Sikeston at Bluff: Fan guide

UPDATE: The rain has stopped here in Bluff but we've gotten 2.55 inches over the last 24 hours. The field at Morrow Stadium drains pretty well and with a 9 mph wind it could dry out by tonight (maybe). The Mules haven't played there since Oct. 2 but there have been three JV games and a junior high game to chew up the grass a little, but it appears to be in good shape.

Again, no live updates from the game tonight, but I'll post a recap as soon as I can after the game (no later than midnight).

Here's a preview which ran in today's DAR. There will be more on the game in Friday's DAR on Poplar Bluff's seniors. I won't have time to post that on here, however, before the game.

Also, I put together something for fans to take to the game here.

Here are the directions to the football field if you need it.

There's plenty on the line Friday night at Morrow Stadium when undefeated Sikeston comes to Poplar Bluff.

The SEMO North title is up for grabs while the winner gets the inside track on a district championship.

"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."

Poplar Bluff (6-2, 1-0 district) and Sikeston (8-0, 1-0) feature the top two offenses and the two best defenses in the SEMO Conference.

The Bulldogs average 40.4 points a game while Poplar Bluff averages 39.9 points but have gained more total yards. Sikeston has shut out four opponents and given up a total of 44 points all season while the Mules have held four opponents to a touchdown or less.

Against common opponents Dexter, Jackson and Cape Central they have almost identical results while Sikeston beat New Madrid County Central, which started the season with an overtime win against the Mules.

"Their offense is good, our offense is good; their defense is good, our defense is good," Kearbey said. "Honestly, it may be decided in the area of special teams."

Last week for the Mules it nearly was.

Three straight onside kicks recovered by Farmington put Poplar Bluff in a 21-point hole but the Mules rallied for a 34-31 win.

Sikeston, meanwhile, recovered an onside kick, recovered a fumble on another kick and blocked a punt during a 44-6 win over West Plains.

"All things being equal, if talent is equal and you both play up to your ability, I do think special teams can separate you a little bit from whoever you play," Gibbs said.

The Mules will have kicker Kenyan Francis, who also plays soccer, but will be without senior long snapper Storm McClure, who suffered a concussion last week.

Starting right guard Kyle Nelson will be a game-day decision, Kearbey said, after the junior injured his knee in the first quarter against Farmington. Nelson will get results from an MRI back Friday and if he can't play, the Mules will turn to junior Anthoy Vezeau and senior Michael Penney. Vezeau started earlier this season and played much of the game at Farmington.

Sikeston has battled through injuries all season. Leading rusher Eli Jackson missed one game and had just one carry against New Madrid while the Bulldogs lost their starting defensive end four weeks ago to an injury.

"The big thing is we've had some stability on the offensive line," Gibbs said.

Sikeston's offense averages 422.5 yards per game led by Jackson's 656 rushing yards. Quarterback Juqualin Wiggins has thrown for 897 yards by completing 67 percent of his passes and ran for 549 yards. Jarian Wims has ran for 520 yards and leads the Bulldogs in attempts and is tied with Jackson for the team lead with 10 touchdowns. Wiggins has thrown for 10 and ran in six scores.

Niquavious Dixon has 20 catches for 364 yards and five scores while Jordan Williams has scored three times and has 315 receiving yards.

"They definitely don't have one guy you can zero in on," Kearbey said.

Defensively, the Bulldogs have shut down every team they've faced since an season-opening 42-20 win over Fredericktown.

After posting three straight shutouts, Sikeston gave up a defensive touchdown to Cape Central and held New Madrid to 12 points while West Plains scored its only touchdown in the closing seconds last week.

Opponents are averaging just 2.0 yards per rushing attempt and 120.3 yards per game against Sikeston.

"On film they're kind of scary too," Kearbey said. "They've got a lot of team speed on defense. They fly around. Definitely going to be one of the toughest defenses we've faced this year."

Inside linebacker Ray Clark has 5 1/2 sacks, an interception and forced a fumble while leading Sikeston's defense in tackles this season with 89. Wiggins, the safety, has four interceptions while cornerback Niquavious Dixon has two of Sikeston's 13 picks. The Bulldogs have forced 25 turnovers while giving up 15.

The opening quarter may be the most important 12 minutes of the season for both teams. Sikeston has given up just six first-quarter points and hasn't trailed since the opening week of the season. Poplar Bluff took just four offensive snaps in the first quarter last week before digging out of a 21-point deficit, something the Mules want to avoid against Sikeston's tough defense.

"We don't want to get behind, they don't want to get behind," Gibbs said. "So we're going to try to start fast and I'm sure they will too."

Notes: Poplar Bluff's Zach Ferguson, No. 33, needs 33 yards to break Poplar Bluff's all-time career rushing record. The senior passed Mike Moss for No. 2 all-time last week with 3,182 yards and can catch Austin Tinsley's 3,214-yard record in his final home game. Even if Ferguson gains 1 yard 33 times, he will pass Tinsley in fewer attempts. ... Sikeston will be without starting defensive end Odell Thompson (knee) and may not have backup fullback Shaquille Sherrod (knee) or C.J. Council (ankle), who scored the winning touchdown against the Mules last year.