayray on Mon, Oct 19, 2009, at 1:48 PM
And what was Bluff's score against NMCC?

-- Posted by sportsfanatic on Mon, Oct 19, 2009, at 1:54 PM

Brian Rosener's response:
Central won 42-36 in overtime but trailed 33-22 until midway through the third quarter when it started raining. Strange scene, there was a delay in the game for whatever reason and the NMCC sideline started really getting fired up when the rain picked up. After that, the Eagles outscored the Mules 20-0 before a late field goal by Bluff.
Before you answer...let me answer for you! It was the 1st game of the year, and you are much improved since then? Close?

-- Posted by sportsfanatic on Mon, Oct 19, 2009, at 1:56 PM
Everyone should know by now that you can not base how teams will play each other based on playing the same opponents or non opponents for that matter. It's all about match-up's. This will be a great game with 2 teams that match-up well against each other.

-- Posted by sportsfanatic on Mon, Oct 19, 2009, at 2:02 PM
Kidrayray. How is Sikeston overrated? They're 8-0 and not even ranked in the state poll.

-- Posted by semohoops on Mon, Oct 19, 2009, at 5:33 PM
I think Sikeston has the edge on overall team speed and athleticism, but I like the sheer effectiveness of Poplar Bluff's running game. They rarely give up negative plays and do a good job of limiting penalties. Sikeston has been a bit penalty prone all year, but they have been able to over come it due to their multiple offensive weapons - both running and throwing the ball. They will likely discover these mistakes will be more difficult to overcome against Poplar Bluff. Additionally, Sikeston tends to give up negative plays with some frequency. At times, Sikeston's backs have a bad habit of trying to make something out of nothing, taking a 6 yard loss instead of settling for no gain. If they get into difficult down and distance situations against Poplar Bluff, it could spell trouble.

The key for me (aside from penalties, the kicking game and turnovers) is Sikeston's defense. I've watched high school football for two decades, and I don't think I've ever seen a defense look as dominant as Sikeston. I can find NO holes on this defense. They feature 9 senior and 2 junior starters. The D-line goes 6 deep and they are big and strong - getting good penetration game after game. The linebackers are fast, have a wonderful nose for the ball and they are fearless, ferocious hitters. The secondary is lightning quick and Juqualin Wiggins is a freak. A 6'3" 210 pound SAFETY who will absolutley light you up. Plus, he is an interception machine. If this isn't enough, Sikeston is at least 2 deep at every position on the defense. The defense has looked like an impenetrable wall, but has it all been against weak competition? Yes and no. It is hard to consider G'darius Stevenson "weak". Aside from one 70 yard run, G'darius only rushed for 39 yards against Sikeston.

It will be very interesting to see what gives in this one. Will Poplar Bluff's effective, balanced rushing game be able to overpower Sikeston's defense? I don't think they can "outquick" Sikeston, but they may be able to out execute them. I will stick with my original prediction. Sikeston is more athletic top to bottom, but Poplar Bluff just may have the better TEAM. In the end, I believe penalties, PB's home field advantage and Bulldog negative plays(and perhaps missed extra points) will doom the Bulldogs. I'm giving the edge to Poplar Bluff. The only thing that would surprise me would be either team blowing out the other. But Poplar Bluff should be wary. I think there is a better than 50% chance they win this one, but I think here is an even better chance they will meet the Bulldogs again. If I was a Mule, I wouldn't relish that thought.

-- Posted by pigdog on Mon, Oct 19, 2009, at 7:50 PM
sorry not overrated, but over hyped. just wait and see. I will come on here and eat crow if I am wrong. I just think Bluff is better than sikeston and sikeston shutting down all those teams (besides New Madrid) does not impress me. Because those teams were weak. If they shut down bluff then I will tip my hat and change my opinion. But that is a big "if"

-- Posted by Kidrayray on Mon, Oct 19, 2009, at 9:06 PM
Kidrayray, if you actually think PB can put 42 points on Sikeston's defense you really need to go watch that game and be prepared to be proved wrong. I'm not saying that Sikeston will shut them down but i truely believe they will not give up anything close to 42 points.

-- Posted by zach7691 on Tue, Oct 20, 2009, at 2:25 PM
Poplar bluff played a game like this before.The history shows,that Jackson went to Poplar Bluff riding the back of Jr. Mario "Speedwagon" Whitney(you can't forget that kid)and a powerhouse deffense entering the game at 9-0!After the game the score board favored the Mules and stunned Jackson fans!!The Mules came in at 5-4 and won I think 27-16!!Today Sikeston visits Poplar Bluff wth a 8-0 record.Throw it out presto!!!!!The town of Bluff should be ready to see a perfect mark blemished again!!

Poplar Bluff-28

Sikeston-13

-- Posted by DonaldTrump on Tue, Oct 20, 2009, at 3:14 PM
Does anyone remember that game?You Coaches?

-- Posted by DonaldTrump on Tue, Oct 20, 2009, at 3:48 PM
Let's see,you lost to New Madrid on your home field and you say lets throw that out, because it was the first game. But Sikeston beats them with players they didnt have in your game and on New Madrid's home field and that doesn't mean anything???

You have lost your mind!

Home field advantage,hometown officials(PB is famous for in big games)and finding an excuse when they get beat, sounds like everything is in place for a bulldog win!

-- Posted by tlks2much on Tue, Oct 20, 2009, at 5:09 PM

Brian Rosener's response:
Officials have been selected by the area officials association, not the schools in the conference, over the last few years. That will be the case Friday night.
Everybody keeps talking about last year's meeting. What happen in last year's meeting that I missed? It must have been something good. Too good to write about???

-- Posted by drawmules on Tue, Oct 20, 2009, at 5:59 PM

Brian Rosener's response:
Not "too good to write about" just want everybody to come back tomorrow and read about it.
drawmules,

Last year, PB had Sikeston beat, but Sikeston mounted a furious come back and tied the game in the final seconds. After receiving the ensuing kickoff, instead of kneeling on the ball and running out the final 3 seconds, sending the game into overtime, PB opted to try a hail mary pass. The problem was, PB had the ball on the right hash and they threw the ball all the way across the field to the left side. The pass was intercepted...as luck would have it, by the absolute fastest player on Sikeston's team. With the entire PB offense, minus a few receivers still on the right side of the field, the corner who picked off the pass was able to run the int back for a touchdown and BARELY make it across the goal line before being brought down. Time had run out. Game over. A thrilling win for Sikeston...a heartbreaking,and I would assume very hard to swallow. loss for PB.

Poplar Bluff fans will also point to two VERY strange calls during the game. The officials blew two plays dead because they thought the fullback had the ball and was tackled - when in fact, the QB from PB had executed the fake so well that he was running unencumbered down the sideline when the whistle blew. His fake was so good, he faked out not only the bulldog defense, but the officials as well. Since the whistle had been blown, the plays were ruled dead at that point. I have NEVER seen that in a game...and it happened TWICE in the Sikeston vs PB game last year. Needless to say, the PB faithful were incensed. (However, most PB fans will not point out, or fail to remember, that their team went on to score on both of those drives anyway, so the point is actually moot - unless perhaps you want to throw out theoretical arugments that it changed the time required on the scoring drives, thus ultimately changing coach's clock management late in the game, an argument that actually cuts both ways. You could also argue that the two calls made the PB coaching staff less inclined to run the same play more often...fearing a similar bad call - etc.). Anyway, that was the situation with the last game that adds to the intrigue of this match-up.

-- Posted by pigdog on Tue, Oct 20, 2009, at 7:20 PM

Brian Rosener's response:
... or write their thoughts on it. ...
pigdog

I bet this year's game won't be as close as last year's game.

-- Posted by drawmules on Tue, Oct 20, 2009, at 7:42 PM
drawmules,

Couldn't be much closer than that!

-- Posted by pigdog on Tue, Oct 20, 2009, at 7:56 PM
I hope to see some live updates Friday night. I may not make it to the game. But if I don't I will follow the game closely online.

-- Posted by drawmules on Tue, Oct 20, 2009, at 9:40 PM

Brian Rosener's response:
Still working on that. My work laptop may be in St. Joseph that night and my personal laptop is from 1995. I may have to hire my wife to text updates.
Where is the football field located in Poplar Bluff? Im not really familiar with the town at all.

Im hoping for a great game, and with the way both of the teams look, we should be instore for a treat.

-- Posted by cletusleroy on Tue, Oct 20, 2009, at 11:15 PM

Brian Rosener's response:
I'll post directions up above.
When Bluff gets beat, you guys get on here and start throwing excuses around about how they got cheated last year. Sikeston had two wide open receivers on two different plays that would have went for touchdowns had they not dropped the ball. The game was tied 28-28. You guys act like it was a blowout until the end. It doesnt matter how teams score, it matters whats on the scoreboard at the end. Then you want to say that the officials changed the play calling of the bluff coaches because of the inadvertant whistle. Makes no sense. If the play works, run it. If not then you dont run. Who would not call a successful play just because the officials might screw it up? Seriously? I betcha they wish they would have called a different play at the end of the game.

-- Posted by HeHateMeToo on Wed, Oct 21, 2009, at 7:37 AM
Let's see,you lost to New Madrid on your home field and you say lets throw that out, because it was the first game. But Sikeston beats them with players they didnt have in your game and on New Madrid's home field and that doesn't mean anything???

You have lost your mind!

Home field advantage,hometown officials(PB is famous for in big games)and finding an excuse when they get beat, sounds like everything is in place for a bulldog win!

-- Posted by tlks2much on Tue, Oct 20, 2009, at 5:09 PM

Bluff did lose to NMCC and Sikeston beat them. First of all NMCC played the Bluff game with a full roster minus Jenkins. Against Sikeston they lost Anderson in the 1st quarter to an ankle and Stevenson was a little banged up as well. Also, for the record, NMCC has not been a very good home team the last couple of years 5 of their 6 loses have been at home the past two years.

All that said it will be a great game and if Sikeston plays as they have all year they should win. Bluff will not quit and give them the biggest test Sikeston has seen to date but in the end I think Sikeston will win by 6.

-- Posted by coachpanther on Wed, Oct 21, 2009, at 1:06 PM
I will be back in a minute......still getting all that fresh CROW cooked up for kidrayray......

They fell a bit short of the 42 points you mentioned............

short by about , oh.......42 points....

-- Posted by Headhunt on Sat, Oct 24, 2009, at 12:08 AM

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