HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: BLUFF STUNS JACKSON 27-16

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- When you have a running back who runs a 4.43 40-yard dash and your longest running play came from your quarterback on a busted play, you know it wasn't your night.

It definitely wasn't Jackson's night.

Poplar Bluff's spirited and speedy defense pinned Jackson running back Mario Whitney to just 30 yards on 19 carries as the Mules upset No. 3 Jackson 27-16 in front of a huge crowd at Morrow Stadium Friday night to claim the Class 5A, District 1 title and earn a berth into the state playoffs.

It was the first time this year that a team has been able to solve Jackson's multi-pronged offensive attack.

Jackson managed only 49 rushing yards and 88 passing yards.

The Indians did come up with some big plays on the defensive side of the ball and gave the offense some short fields, but the Mules' defense was just too stubborn.

The loss ended a stellar season for Jackson, which ends its season at 9-1.

"I'm just sick for our seniors," said Jackson coach Carl Gross. "We had a good group who just worked their tails off. It just makes you sick in the pit of your stomach."

Trailing by 10 at halftime, Jackson quickly turned the momentum when Whitney -- who has rarely played defense this year -- picked off Revelle's second pass of the second half. Three plays later quarterback John Jackson found Whitney in the back of the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown completion. Joey Beard missed the extra-point attempt, stranding the score at 20-16.

But that would be Jackson's final score of the night as Poplar Bluff scored once more when Revelle hit Travis Tinsley from 7 yards away.

Jackson had the ball in Poplar Bluff territory three times after that, but the Indian offense looked rusty. Dropped balls and fumbled snaps plagued the Indians all night.

"They played real well," Gross said of Poplar Bluff. "We had some missed opportunities, too. Our defense played well enough to win. Offensively, we didn't make the right adjustments on our blocking schemes and we had some dropped balls. But I'm not blaming anybody. We played hard all night."

Poplar Bluff drew first blood with 6:07 to go in the first quarter when Revelle hit Brent Little from 20 yards out. After a 2-point conversion failed, the Mules led 6-0.

The Mules took a 14-0 lead with 4:16 left in the first quarter when Revelle hit Little down the right sideline for a 59-yard score.

The Indians sliced the lead in half when Jackson hit a diving Goodson from 10 yards out.

Beard hit a 27-yard field goal at the 7:40 mark of the second quarter to cut Jackson's deficit to 14-10, but the Mules answered on their next possession with an 80-yard drive that was capped off by a 48-yard touchdown catch by Tinsley. Tinsley broke two tackles at about the 30 and ran it in down the right sideline. After a missed PAT, Poplar Bluff led 20-10 where the score stood at halftime. That drive was kept alive by a successful fake punt.

Poplar Bluff quarterback Stan Revelle had a solid night, completing 11-of-29 passes for 196 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. Poplar Bluff running back Erick Schuermann rushed for 110 yards on 19 carries.

Whitney, meanwhile was surrounded by maroon jerseys every time he touched the ball. Whitney can usually be counted on for at least one long run per game, but the Mules were just suffocating.

"I think (the defense) played awful well," said Poplar Bluff coach Mark Barousse. "We ran to the ball extremely well and played hard. We've got a little speed of our own and we kind of sent the speed to the ball. I can't say enough about all those guys on defense. We played our regular defense, but instead of setting it to the tight end, we set it to the field to stop Mario's speed. He's a great back. We just put some speed on the edge and took it away."

"Jackson's got a good football team and a class organization. The playoff system just sucks. For somebody to go 9-1 and lose one here and have to stay at home; that's heartbreaking, but they did it to us last year. My hat's off to them."