Knights roll on offense

POPLAR BLUFF — The Farmington Knights defense had the answer to the Poplar Bluff Mules in the first half, but after that the game became a touchdown-a-rama with nine touchdowns scored in the last 24 minutes of the game. Having built a substantial lead in the first half, the Knights prevailed by a score of 65-40.

What looked to be a defensive battle from the start of the game, 3-0 after the first quarter and 16-6 with five minutes left in the half, soon became and offensive melee with the scoreboard numbers clicking with regularity for a reading of 37-6 at the half.

Logan Bradley’s first-quarter field goal came after Farmington had a touchdown called back on a holding penalty. The Knights would be yellow flagged 13 times in the game with only two being declined. Bradley was good on eight extra points as well.

Bryan Krause broke loose on a 57-yard punt return early in the second quarter to set up the another possible touchdown, but the Mules defense held at the five. The stop left the Mules in bad field position and after a three-and-out, running back Zach Oyler broke loose for a 37-yard run and the first of five touchdowns for the Knights.

Poplar Bluff tried to run the ball to start th game , but they found Farmington’s Achille’s heel with a drive solely on passing and their first touchdown, but the game went sour before the Mules could implement their discovery.

Farmington quarterback Zach Hibbitts found an open Krause for the Knights’ third touchdown, and Krause intercepted a Poplar Bluff pass a few seconds later and ran the ball back 46 yards for another score.

Oyler scored his third touchdown of the half in its final seconds.

Poplar Bluff continued their air assault in the second half and for the most part it was very effective, but the Mules defense had no answer for the Knights offense, and the two teams scored the rest of the way without much resistance. 

Oyler broke loose for a 45 yard TD, Hibbitts found Taylor Denman with a pass that Denman took to the one-yard line, setting up another Oyler score.

Ethan Bullard scored early in the fourth quarter and Krause scored his second touchdown on an interception for Farmington’s final score. The Mules would make their score respectable by scoring the last two touchdowns late in the game.

Farmington (6-2) will travel to West Plains on Friday to play the other winner in their district.