MULES DODGE TIGERS

POPLAR BLUFF -- In an offensive shootout, Poplar Bluff dodged the final bullet fired by Cape Central Friday night.

The Mules saw a 30-yard field goal attempt by the Tigers' Jeff Michel sail wide right with 11 seconds remaining and Poplar Bluff hung on for a 25-24 Class 4A, District 1 victory over Central.

The Mules ultimately scored the winning points on a 36-yard run by Jeric Blackmon with 2:50 left in the game. Blackmon, who also had a 5-yard touchdown run and 14-yard TD reception, rushed for 270 yards on the game.

The loss dropped Central to 6-3 overall and 0-2 in the district. Poplar Bluff improved to 6-3 and 2-0, setting up a district championship showdown with undefeated Jackson next Friday.

Central, which trailed 13-0 in the first half and 13-10 at halftime, used a 17-0 spurt to overtake the Mules.

A 77-yard screen pass from quarterback Frank McGinty to Ross Bennett gave Central its first lead at the 7:22 mark of the third quarter. Michel, who was perfect on three PATs but one of four on field goal attempts, completed the 17-point run with a conversion kick for a 17-13 Central lead.

Poplar Bluff reclaimed the lead with a 1-yard quarterback sneak by Andy Cisne with 1:24 left in the third quarter for a 19-17 advantage.

McGinty then capped a 65-yard Tiger drive with a 2-yard keeper as Central reclaimed a 24-19 lead with 10:11 left in the game.

Blackmon went over the 100-yard mark in the first quarter as Poplar Bluff jumped out to a 7-0 lead.

Blackmon accumulated 49 yards on a run that moved the Mules to the Cape Central 16. Cisne then lofted a 14-yard touchdown pass to Blackmon for the game's first points. The PAT gave Poplar Bluff a 7-0 lead at the 7:49 mark.

The lead grew to 13-0 early in the second quarter when Blackmon scored on a 5-yard run. The Mules then missed the first of two PATs.

Cape Central answered with 17 unanswered points, including 10 in the second period.

McGinty hooked up with tight end Gabe Wunderlich on a 33-yard scoring pass with 2:31 left in the half. Michel added the extra point to cut the deficit to 13-7.

With 14 seconds left in the half, Michel kicked his first field goal of the season, a 43-yarder to trim the Mule lead to 13-10 by halftime.