Bock leads Jackson's charge past Mules

Jackson ran over Poplar Bluff to the SEMO Conference North title on a rainy Friday night in Poplar Bluff with a 35-21 win.

The Indians (6-1, 3-0 SEMO) had the ball for more than 31 minutes and rushed for 306 yards. Senior Austin Bock led the charge with 197 on 38 carries and four touchdowns.

Jackson jumped to a 14-0 lead on a pair of touchdowns by Bock 30 seconds apart. Blake Ulrich recovered a fumble on Poplar Bluff's first play after Bock's 5-yard run to end the first quarter, setting up a 6-yard score two plays later.

After the Mules (2-5, 1-0 SEMO) cut the lead in half on their next possession, Jackson answered with a 65-yard drive that ended with a 2-yard touchdown by Bock.

Jackson led 28-14 with a minute left in the half on Bock's 3-yard run. Poplar Bluff pushed the ball to the Jackson 8-yard line in the closing seconds but the Indians defense stopped running back Todd Tinsley there to end the half.

Tinsley rushed for 39 yards on 12 carries after averaging 175.5 over the last two games.

Poplar Bluff quarterback Mark Gum threw for 363 yards on 18-of-33 passing, including three touchdowns. The senior hit Whalen George for a 98-yard strike that cut Jackson's lead to 28-21 after the Indians fumbled on their first possession of the second half.

The Mules defense then forced their first punt of the game, but John Gray picked off Gum's next pass, and Joel Penrod scored with 6:35 left in the fourth quarter to ice the game for Jackson.

Perryville 22, Fredericktown 7

Matt Unterreiner rushed for 212 yards on 32 carries and scored two touchdowns to lead the Pirates to their second victory.

Travis Brown scored the other TD for Perryville (2-5), which ended a five-game losing streak.

"Hopefully this will propel us into district," Pirates coach Rick Chastain said. "We needed this win big."

-- From staff reports