CEDAR HILL, Mo. -- Nik Rowland pounced on a loose ball as Poplar Bluff answered after giving up an early goal Tuesday night in the MSHSAA Class 4 District 1 semifinal.
It was the first goal for the Mules in about 250 minutes.
"It gave us hope that we can win," senior Daniel Orozco-Lozano said.
Seckman, however, answered seven minutes later to retake the lead and scored twice in the final five minutes of the half, wearing down the Mules for a 7-1 win at Northwest High School.
"I don't think we gave them any easy goals, we made them work for it," Mules coach Rusty Crafton said. "They were the better team tonight, they're the top seed for a reason.
"I think we kind of ran out of juice there towards the end, but it is what it is."
The Mules ended the season 4-17, the fewest wins for the program since the inaugural year and a 5-win season in 2007.
Seckman (14-10) advanced to play Jackson, a 2-1 winner over host Northwest in the other semifinal, in a rematch of last year's final.
"They were pretty good," said Orozco-Lozano.
The Jaguars scored just 4:45 after the opening kickoff when senior Alec Buol got a break up the middle, shot on the run and got the ball between keeper and the far post.
The Mules answered two minutes later when Hank Traxel and Rowland started a run. Elai Roll collided with a pair of defenders and goalie Trent Haegele on a ball sent ahead by Rowland. The junior, who followed the play, pounded the ball into the net for Poplar Bluff's first goal in four games.
"That's huge to counter back and get back in the game," Crafton said. "That's what you need to do in big games. It was good for us."
Seckman's leading scorer Ryan Berhorst, who came in with 29 goals in 23 games, got off a shot a minute later that was deflected and saved by keeper John Smothers. The junior, who started his second game for injured freshman Justin Moses, also made a stop on a free kick from 35 yards in the 10th minute.
But the Jaguars answered in the 14th minute when Buol cut in from the left side and sent a long shot to the far post where Berhorst redirected the ball into the net for the lead.
"We tried different scenarios, tried to mark (Berhorst), just trying different things to throw them off," Crafton said. "Give credit to them, they were a high-powered offensive team."
Seckman, which came in averaging 3.2 goals per game, thwarted the Mules from tying it a minute later when Rowland's throw to the front of the net was grabbed by Haegele. Another throw into the box by Rowland in the 19th minute led to a shot by Orozco-Lozano that Haegele stopped.
The Jaguars came up empty on a pair of corner chances in the 25th minute but broke through on a counter after a Poplar Bluff free kick with 5:11 left in the half.
Berhorst ended a long run with a quick stop and shot for a 3-1 lead after the Mules got a free kick from the 25-yard line.
Rowland's cross shot in the 37th minute sailed over the crossbar before Seckman added a goal with 1:31 left in the half.
Buol took a free kick from the 29-yard line that senior Matt Huster redirected for a 4-1 advantage.
"I think we got fatigued there," Crafton said. "We kind of shot ourselves in the foot and you can't do that in big games, especially in district matches. You can't do that, put yourself down. You've got to stay in the game to have a chance to win."
Seckman scored twice in the span of 49 seconds in the 48th minute. Senior midfielder Cody Eakins scored the first of his three second-half goals on a strong shot that Smothers got a piece of, then he redirected a cross from Berhorst to the back post.
The Jaguars had a goal not count in the 54th minute when the Mules caught Seckman offsides. Eakins finished his hat trick in the 74th minute, scoring off his own rebound.
"(Eakins) had a bullet shot, had that left foot, I knew him and (Berhorst) could rocket shots in," Crafton said.
The Mules were out-shot 17-11 but didn't have a corner chance all night while Seckman had eight.
Poplar Bluff freshman Alex Ketcherside had three shots stopped in the final nine minutes.
The Mules ended the season with 21 goals in as many games, getting shutout 10 times.
It was the final game for four seniors --Orozco-Lozano, Matthew Burcham, Walter Hickey and Juan Ventura.
"Juan and Matt, those guys were good leaders for us on and off the field," Crafton said. "Will miss them seniors guys, good group of guys."
After losing 11 seniors from the previous season, the Mules were much younger in Crafton's first season back leading the team.
"Unfortunately it was my last game so I'm kind of sad but I know that this team can do better next year," Orozco-Lozano said. "These young guys are pretty good. They just need a little bit of practice but they're going to be good next year."