Making its first playoff appearance since 2000, Poplar Bluff turned a blocked punt into the game-winning score in a first-round win Wednesday at Festus.

Early in the fourth quarter of the Class 4 regional game, Nick Schrum stormed through the middle of the line to block the punt and Jake Smith recovered in the end zone for the score that gave to give Poplar Bluff its 19-14 victory.

"We saw that they were a little susceptible to that," Poplar Bluff Coach Shane Kearbey said.

It was the second time this fall, Festus had allowed a blocked punt to turn into a score.

Festus, a district champ for the third year in a row, finishes the season 6-5. Festus also lost in the first round last year, falling 29-28 to West Plains.

Poplar Bluff, 9-2, advances to play in the state sectional Monday at Sikeston, 11-0. Sikeston defeated Poplar Bluff 28-0 in district play.

The blocked punt was the last in a series of big defensive plays that altered Wednesday's playoff contest. "It was our best defensive game of the year," Tigers Coach Russ Schmidt said.

Festus scored its first touchdown on a 98-yard drive after recovering a Poplar Bluff fumble in the shadow of its goal line. The Tigers' other score came when a defensive stand stopped Poplar Bluff on fourth down at the Festus 35. The Festus defense also intercepted a pass and blocked a PAT kick.

Big plays weren't limited to defense. Festus took a 14-13 halftime lead when running back Donta Taylor rainbowed a 41-yard touchdown pass to Cody Roberts with two seconds lift in the first half. Festus's other touchdown came when quarterback Shawn Crump scored on an 8-yard keeper on the first play of the second quarter.

Poplar Bluff had its offense in high gear much of the night. Eljie Johnson, who had 202 yards rushing on 10 carries, scored both Poplar Bluff touchdowns. The senior scored on runs of 89 and 32 yards.

Miscues and penalties prevented Poplar Bluff from pulling away from Festus. Mules fumbled six times -- they lost only one of those -- and were whistled for eight penalties, all in the second half. One penalty negated a touchdown pass and another took away a 53-yard pass that Johnson carried to the Festus 10.

"I told the kids to count their toes since we shot ourselves in the foot so often," Kearbey said.

dbarnidge@yourjournal.com