Dexter, Missouri - An August storm full of rain and lightning covering most of southeast Missouri delayed the Poplar Bluff vs Dexter football game by 30 minutes on Friday evening at Charles Bland Stadium.  The 30-minute wait is a rule handed down from MSHSAA (Missouri State High School Activities Association) when lightning is spotted in the area.  Once play resumed it was the Mules who came out on top 41 - 8.

Poplar Bluff took the lead early scoring on their first three possessions of the game.  Jerrid Moore took the opening kick-off about 80 yards in the first 11 seconds of the first quarter to put the Mules on the scoreboard first.

Poplar Bluff’s Zane Foust pass to Tyson Cox led to the second touchdown with just 8:20 left in the first quarter.  Brett Larousse ran 12 yards to score the third touchdown and then carried the ball 10 yards for the fourth touchdown in the first quarter.

Dexter was able to force two turnovers in the 2nd quarter.  Seth Rogers came up with both, one was only inches from the goal line and the other on the Bearcat 21 yard line.

The football game was delayed for 30 minutes at the 4:51 mark of the first quarter because of lightning.  Despite the rain several Bearcat and Mule fans toughed it out and waiting for the boys of fall to return to the field.

“When the kids had to sit there for 30 minutes and decide who wants to play football or not, that’s a big thing,” Goltra said.

Once the ball was back in play and the teams took the field,  Zane Foust connected with Tyson Cox with a 54-yard touchdown pass with 4:42 left in the half and the Mules took a 34-0 lead into the half-time break.

“We came out terrible,” commented Dexter head football coach Kevin Goltra.  “It all started with the opening kick-off return for a touchdown.  We really miss Jason Jarrell terribly bad in the kicking game.”

“I think that just deflated the balloon completely until the lightning hit, until halftime,” continued Goltra.

Dexter came out strong in the 3rd quarter. Trevor McDonald raced down the field for a gain of 34 yards on the second play.  Payton Tinnin ran for a 22-yard gain setting up a 2-yard touchdown by Hunter Lawrence. Gabe Jackson caught a 2-point pass from Ben Sindle putting the Bearcats on the board for the first time.  Score 34-8.

“We made adjustments and the kids responded, so I think they are slowly starting to see how to win,” commented Goltra.  “They were ready to play after halftime.  The second half I saw some very encouraging things.  I saw excitement in the offensive line that I haven’t seen before.”

Quarterback Logan Bell completed the final touchdown of the game for Poplar Bluff in the third quarter with 1:21 left on the clock.  A 13-yard touchdown run earned the win for the Mules.  Final score 41 - 8.

The Mules finished with a total of 182 yards led by 106 yards passing from Zane Foust who hit Tyson Cox four times for 79 yards.  Brett Larousse rushed for 77 yards on six carries.

The Bearcats finished with a total of 160 yards.  Payton Tinnin rushed for 75 yards on 21 carries and Trevor McDonald rushed for 72 yards on 14 carries.

Jett Featherston earned 4 tackles and 7 tackle assists. Bo McMullen recorded 3 tackles and 6 tackle assists.

Dexter will travel to New Madrid County Central on Friday evening while Poplar Bluff travels to St. Charles, Missouri.  Game times are 7:00 p.m.