Poplar Bluff staves off Oakville to advance to Class 5 District 1 semifinal

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Poplar Bluff forced seven turnovers, returning a fumble for a score, and made a goal-line stand as the Mules beat Oakville 37-19 Friday night.

The MSHSAA Class 5 District 1 quarterfinal featured 12 turnovers, none perhaps bigger than midway through the third quarter after the Mules took their first lead.

The Mules (8-2) scored 12 points off turnovers while Oakville (4-6) did not take advantage of a season-high five turnovers by Poplar Bluff.

Markarrius Bell scooped up a fumble and returned it 62 yards for the score. Poplar Bluff, which trailed 13-12 at halftime, took a 24-13 lead on the sophomore's first career touchdown.

Tyson Cox caught a 61-yard touchdown pass from Tristen Francisco just two minutes before Bell's score to put the Mules ahead.

Francisco, who ran for 80 yards and threw for 250, tossed three touchdown passes but was intercepted four times, three by senior Kobe Allen who had two last week for the Tigers.

Oakville quarterback Bailey Vuylsteke completed 28-of-60 passes for 332 yards but he to was picked off four times.

Poplar Bluff's Jerrid Moore intercepted two passes, including one in the end zone at the end of the first half. Steven Haley also intercepted a pass and had another on a 2-point attempt. Francisco recovered two first-half fumbles by the Tigers, including one at the Mules 17-yard line when Denzel Britton saved a touchdown and knocked the ball free.

Britton, who led with 93 yards receiving, caught a 33-yard touchdown pass in which the senior juggled the ball off his helmet. Moore caught a 20-yard touchdown pass and had six catches for 57 yards.

Antwan Banks led Oakville with 136 yards on 10 catches. Norvell Streeter ran 13 times for 94 yards, including a 68-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter.

Poplar Bluff travels to top-seeded Fox (7-2), who lost to the Mules to start the season and Oakville three weeks later.

Oakville 7 6 6 0 -- 19

Poplar Bluff 6 6 12 13 -- 37

First Quarter

OAK -- Streeter 7 run (Gallagher kick), 5:15.

PB -- Francisco 1 run (kick fail), 2:37.

Second Quarter

PB -- J.Moore 20 pass from Francisco (pass fail), 7:39.

OAK -- J.Kuntze 18 pass from Vuylsteke (kick fail), 4:18.

Third Quarter

PB -- T.Cox 61 pass from Francisco (pass fail), 7:29.

PB -- M.Bell 62 fumble return (kick fail), 5:24.

OAK -- Streeter 68 run (pass fail), 1:18.

Fourth Quarter

PB -- Britton 33 pass from Francisco (kick fail), 9:04.

PB -- Francisco 10 run (Vincent kick), 1:36.

PB OAK

First downs 13 15

Total yards 331 441

Rushes-yards 32-81 27-109

Passing yards 250 332

Punt returns 0-0 2-0

Kickoff returns 3-19 5-60

Defensive returns 4-138 1-46

Comp-Att-Int 16-31-4 28-60-4

Sacked-yds. lost 1-12 2-10

Punts-avg. 6-34.8 5-32.6

Fumbles-lost 3-1 4-3

Penalties-yards 9-62 9-60

Time of Poss. 23:05 24:55

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Poplar Bluff, Francisco 20-90. Gatewood 4-12. J.Moore 5-9. Barousse 1-0. Team 2-(-30). Oakville, Streeter 13-94. Vuylsteke 11-23. Bartow 1-0. Team 1-0. Allen 1-(-8).

PASSING -- Poplar Bluff, Francisco 16-31-4 250. Oakville, Vuylsteke 28-60-4 332.

RECEIVING -- Poplar Bluff, Britton 4-93. T.Cox 3-63. J.Moore 6-57. Rushin 3-37. Oakville, Banks 10-136. Allen 5-70. Zeneli 6-70. Kuntze 5-43. Dozier 1-8. Bartow 1-5.