Big fourth quarter propels Jackson football team past Poplar Bluff

~ Jackson overcame a 6-0 halftime deficit to win 26-6

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Colten Proffer had his first touchdown of the season taken away Friday night.

The Jackson senior was back in the end zone five plays later to put the Indians in front for good, then added two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter as the Indians beat Poplar Bluff 26-6 in SEMO North Conference play.

"Feels great," said Proffer, who saw limited action since a preseason ankle injury. "Been working for four weeks just to get back. Feels great to get back with a win."

Trailing 6-0 on their first drive of the second half, the Indians appeared to double their total offense when Proffer ran 70 yards to score, but the play was negated by offsetting penalties.

Jackson’s Xominique Davis carries during Friday’s game against the Mules in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Jackson won 26-6. (PAUL DAVIS ~ Daily American Republic)

Jackson quarterback Dante Vandeven ran 29 yards on the next play and later converted a third-and-4 before Proffer's 30-yard touchdown run that counted.

"Huge drive," Jackson coach Brent Eckley said. "That's overcoming adversity. Very proud of our kids because we could have just packed it in right there."

Said Proffer: "I was thinking we need some oxygen on the sideline."

Jackson (3-1, 2-0 SEMO North) scored three times in the final 10:43 to pull away from the Mules (2-2, 0-2).

Proffer caught a 48-yard touchdown pass from Vandeven seven plays after a penalty on fourth-and-5 kept a drive alive. Jackson was set to punt from its own 19 when the Mules jumped the snap.

"Definitely a killer," Poplar Bluff coach Mark Barousse said. "You can't make those mistakes."

Vandeven hit Proffer over the middle on third-and-10 to give the Indians a 13-6 lead.

Poplar Bluff answered with a drive to Jackson's 25-yard line, but the Indians front line tipped quarterback Kameron Misner's pass on fourth down.

Two plays later Jackson junior Xominique Davis ran to the right sideline, cut back at midfield and beat a defender to the far pylon for a 73-yard touchdown.

"He ran hard, and we stayed on the blocks," Eckley said. "That was the difference."

Vandeven's second touchdown pass came with 4:37 left when he found Proffer wide open in the end zone from 15 yards out to set the final margin.

"It's great having him back there," Eckley said of Proffer.

"He's the best route runner I've ever coached and he's a running back, so we want to be able to use him."

Jackson managed just 79 total yards in the first half on a rainy night but produced 221 of its 384 in the fourth quarter.

Eckley said there were only a few minor adjustments at halftime by the coaching staff.

"You could tell from series one, they turned it up and we didn't respond," Barousse said.

Proffer ran 11 times for 68 yards and caught four passes for 74 more while Vandeven ran for 66 yards and threw for 161 on 14 of 26 attempts.

Poplar Bluff junior Bi Nguyen ran for 147 yards with 113 coming in the first half. 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.

Poplar Bluff shut out its third opponent in the first half. The Mules led 6-0 at the break Friday, despite driving inside the Jackson 30-yard line twice and forcing a pair of turnovers.

"We were just a little bit off in the first half, and we kind of clicked in the second half," Eckley said. "Still have to take care of the ball."

Poplar Bluff was 2-for-14 in converting a third down and was stopped on fourth down four times.

The teams traded long drives to open the game but both ended on downs with quarterback sacks.

Poplar Bluff's Aaron Vincent picked off a pass with a diving catch, and the Mules recovered two fumbles by Proffer.

Poplar Bluff opened the second half with the ball but a sack by Ethan Isakson, one of six by the Indians, forced a punt.

"Defensive line was outstanding," Eckley said. "We got tough, physical kids in there and they're going to have a challenge next week [against Central]."

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

Kickoff returns 3-50 1-22

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

Punts-avg. 8-33.1 6-41.5

Fumles-lost 2-1 3-2

Penalties-yards 3-20 3-15

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) .