In the 24 seconds before the snap, Farmington quarterback Nathaniel Link will look to the sideline for the call and check the defensive alignment. The senior will be trying to figure out what his best option is --handoff, pitch, run or throw.
"He's got certain reads he has to make," Knights coach Erik Kruppe said. "He's done a good job with that."
A mini game within a game will happen in that 24-second window the Knights have Friday night when they host Poplar Bluff.
"We've got to make sure we disguise things well," Mules coach Mark Barousse said of the defense.
Last week Poplar Bluff used multiple defensive looks in beating St. Charles 45-7, giving Link and his coaches even more to think about in the week leading up to the SEMO North Conference showdown between the Mules (3-0) and the Knights (2-1).
Kruppe said while coaches prepare for what they might face on Friday night, the adjustments over the course of the game that are just as important.
"Every year you get to playing them and they get to know you and how you adjust to things," Barousse said.
The Mules expect Farmington to, "run the fullback at you over and over and over if you don't stop him," Barousse said, while Kruppe, "wouldn't be surprise to see more vertical downfield passing."
Last year the teams combined to score 91 points with the Mules breaking a fourth-quarter tie and running out the final 4 1/2 minutes to win by a touchdown.
Link was the backup at the time but led the Knights into the district semifinal where they lost to Cape Central. His 8-yard touchdown pass and 2-point conversion pass with 19 seconds left put Farmington in front of the Tigers on Friday but Central answered with a game-winning, 41-yard touchdown pass with 4 seconds left. The teams combined for 34 fourth-quarter points in Central's 40-35 home win.
"I think they realized they can play with anybody in this side of the state in Class 4," Kruppe said. "Played a very good Cape football team and played them toe to toe."
Aside from an 8-minute, first-half span in which they trailed by a touchdown in the season opener, the Mules have not been pushed in their three games, outscoring opponents 94-8 in the first half.
Like the first game in which Riverview Gardens sacked Poplar Bluff quarterback Logan Bell four times, Barousse expects the Knights to bring pressure.
"Last year they blitzed us a whole bunch and we didn't do a very good job picking it up," Barousse said. "Hopefully we can pick up the blitz better and run the ball a little more effective than we did last year."
Poplar Bluff managed just 2.0 yards per rushing attempt while the Knights averaged 7.0. This fall the Mules are averaging 4.3 yards per run after a season-best 290 yards on the ground Friday led by Isaiah Johnson's 130 yards and 90 on eight carries by RaShawn McCain.
"They're getting better," Barousse said of the offensive line. "Thought we did a really good job blocking, especially the outside, the tackles on the edge and all four of the receivers blocked really well."
Farmington's defensive front averages 222.5 pounds and is anchored by end Devan Hughes, a 5-foot-11, 205-pound senior who returned an interception 20 yards for a score against Central last week. Linebacker Colby Barnes, a 5-7, 185-pound senior, is the leading tackler and has two sacks while junior Tycen Gray and sophomore Carson Sutton also start at linebacker.
The Knights feature an offensive line that averages 210 pounds.
Link, a 5-10, 180-pound senior, is averaging 126.3 passing yards per game while running for 2.4 yards per carry.
"They're just really sound," Barousse said. "Quarterback does a really good job of reading the option."
Dylan Allen, 5-10, 175-pound senior, and 5-9, 190-pound sophomore Tyler Barber lead the rushing attack from the backfield while Wright and Gray are the wings. Link has thrown to four different targets led by Wright who caught a pair of touchdowns passes last week and is averaging 23.4 yards per catch.
The Knights have yet to lose at home this year while Poplar Bluff is making its first trip of the season.
"It's tough. In this conference anybody can beat anybody," Barousse said. "If you don't play well you'll get beat, especially when you go on the road. We're going to have to definitely play well and be able to adjust on the fly. If it comes to that."