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Poplar Bluff, Kennett renew football series after 25 years
Poplar Bluff football coach David Sievers didn’t have much of a voice Friday night when the Mules hosted Cape Central. He needed to have assistant coach Austin Jefferson yell for him on the sideline.
“I was pretty useless last Friday,” Sievers said after practice Wednesday afternoon. “And maybe that’s why we played so well.
“Really, last week not a whole lot of yelling to do.”
Coming off a 50-27 win over the Tigers, the Mules (4-2) hit the road Friday for a trip to Kennett to play the state-ranked Indians.
Fortunately, Sievers has his voice back.
Playing for the first time in 25 years, the two schools renew a series that started when Poplar Bluff was known as the Yellow Jackets.
“I’m really glad we got them on the schedule,” Kennett coach Joel Wyatt said.
With the changes to the SEMO Conference set for this fall, Kennett was in need of an opponent for this week and it was looking like Poplar Bluff or nothing, Wyatt said.
It ended up being a win-win situation for the Indians.
“It gets you ready for the postseason,” Wyatt said of playing a larger school like Poplar Bluff. “But it’s also going to get those points (for the district standings).”
Kennett (7-0), ranked No. 6 in the state media poll for Class 3, is one of three ranked teams in District 1 and currently sits in third place behind St. Mary’s and Valle Catholic.
Last year the Indians won their first 13 games before running into eventual state champion Odessa in the state semifinal.
This fall, Kennett has won by at least 18 points and is averaging 50.8 points per game.
“It’s going to be our biggest test,” Wyatt said of the Mules.
Kennett is coming off a 50-13 win at Dexter and features junior running back Jordan Jarrett who is 130 yards shy of 1,000 for the season, averaging 9.6 yards per carry.
The offensive line returns all-conference players Josh Hounihan at left guard, Tanner Duncan at tight end along with center Kewon Hopkins and right tackle Ayden Tidd.
“Everybody knows when they play us we’re a run-first team and it’s no secret,” Wyatt said.
The same could be said for the Mules.
“It’s no secret we’re going to try and establish the run and throw the ball after that,” Sievers said. “All you got to do is watch, pretty much any one of our games.”
The difference between the two offenses is that while Poplar Bluff will spread defenses out with more receivers, Kennett will play off the run with play-action passes.
Kennett quarterback Bodey Ellis has completed 74.2% of his passes for 776 yards. Last week at Dexter, Brooks Night caught three of his seven completions, including a 35-yard touchdown.
Poplar Bluff’s running backs Gavyn Hays and Damarieus Robinson combined for 161 rushing yards while quarterback Kannon Carr completed his first eight passes and 12 of 14 overall for 168 yards.
“We feel like they’re very balanced on offense and defensively they’re very aggressive in some of their schemes and their movement by their linebackers and safeties,” Wyatt said. “We just feel like we really got our hands full on both sides of the ball.”
Kennett’s defense returns a pair of all-conference players in La’trevion Thompson on the defensive line while linebacker Jake Stewart was also honored. The Indians have forced a pair of safeties this season and held opponents to 13 points or less in all but one game.
“They give you different looks on defense,” Sievers said. “We’ve worked a lot this week about making sure eyes are up and seeing the linebackers you run around.
“They put a lot of extra pressure on you.”
There’s also the pressure of not losing to the smaller or bigger school, depending on the sideline.
“We’re going to have to get off the bus and take care of business,” Sievers said. “I’m glad we got them back on the schedule.”
Dustin Ward of the Delta Dunklin Democrat provided information for this story.
IF YOU GO Kickoff at 7 p.m. Friday at Kennett (1400 W Washington). Admission is $4 while students are $3.
WEATHER Clear with an 5 mph SW wind. Kickoff temperature: 53˚ cooling off to the mid 40s.
NOTEWORTHY The Indians (7-0) are coming off a 50-13 win at Dexter and have not given up more than 25 points in a game all season while averaging 50.8 points paer game. Kennett’s opponents have a combined winning percentage of .360 but in the upcoming district playoff the Indians are one of three ranked and unbeaten teams. … Poplar Bluff (4-2) is coming off a 50-27 win over Cape Central at Mules Stadium. Both of Poplar Bluff's losses have come against ranked teams — Jackson and Farmington.
HISTORY Even though Poplar Bluff and Kennett have not met since 1995, the schools will be meeting for the 74th time. Kennett last won in 1989 before the Mules won the next six meetings with five shutouts. Poplar Bluff leads the all-time series 47-19-7 dating back to a 13-13 tie in 1923 (Kennett won 19-0 later that season).
REWIND Justin Mitchell had 121 yards on a pair of kickoff returns last week in Poplar Bluff’s win over Cape Central. The junior also had 11 tackles, including one for a loss. … Kannon Carr completed 12 of 14 passes, not including his one attempt on a two-point conversion. He completed his first eight attempts while six different receivers caught passes led by five to Jacob Baller, who picked up 87 yards and had seven tackles on defense. … Hunter Jenkins led with 13 tackles, including a sack and a forced fumble. … The Mules converted 6 of 8 third downs and both fourth-down chances while Central was 3 of 11 on third down.