Coming off a thrilling, title-clinching win over rival Jackson to remain unbeaten, the Poplar Bluff football team entered the state rankings this week and dealt with injuries.
The Mules face another rival in Sikeston for homecoming, no less, Friday night.
It sounds like the perfect formula for an explosive situation.
"Can't afford a letdown," Mules coach Mark Barousse said. "You get one letdown, everything you work for is gone."
There's plenty on the line.
Poplar Bluff (6-0, 2-0 SEMO North) can complete an undefeated conference season by beating Sikeston (3-3, 1-2) in the first meeting between the longtime rivals at Mules Stadium, where the host has yet to lose to a conference opponent.
This week the Mules broke into the state media rankings at No. 9 for the first time since 2003, also the program's last 6-0 start. The last time Poplar Bluff finished 3-0 in conference play was 2000, also the year of the last district title.
"I think we know what to do," Barousse said. "We hadn't had a great week of practice. I don't like the tempo."
Part of the issue could be the number of injuries.
Senior linemen Laramie Goodluck and three-way starter Tyson Cox suffered leg injuries in the first half Friday, a 29-28 win over Jackson. Cox (knee) and Goodluck (ankle) are expected to be in uniform Friday, Barousse said.
Cox, who suffered a strained MCL in his right knee, leads Poplar Bluff in receiving yards (555) and touchdown catches (8), interceptions on defense (4), punt return yards (92), while also averaging 38 yards per punt, returning kickoffs and holding extra-point and field goal kicks.
The Bulldogs will be happy not to see No. 89 lineup at receiver after Cox set a single-game school record for receiving yards last year against them, catching 11 passes for 241 yards and two touchdowns in Poplar Bluff's comeback win.
Luke Johnson, a senior, took over for Cox on offense last week while Myanza McCain moved from corner to fill in at safety with senior Rufus Ward and junior Xzavier Bartlet splitting time at corner. Cameron Jones held on a field goal attempt and a key fourth-quarter point-after kick for Victor Rivera, who has one career punt for 46 yards.
Barousse said that quarterback Logan Bell has also not practiced all week and has been in a boot due to a foot injury with Mason Libla getting all the first-team snaps. Running back Isaiah Johnson also missed practice Tuesday with an illness after taking more handoffs to fill in for RaShawn McCain, who was playing with a knee injury suffered at Farmington.
"We're kind of banged up," said Barousse, who noted that Sikeston has also had its share of missing players this season.
The Bulldogs opened with consecutive overtime wins over Charleston and Kennett before a 55-8 loss at Jackson. After beating Cape Central 28-19, Sikeston lost 12-0 at Dexter, its first shutout loss in 20 games dating to 2015.
Sikeston was without its top two scoring threats against Dexter with Ricky Scott out after being ejected the previous game and leading rusher Matthew Perry slowed by an ankle injury.
"Dexter beat us last week by being aggressive and physical," Sikeston coach Kent Gibbs told the Standard Democrat last week. "We did not respond well and didn't make the plays needed to win the game. The week before we were the aggressors and took the game to Cape."
Last week, Farmington scored the first 21 points and took advantage of a season-high five turnovers by Sikeston for a 35-28 road win. The Bulldogs rallied to tie the game in the fourth quarter but gave up a touchdown with 4 minutes left then had a pass intercepted in the end zone.
Sikeston got a spark off the bench from sophomore quarterback Gage Rolwing, who ran nine times for 101 yards. Nate Self, a junior, has completed 46 percent of his attempts for 778 yards with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions this season. He threw for 206 yards and four scores against Cape Central but was picked off twice by Dexter and three times last week.
"They have two different (offensive) packages that you've got to prepare for," Barousse said.
Scott (6-foot-3, 170-pounds) had a season-high 104 receiving yards on six catches last week and the junior leads the Bulldogs with four touchdown catches and 325 receiving yards. Bryce Bays (6-3, 180) gives Sikeston another big target and has 15 catches for 117 yards.
Perry (5-8, 183) is averaging nearly 6 yards per carry and is on pace for a 1,000-yard season with a team-high four touchdowns.
Sikeston's defense has forced 10 turnovers and has 14 sacks, six by lineman Tyreke Jamison who leads the Bulldogs in tackles.