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 football falls to Seckman

Posted Thursday, October 28, 2010, at 11:48 PM

POPLAR BLUFF -- Seckman jumped out to an early 21-point lead and clinched a spot in the Class 5 playoffs with a 42-14 win Thursday over the Poplar Bluff Mules.

Sam Tramel threw three first-half touchdown passes, two to Alek Ferbet who also scored on a 46-yard interception return at the end of the third quarter. Seckman's defense return another interception for a touchdown while Blake Pepper ran for 188 yards and a touchdown for the Jaguars (3-6).

Seckman qualified as the district runner-up at 2-1 behind Rockwood Summit, which ran the table in the district.

The Mules finished 1-9 for the first time since 1988 allowing 441 points this season, the most in the program's history.

Poplar Bluff junior quarterback Michael Griggs threw four second-half interceptions after the Mules pulled within 27-14 at halftime. Griggs finished with 158 passing yards on 9-of-22 throws. Pete Bryant caught a 20-yard touchdown pass and ran 22 times for 46 yards and a score.

The teams combined for nine turnovers as Seckman gave away three fumbles and an interception.

The Jaguars led 21-0 in the opening minute of the second quarter, scoring just 2:15 into the game on Tramel's 43-yard touchdown pass to Zach Naes. Pepper then scored on a 23-yard run before Ferbet hauled in a 33-yard touchdown pass from Tramel.

Bryant put the Mules on the board midway through the second quarter on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Griggs.

Seckman led 27-7 following Tramel's 19-yard touchdown pass to Ferbet with 1:42 left in the half.

The Mules answered with a 41-yard catch and run by Goodrich that set up Bryant's 1-yard plunge with 14 seconds left in the half.

Down 13, Poplar Bluff opened the second half with the ball but Seckman forced a three-and-punt then ate nearly 6 minutes of clock marching to the Mules' 7-yard line. Seckman, however, fumbled and Denzell Blackmon recovered for Poplar Bluff.

Kyle Eaves picked off Griggs six plays later, running it back 20 yards for the score.

Ferbet's return for a touchdown with 26 seconds left in the third quarter set the final score.

Seckman 14 13 15 0 -- 42

Poplar Bluff 0 14 0 0 -- 14

First Quarter

SE -- Naes 43 pass from Tramel (Hughey kick), 9:45.

SE -- Pepper 23 run (Hughey kick), 3:19

Second Quarter

SE -- Ferbet 33 pass from Tramel (Hughey kick), 11:22.

PB -- Bryant 20 pass from Griggs (LeGrand kick), 6:54.

SE -- Ferbet 19 pass from Tramel (kick failed), 1:42.

PB -- Bryant 1 run (LeGrand kick), 0:14.

Third Quarter

SE -- Eaves 20 interception return (Ferbet pass), 2:27.

SE -- Ferbet 46 interception return (Hughey kick), 0:26.

PB SE

First downs 11 17

Total yards 213 397

Rushes-yds. 35-55 43-217

Passing yds. 158 180

Punt returns 0-0 2-4

Kickoff return 5-59 2-26

Interception returns 1-32 4-79

Comp-Att-Int. 9-22-4 11-20-1

Sacked-yds. lost 1-7 1-5

Punts-Avg. yds. 4-32.0 1-24

Fumbles-lost 2-1 3-3

Penalties-yds. 4-20 5-45

Time of possession 21:23 26:37

RUSHING: Poplar Bluff, Bryant 22-46. Timothy 5-11. McCain 3-1. Nelson 1-1. Latourette 1-0. Griggs 3-(-4). Seckman, Pepper 32-188. Tattitch 5-19. Tramel 6-10.

PASSING: Poplar Bluff, Griggs 9-22-4 158. Seckman, Tramel 11-20-1 180.

RECEIVING: Poplar Bluff, Goodrich 1-41. Ramos 2-36. McCain 3-31. Nelson 1-27. Bryant 1-20. Hibler 1-3. Seckman, Ferbet 8-106. Naes 1-43. Eaves 1-18. Elder 1-13.

Also, Poplar Bluff head coach Shane Kearbey was not be at the game. Here's part of a story which ran in Thursday's DAR:

... Kearbey was put on administrative leave Tuesday afternoon pending the completion of a school investigation, Superintendent Chris Hon said Wednesday.

"We were notified of the incident (Tuesday) afternoon and Coach Kearbey was immediately placed on administrative leave," Hon said. "Any time there is a personnel investigation, the employee is placed on administrative leave to preserve the credibility of the investigation."

A police investigation is also underway, said Deputy Police Chief Jeff Rolland.

The incident, which occurred at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at the High School campus, involved a 17-year-old male senior whose name has not been released. Sources described it as "horseplay" between Kearbey and a student that is not on the football team.

Rolland said investigators are contacting witnesses and the student involved before proceeding.

"We're not going to comment on what happened until we ...understand fully what happened," Rolland said.

Hon also did not comment on the specifics of the incident or the school's investigation.

Kearbey declined to comment when contacted Wednesday.

Both investigations are expected to be complete this week but not in time for tonight's football game, which ends the regular season.

Hon said Dave Sievers has taken over head coaching duties. ...