Jackson football team overwhelms Poplar Bluff

If there was any concern that the Jackson football team was looking past its Week 5 opponent to its rivalry game against Central, it was quickly erased Friday night at The Pit in Jackson.

The Indians scored twice in the first two minutes against SEMO North Conference foe Poplar Bluff and remained undefeated with a 42-0 win.

Jackson coach Brent Eckley believed the Mules (2-3) were capable of slowing down the high-scoring Indians and made sure his players were focused on the task at hand heading into the game. Poplar Bluff held Central, which had averaged 44 points entering the game, to 26 points, and two of the Tigers' scores came on defense or special teams.

"Everyone's been talking about the game next week and how many points we beat Farmington by and how Farmington beat Poplar Bluff," Eckley said, "but Poplar Bluff's kids have a lot of pride and they're physical kids and they're always coached up, and they have the ability to make a game ugly from a pure offensive point of view. They do a really good job and they make you earn it. They don't give you anything."

Jackson scored on its second play of the game when senior quarterback Dante Vandeven hit senior receiver Xominique Davis for a 64-yard touchdown pass just 44 seconds into the game.

Jackson wide receiver Xominique Davis carries for the first touchdown against Poplar Bluff during the first quarter Friday, Sept. 19, 2014 in Jackson. (Fred Lynch)

The Mules fumbled on the ensuing kickoff return and the Indians recovered on the Poplar Bluff 20-yard line.

Davis ran the next play into the end zone, but a penalty negated the score and pushed the Indians back to the 27.

Vandeven ran it up the middle on the next play to make it 14-0 with 10:51 remaining in the first quarter.

"Anybody would've picked us to win just based on records, and when teams do that then one team has the feeling of superiority and the other team's the underdog," Eckley said. "If you're the underdog, and you can keep it close for very long then the team that's picked to win starts to press. For us getting off to a fast start it certainly took the pressure off us and we could relax and play pretty well."

Vandeven scored on a 5-yard run with 6:02 left in the first.

Senior Ethan Isaksen returned a Poplar Bluff punt about 60 yards to the 8-yard line and Vandeven ran it in on the next play to give Jackson a 35-0 halftime lead.

"We knew if we kept this one close and didn't put (the pedal) to the metal ... and if we didn't get into our groove, it would be a tough-fought game," Vandeven said.

Vandeven ran for 113 yards and four touchdowns on 11 carries. He completed 12 of 18 passes with one interception for 198 yards and one touchdown.

"They didn't have an answer for him," Eckley said. "And there's other teams down the road that might not have an answer for him either. He's so athletic, and he makes pretty good decisions."

"Countless times in the first half he bailed us out when it was third-and-long or second-and-long, he bailed us out and made some big plays," Eckley added. "He made good decisions. He was able to read the field pretty well. I thought he threw the ball very well several times, spreading the field out -- down the middle, on the edge."

Poplar Bluff didn't have an answer for Jackson's defense, either. The Mules' first first down came with about three minutes remaining in the first half.

"Our kids were just pretty physical," Eckley said. "Our backside players, our safeties and corners were pretty fast to the ball and got downhill quick. I thought we were pretty assignment sound."

The Mules had 49 yards rushing, led by senior running back Bi Nguyen with 40 on nine carries, and 81 passing yards.

The Indians recovered two of the Mules three fumbles, and senior Ty Crowden intercepted a Poplar Bluff pass at the Jackson 3-yard line.

Jackson wide receiver Ben Maudie carries for a 97-yard for a touchdown against Poplar Bluff during the third quarter Friday, Sept. 19, 2014 in Jackson. (Fred Lynch)

Senior receiver Ben Maudie broke free on the left sideline on the next play for a 97-yard touchdown and the final score of the game with 4:16 remaining in the third quarter.

"I cut it up and turned on the jets," Maudie said. "I got some nice blocking on the edge and the rest was speed."

Jackson (5-0) faces rival Central (4-0) next Friday in Cape Girardeau in a game that will likely decide the SEMO North Champion. The Indians defeated the Tigers 56-27 last season.

"We almost overlooked Poplar Bluff this week, but they came out tough and we knew that they were going to be a challenge," Maudie said. "We've had our eyes on Cape ever since summer."

Jackson 21 14 7 0 -- 42

Poplar Bluff 0 0 0 0 -- 0

First Quarter

J -- Xominique Davis 64 pass from Dante Vandeven (Ty Crowden kick), 11:16

J -- Vandeven 27 run (Crowden kick), 10:51

J -- Vandeven 5 run (Crowden kick), 6:02

Second Quarter

J -- Vandeven 25 run (Crowden kick), 8:46

J -- Vandeven 8 run (Crowden kick), 1:02

Third Quarter

J -- Ben Maudie 97 run (Crowden kick), 4:16

J P

First downs 14 5

Rushes-yards 31-242 25-49

Passing yards 198 81

Passes 12-19-1 10-16-2

Punts 1-48 5-36

Fumbles-Lost 1-0 3-2

Penalties-Yards 7-52 4-25

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Jackson, Gabriel Dudley 7-15, Ethan Isaksen 3-7, Maudie 1-97, Vandeven 11-113, Triston Thele 1-2, Davis 1-(-2), Bryndan Reid 5-10; Poplar Bluff, Bi Nguyen 9-40, Zane Foust 6-(-2), Joe Darlin 5(-6), Dustin Gatewood 3-14, Tristen Francisco 1-3.

PASSING -- Jackson, Vandeven 12-18-1-281, Landry Moore 0-1-0-0; Poplar Bluff, Foust 4-8-1-49, Darlin 6-8-1-32

RECEIVING -- Jackson, Lucas Helwege 3-22, Davis 3-94, Isaksen 2-30, Elliot 2-28, Maudie 1-10; Poplar Bluff, Austin Jefferson 1-8, Ross Rushin 1-6, Denzel Britton 1-2, Gavin Wells 1-4, Elijah Dawson 4-31, Briar Alford 1-5, Francisco 1-25.