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 host Vashon in football opener tonight

Posted Saturday, August 28, 2010, at 12:18 AM

You can ready a short game story and boxscore here.

The 2010 football season opens tonight at Morrow Stadium with the Poplar Bluff Mules hosting Vashon.

Here's a look at five storylines to follow:

* Can Poplar Bluff's defensive secondary, which has lost three safeties to injury during the preseason, hold together against a Vashon QB in Darren Fowlkes that threw for 2,885 yards last season.

* Will Vashon's line, which returns one starter in center Jimmy Walker, give Fowlkes enough time to throw.

* Have all the preseason injuries hurt the Mules or will it help their depth. A few starters that didn't play the jamboree -- TE Nick Shrum and C Jake Knuckles -- will be ready.

* Which of Poplar Bluff's running backs will lead the charge? Or will it be QB Josh Freeman?

* How special will the special teams be in the first week? Last year the Mules got a field goal to force overtime in a 42-36 loss to New Madrid County Central.

IF YOU GO Kickoff is 7 p.m. with gates opening at 5. Tickets are $4 while seniors 60-and-over free this season.

WEATHER REPORT Cooler and clear, with a kickoff temperature near 80. Lows in the upper 50s. East winds around 5 mph.

IF YOU DON'T GO: I'll provide updates through our Twitter and Facebook pages after scores and end of quarters while providing updates from the Malden-Scott City game as well. After the game, I'll provide a link here to a short game story and box while a full report from the game will be in Sunday's DAR. Also, radio broadcasts can usually be found here.

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Outstanding preview. This is the game I will be attending tonight. I was curious what Vashon had this season. What was Vashon's record last season?

I seriously hope people don't start coming through the gates at 5 p.m. Is it really necessary for anyone to show up two hours before the game starts?

-- Posted by drawmules2 on Fri, Aug 27, 2010, at 12:52 PM
DM,

Vashon lost in the 2nd round of the playoffs last season to Ladue. They are a wide open but very undisicplined offensive team. From reviewing last year's Vashon vs Ladue game film, I can tell you to expect Vashon to throw the ball virtually every down, and they are almost all home-run type throws. It reminded me a bit of watching a backyard football game where the QB says in the huddle before each and every snap, "Everyone go long."

I don't know how Bluff will fare after losing so much talent from last year's team, but if they can cover the pass and play disciplined football, they can win. If last year's performance is any indicator, I believe if you give them the chance, Vashon will beat themselves.

-- Posted by Cully Bryant on Fri, Aug 27, 2010, at 1:30 PM
football monkey

Does this have the potential to be the most exciting game in Southeast Missouri?

-- Posted by drawmules2 on Fri, Aug 27, 2010, at 1:59 PM
I think they both do, DM.

-- Posted by Cully Bryant on Fri, Aug 27, 2010, at 2:02 PM
The Monkey is right again, we actually watched that film of Ladue/ Vashon at a pre game "meeting of the minds", to see what Ladue was all about. We really had no feel for what Vashon had, just saw that their qb threw it almost every down, and sometimes it was like an underthrown "jump ball"

Not pretty, and very undisciplined...

-- Posted by Headhunt on Fri, Aug 27, 2010, at 3:55 PM

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