WEEK 4: Headliners shift as Poplar Bluff shakes up Semoball Top 10 football ranking

There’s been some significant movement among the top teams in the area after week three. With some high-scoring action across some of the region’s best games of the week, we saw quite a few big results come across the ticker.

With a new No. 2 in southeast Missouri, the area power rankings saw quite the shakeup between weeks three and four. While some teams made positive statements on Friday night, the opposite happened to a few other local teams.

Here are the Semoball Area Football Top 10 Rankings entering week four action.

Jackson linebacker Peyton Klund gets in the face of cornerback TJ Altenthal after a third-down stop during a September 8, 2023 matchup between the Jackson Indians and the Farmington Knights at Farmington High School's Haile Memorial Field in Farmington, Mo. The Indians defeated the Knights, 63-38.Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com

Semoball.com

__No. 1: Jackson (2-1, LW No. 1)__

Jackson took care of business against Farmington. Scoring 63 points on the road is never easy, but the Indians’ high-powered offense dominated in a big way on Friday night. Despite letting up 38 points, 24 of which came in the first half, Jackson’s adjustments look to put the Indians in a great position moving forward. That being said – the biggest test to the psyche of this squad is up next. The Indians split the season series with Poplar Bluff last year, ending a streak of eight straight Jackson wins in the series. The Mules own a winning streak against the Jackson Indians, and the two top teams in the area do battle in a Week 4 matchup in Poplar Bluff. The biggest game of the local schedule so far, a primetime matchup between two archrivals awaits.

__No. 2: Poplar Bluff (1-2, LW No. 5)__

One of the biggest, most significant jumps of the year. After two tough losses to open up the season against opponents with high billings, Poplar Bluff traveled to Cape Central and grabbed one of the biggest wins of the local football season so far. Winning 42-35 in overtime, Poplar Bluff made a major statement, and its climb reflects this. Despite still sitting under .500 on the year, the Mules look to make another statement at home against the Jackson Indians this week. Holding a winning streak against the Indians for the first time since 2017, there’s plenty to be told from this power-on-power matchup.

Tom Davis ~ tdavis@semoball.com

__No. 3: New Madrid County Central (3-0, LW No. 3)__

The Eagles of New Madrid County Central made a statement on Friday night, taking a 38-27 win at Dexter. Covering the spread, the Eagles rolled through Dexter and, despite playing a foe with conference title aspirations on the road, took a big-time 11-point victory en route to a 3-0 start to the season. The Eagles look to keep rolling in Week 4 as they travel to Doniphan.

__No. 4: Cape Central (1-2, LW No. 2)__

Cape Central took a heartbreaking loss in overtime to SEMO North Conference rival Poplar Bluff this past week, trailing for most of the game. Despite almost making a comeback, the Mules traveled to Cape Central and walked out with the win, finally grabbing their signature win while the Tigers took a very telling loss. After such a high-quality loss to Hillsboro, Cape Central has slipped to 1-2 on the season after a season-opening win against St. Charles that also, in some ways, disappointed. The tough start to the season for the Tigers just gets tougher as Cape Central travels to Park Hills Central in Week 4.

__No. 5: Portageville (2-1, LW No. 4)__

Despite slipping a spot in the ranking due to a resurgence in the Poplar Bluff Mules, the Portageville Bulldogs still did big work on Friday night. Taking a 56-point victory against the then-ranked East Prairie Eagles, Portageville held its opponent to a shutout and has now won two consecutive games. Entering a road matchup with No. 8 Scott City, Portageville’s first big win of the year could be on the docket as two streaking teams collide.

__No. 6: Dexter (2-1, LW No. 6)__

Quality losses are real, and Dexter certainly grabbed one on Friday night as the Bearcats took an 11-point loss to the visiting New Madrid County Central Eagles. While favored to lose in the matchup, Dexter proved it could hang with the big boys and, despite taking its first loss of the season, picked up a little bit more confidence in its playoff chances this year. A big bounce-back game against East Prairie waits in the wings this week, with Dexter looking to pick up some momentum.

Kennett's Marquiese Pittman (24) runs during a 22-20 over Sikeston at Sikeston Public Schools Stadium on Friday, September 8. Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat

__No. 7: Kennett (3-0, LW No. 7)__

Kennett’s matchup on the road against Sikeston screamed “trap game,” with the Bulldogs still looking to grab their first win of the year. While not the prettiest win ever, Kennett escaped Sikeston with a very important 22-20 win to climb to 3-0 on the year. The toughest opponent they’ve played all year, the Sikeston win certainly bodes well for the Indians as they prepare for the back half of their schedule. However, a true test at home against Caruthersville awaits. Kennett’s luck could soon fade if it doesn’t show up to play against the Tigers.

__No. 8: Scott City (2-1, LW No. 8)__

Scott City’s 58-0 win against Hayti on Friday might say a lot about the team, but it also might not. The Rams are the third team in three games to roll the Indians, having lost in blowout fashion to Kennett, Portageville and now Scott City. However, putting 58 points on the board at Hayti is certainly an impressive feat, and holding the Indians to a donut on defense is perhaps an even bigger win for this club. While not seeing any movement in the poll, the Rams could be preparing for a big run ahead.

__No. 9: St. Vincent (1-2, LW No. 9)__

St. Vincent finally opened up the playbook on Friday, stomping its crosstown rivals in the Perryville Pirates in a 49-7 smackdown. One of the main concerns with the Indians predating the victory was their inability to get their high-powered offense on the score sheet. With a 49-point performance in one of the area’s biggest annual rivalry games, St. Vincent did this and then some as the Indians rolled. With any luck, this St. Vincent team could generate some momentum and rise up the rankings soon.

__No. 10: Caruthersville (2-1, LW NR)__

Caruthersville enters the rankings after falling down to the ranks of the unranked last week. Despite not playing a game this weekend, set to face Doniphan but receiving a forfeit win, the Tigers reaped the benefits of a disappointing showing from then-No. 10 East Prairie. Caruthersville and nearby East Prairie look to be on a very even playing field, but for now we’ve settled on the Tigers at the 10th spot.

The 2023 Week 4 Semoball Area Football Top 10, first published on September 11, 2023 by Semoball.com. Poplar Bluff's big win at Cape Central rocketed the Mules up to the No. 2 position, while Cape Central fell to No. 4.Semoball.com