Mules run wild on Bulldogs

The Poplar Bluff Mules football team didn’t pull back any punches during Friday’s homecoming game, as a first-quarter explosion helped them walk away with a victory.

The Mules landed their first home win of the season over the Sikeston Bulldogs 38-0 and did it in dominant fashion with the help of starting quarterback Jay Edmundson, who connected with four touchdown passes in the first half.

“I’m super excited about this win,” Edmundson said. “I knew we had a good chance today because we came out against a team that hasn’t won a game yet, but still, they gave us a strong fight. We came out strong and scored on the first drive, then the defense got us the ball to score again. It’s hard for an opposing team to come back when we come out and play strong like we did.”

Edmundson said his goal was to put up a lot of points against Sikeston. He wanted to show everybody in the stands and the kids on the sideline that the Mules have a high-powering offense as much as anybody in the state and can compete against the best.

A lot was on the line for both teams as the Mules looked to regroup after a devastating home loss against Jackson High, and the Bulldogs aimed to get their first win after 12 straight losses.

Poplar Bluff has won four straight home games against Sikeston, and Friday’s matchup wouldn’t be any different.

The Mules came out the gate swinging, and in a few short plays, they found their way down to the goalline, where Edmundson connected with senior receiver Romeo Wontor for a 10-yard touchdown pass for a quick 7-0 lead to start the game.

Sikeston quickly attempted a response but was halted by the Mules’ defense as senior Darius Graham captured a midfield interception and came up shy of the endzone. Edmundson would pick up the slack with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Lincoln Warren.

The Mules’ defense would come alive once again midway through the first quarter with a fumble recovery from Connor Stevens, which gave the Mules another opportunity to score off the miscues from Sikeston.

Though Graham came up short of the endzone earlier in the game, he would get his shot once again with a 52-yard bomb pass from Edmundson, who had the perfect touch in the first quarter. The Mules continued to execute inside the endzone and would hold a strong 28-0 at halftime.

The rest of the game would be much of the same, with the Mules adding two more touchdowns from Kolyn McBride and Colton Palma. With the lead and time on their side, the Mules only had the clock to worry about on their road to victory with a 38-0 lead heading into the last quarter.

Edmundson threw 7/11 on 105 yards with four touchdowns and led the Mules with 69 rushing yards. Receivers Graham, Wontor and Dylan Hall combined for 100 passing yards and one touchdown each. Defensively, the Mules finished with two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

This week’s game plan for the Mules was getting back to the basics, and according to head football coach Dave Sievers, the Mules accomplished the task and then some.

“I think the biggest thing we did tonight was returning after halftime and competing,” Sievers said. “I told the kids that we didn’t block and tackle very well, but they practiced hard this week, and it showed. The kids played hard, and we were able to get a win for homecoming, which is always good.”

The Mules next two games will be district and conference matchups, and Sievers said the win against Sikeston is moving them in the right direction as they get ready for the second half of the season.

“Every game is an opportunity to get better,” he said. “Our next two games are very important to us. Fox and Farmington are good teams in our district and conference, so we must be ready. We got a good win tonight, and anytime you can get a win against a conference school, it’s always a good thing.”

The Mules are now 2-3 on the year and have a district matchup at Fox next week.