Briefly: Jackson football uses big second half to beat Poplar Bluff

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Colten Proffer made up for lost time Friday night.

The Jackson senior ran for a go-ahead 30-yard touchdown in the third quarter and caught two touchdown passes in the fourth as the Indians ran away for a 26-6 SEMO Northern Conference win at Poplar Bluff.

Proffer, who saw limited action since a preseason ankle injury, ran for 68 yards and caught four passes for 74 yards.

Jackson (3-1, 2-0 conference) trailed 6-0 at halftime and managed just 79 total yards of offense on a rainy night.

Proffer appeared to put the Indians ahead on their second offensive snap of the third quarter, but his 70-yard run was negated by offsetting penalties. Five plays later, Proffer was back in the end zone after a 30-yard run.

Proffer's 48-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Dante Vandeven gave Jackson a 13-6 lead with 10:43 left in the fourth quarter.

Poplar Bluff (2-2, 0-2) put together a drive to Jackson's 25-yard line, but the Indians stopped the Mules on fourth-and-3.

Just 45 seconds later, Jackson went up 20-6 as Xominique Davis broke a 73-yard run for a touchdown with 7:09 to play.

Vandeven hit a wide open Proffer in the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown pass with 4:37 left to set the final score.

Jackson produced 221 of its 384 yards in the fourth quarter.

Vandeven completed 14 of 26 passes for 161 yards. He also ran 18 times for 66 yards.

Poplar Bluff's Bi Nguyen ran for 147 yards on 29 carries. His 20-yard run set up the Mules only score in the second quarter.

Jackson was forced to punt from its own 1-yard line and Poplar Bluff's Jordan Emmons returned it 22 yards before Nguyen's long run. Jake Pulliam scored on the next play, a 6-yard run, but the kick was no good.

Jackson committed three turnovers as Aaron Vincent intercepted a pass while Collin Jones and Pulliam recovered fumbles by Proffer.

Preston Hobeck recovered a fumble for Jackson in the second half but neither team could capitalize.

Poplar Bluff's first two drives ended inside the Jackson 30-yard line.

Jackson 0 0 7 19 -- 26

Poplar Bluff 0 6 0 0 -- 6

Second Quarter

PB -- Jake Pulliam 6 run (kick fail), 6:56.

Third Quarter

JA -- Colten Proffer 30 run (Crowden kick), 8:33.

Fourth Quarter

JA -- Proffer 48 pass from Dante Vandeven (run fail), 10:43.

JA -- Xominique Davis 73 run (Ty Crowden kick), 7:09.

JA -- Proffer 15 pass from Vandeven (kick blocked), 4:37.

PB JA

First downs 10 12

Total yards 196 384

Rushes-yards 46-159 39-223

Passing 37 161

Punt returns 1-18 0-0

Kickoff returns 3-50 1-22

Interceptions Ret. 1-0 0-0

Comp-Att-Int 5-18-0 14-26-1

Sacked-yds. lost 6-37 3-19

Punts-avg. 8-33.1 6-41.5

Fumles-lost 2-1 3-2

Penalties-yards3-20 3-15

Time of Poss. 25:35 22:25

RUSHING: Poplar Bluff, Nguyen 29-147. D.Francisco 3-16. Lewis 2-15. Pulliam 2-5. K.Misner 10-(minus-24). Jackson, Davis 7-78. Proffer 11-68. Vandeven 18-66. Henson 2-7. Miller 1-4.

PASSING: Poplar Bluff, K.Misner 5-18-0 37. Jackson, Vandeven 14-26-1 161.

RECEIVING: Poplar Bluff, Jefferson 2-17. T.Francisco 2-12. Rose 1-4. Jackson, Proffler 4-74. Henson 4-62. Davis 3-10. Selsor 1-9. Heur 1-7. Crowden 1-(minus-1) .

MISSED FIELD GOALS: None.