9th Mules vs. Levelland (8-27-2015)

9th Mules vs. Levelland (8-27-2015)

The freshmen Mules hosted the class 4-A Levelland Lobos and the two teams played to a dead heat Thursday in Benny Douglas Stadium. The Mules never led during the contest but battled to a 22-22 tie. 

The Mules attempted an onside kick to start the game but the Lobos recovered on the Levelland 46. Five plays later the Lobos were in the end zone, scoring on a 31-yard scamper up the middle with 6:41 remaining in the first period. 

The Lobo two-point conversion attempt failed when Ean Hasley tackled the receiver short of the goal line. Levelland led the Mules 6-0.

The Mules returned the ensuing Lobo kickoff to the Mule 25.  It was one-play-all-the-way for the Mules. Jorge Albarran took a pitch wide right 75-yards for the Mules’ first score just eight seconds after the Lobos had scored. 

The Mules failed to add the extra points and the score was tied at 6-6 with 6:33 left in the opening quarter. 

Levelland returned the favor by scoring of the first play following the Mule kick off. Levelland returned the kick to the Lobo 35. A 65-yard pass and run put the Lobos back in the Mule end zone. The two-point conversion was good and the Lobos led 14-6 with 6:21 still on the clock in the first quarter. 

Both teams’ defense took over and the teams battled up and down the field until late in the second period. 

The Lobos had taken over on downs near midfield and picked up a first down at the Mule 39. Ryan Rodriguez stepped in front of a tipped pass and returned 60 yards for a Mule defensive touchdown. 

Rodriguez scampered wide left for the two-point conversion to tie the game at 14-14 with 1:19 remaining in the first half.

The Lobos scored next with 2:46 left in the third quarter and added the two-point conversion to take a 22-14 advantage. 

Jacob Deleon returned the ensuing kickoff nine-yards to the Mule 29. Izaiah Hurtado took a pitch wide left for a 22-yard gain. Albarran scooted 20-yards up the middle on a draw play to the Lobo 26. 

Rodriguez reached the corner and cut up field for 10 yards. Albarran pounded up the middle on back-to-back plays to the Lobo two-yard line. Hurtado scooted left for the final two yards for a Mule touchdown with only one-and-a-half seconds remaining in the third period. 

Luke Del Toro connected with Yoel Reyes with a wide-receiver screen pass for the two-point conversion to tie the game at 22-22. 

Late in the final period the Lobos mounted a 14-play drive. The Mule defense was up to the task of stopping the Lobos. 

The Lobos were facing fourth down and needed nine yards for a touchdown. Both teams took a time out before the Lobos completed a pass for a first down at the Mule one-yard line. A motion penalty cost the Lobos five yards with 30 seconds remaining in the game. 

Hurtado managed to knock down a Lobo pass in the end zone. The clock stopped with 22 seconds showing. Rocky Martinez plugged a hole in the Lobo line on fourth down to make the tackle at the Mule seven. 

The Mules only had 13 seconds to work with and could not score. 

The schedule gets no easier for the Mules. The Sweetwater Mustangs will visit the Mules Thursday evening at 5:00 PM.