Sunday, October 25, 2015

Mules vs. Friona (10-16-2015)



Mules vs. Friona (10-16-2015)

The Mules traveled north on Highway 214 to battle the Friona Chieftains Friday night. It was a contrast of two styles of football. The Mules utilize the Spread and keep the pedal-to-the-medal while the Chiefs prefer to the Single Wing and deplete the 40-second play clock down before snapping the ball.

The Mules have been averaging 112 plays per game on offense but against Friona their number of plays dropped to 60.

“It was like we only got to play half a game,” said Mule coach David Wood. “You could almost double all of our numbers and that is what we normally would have made. But we play the game as it comes each week and our kids don’t get frustrated or anxious.”

The Mules kicked off to start the game and Friona made a couple of first downs before Dagen Dunham batted down a pass on third down to force the Chiefs to punt.

The Friona deep snap to the punter was high and that gave Jose Mendoza time to cut in front of the punter to block the punt. Mario Flores attempted to scoop and score but was pulled down at the Friona 40.

Danny Campos connected with Dunham on a slant over the middle for seven yards. Campos then scooted up the middle for a first down at the Friona 30.

Campos then rolled right behind a block by Josh Lopez and fired a strike to Aaryn Ross running toward the Mule sideline. The pass was high and Ross leaped high for the catch and some how got his feet back down inbounds for a 10-yard gain.

Campos next rolled left and hit Tony Castillo for 16 yards at the Friona four-yard line. Dunham ran straight at his defender and Campos tossed him a back-shoulder pass. Dunham made a spinning one-handed grab for the Mules first touchdown with 8:05 remaining in the first quarter. The Mules led 6-0.

Following the Mule kickoff Friona gained a first down at the Chieftain 40. Dunham, Cameron Hardwick and Donavan Gutierrez sacked the Friona quarterback for a seven-yard loss. An incomplete pass forced Friona to punt.

The Mules allowed the ball to roll dead on the Mule 40. Campos rolled left under pressure. Jason Florez was running a fade down the sideline but recognized Campos was in trouble. Florez broke off his route and came back to make the reception for a 14-yard gain at the Friona 46.

Josh Lopez took a step to his right before cutting left on a counter play that resulted in a 21-yard gain. A holding penalty on the next play backed the Mules up to the Friona 35. Campos called the option play left and held on to the ball behind blocks by Hardwick and Jaxon Lee for a 35-yard TD. Bryce Mauricio booted the point after for a 13-0 Mule lead with 2:54 still on the clock in the first period.

Friona began a third drive on the Chiefs’ 30 and advanced the ball 10 yards for a first down at the Friona 40. Gutierrez and Hardwick rushed the Friona quarterback hard. He attempted to dump the ball to his running back for a screen pass just as Gutierrez and Hardwick hit him.

Dunham was in the right place at the right time and snagged the dieing quail as it dropped toward the deep turf at the Friona 33. Dunham jogged to the end zone for a defensive touchdown. Mauricio’s kick gave the Mules a 20-0 lead as the first period drew to a close.

The Mules added two more touchdowns in the second period. Campos connected with Florez with a 15-yard TD toss that capped an eight-play Mule drive with 8:49 remaining in the first half.

In the final minute of the first half Campos tossed a two-yard scoring pass to Tony Castillo to end a seven-play 72-yard drive. Mauricio’s point after gave the Mules a 34-0 Mule lead.

The Mules strung together an 11-play 80-yard drive that ended with Campos tossing a two-yard TD pass to Evan Paez for a 40-0 Mule lead with 3:33 left in the third period.

Mauricio ended all scoring with a 37-yard field goal in the final period with 1:40 left in the game.

The Mules rolled up a total of 351 yards Friday night and for the first time this season gained more yards on the ground than through the air. The Mules rushed for 230 yards and passed for 121.

Lopez had nine carries for 108 yards. Campos ran three times for 41 yards and a touchdown. He also completed 15 of 22 passes for 118 yards and four TDs to four different receivers.  

Mendoza carried seven times for 39 yards. Paez rushed three times for 28 yards and caught three passes for 10 yards and a touchdown. Dunham carried twice for 14 yards and caught two passes for 13 yards and a TD. He also intercepted a pass for a touchdown.

Florez had four catches for 56 yards and one TD. Castillo made two receptions for 15 yards and a touchdown. Aaryn Ross had three catches for 14 yards and Villa had one reception for 12 yards.

The Mule defense held Friona to a total of 87 yards of offense. The Chiefs had thirty-one rushes for 80 yards and completed three of nine passing attempts for seven yards.    

The 4-1, 2-0 Mules return home to the friendly confines of Benny Douglas Stadium Friday night to meet the 3-2, 2-0 Childress Bobcats. The winner of the game will have the lead in the District 1-3A.

The Mules two remaining games will be at Dimmitt and then close out the season at home against Littlefield. Childress will have games with River Road and Friona remaining. 

 

  

JV Mules vs. Friona (10-15-2015)



JV Mules vs. Friona (10-15-2015)

The JV Mules hosted the Friona Chieftains Thursday evening and Mikey Lozano ended the game with a Victory knee. The Mules defeated Friona 32-6 to improve to 2-0 in district competition.

The Mules attempted an onside kick to start the game but Friona covered the ball on the Chief 48.

Friona fumbled on the first play of the game and Jeremiah Smith covered the loose ball for the Mules at the Friona 45. Lozano tossed the ball to Jacob Kettner for a five-yard gain. Joe Waggoner hit the left side of the Mule line for seven yards and a first down.

Lozano kept wide left for 14 yards to the Friona 14. Waggoner pounded up the middle for five yards and Lozano kept up the middle for seven more yards. Sergio Solano took a reverse pitch from Lozano the final two yards for the Mules first touchdown with 6:54 left in the first period. Solano added the two-point conversion for an 8-0 Mule lead.

The Chiefs returned the Mule kickoff to the Friona 35. That was as far as the Chiefs could go and the Mules pushed them back to the 29. A short Friona punt was allowed to roll dead at the Chief 39.

The Mules fumbled and Friona recovered but could not advice the football and were again forced to punt. Lozano broke a tackle and returned the kick to the Mule 37.

Waggoner pounded up the middle for three yards. Lozano rolled left and then passed back right to Smith for a 35-yard gain. Lozano scored on a 20-yard run with Waggoner making the block to set Lozano free. The Mules led 14-0 with 30 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

The Chiefs managed to gain one first down but then had to punt to the Mule 45. A holding penalty halted the Mule drive and the ball went over on downs at the Friona 46.

The Mule defense forced a punt but then gave the ball back to the Chiefs with an intercepted pass. The two teams exchanged punts and with the half about to expire the Chiefs took a time out.

Friona scored on a 20-yard pass play but the two-point conversion failed. The Mules led 14-6 at the half.

Back-to-back sacks halted the Mules’ first drive of the second half. Fidel Mendoza punted the ball to the Friona 20 and a blocking in the back penalty pushed the Chiefs back to the Friona 10.

Lozano stepped in front of the Friona pass at the Chief 20 and returned the ball for a defensive touchdown. The Mules led 20-6 with just over seven minutes left in the third period.

Waggoner and Mendoza put pressure on the Friona quarterback to force an incomplete pass on third down. The Chief punt rolled dead on the Mule 45.

Waggoner carried on the first three plays of the Mule drive for a total of 19 yards. Lozano connected with JoJo Rejino on the Mule sideline. He broke a tackle and went 18 yards to the Friona four.

Tim Perez pounded ahead for three yards. Lozano scored on a one-yard run with 1:48 remaining in the third period. The Mules led 26-6.

Kettner scored the Mules final TD by intercepting a Friona pass at the Chief 35 and returned to the end zone with three seconds left in the third quarter.

The Mules will hit the road Thursday and make the long trip to Childress to battle the Bobcats.

 

9th Mules vs. Shallowater (10-15-2015



9th Mules vs. Shallowater (10-15-2015

Friona did not field a freshmen team for the 2015 football season so the Mules were forced to look elsewhere for an opponent. The Shallowater Mustangs were having a similar problem so the two teams squared off Thursday evening in Muleshoe.

It did not take the Mustangs long to jump in the lead and scored on the first offensive play of the game. Shallowater added the two-point conversion. The Mules answered quickly with Yoel Reyes returning the ensuing Shallowater kickoff 82 yards for a Mule TD just 14 seconds after the Mustangs.

The Mules two-point conversion failed. Shallowater went on to defeat the Mules 60-38.

The Mustangs added two more touchdowns in the first period to lead the Mules 20-6 at the end of the first period. Shallowater punched in another score early in the second period to increase the Mustangs lead to 28-6.

Ean Hasley leaped high in the air to snag the Shallowater kickoff at the Mule 40 and dropped to the turf. Izaiah Hurtado kept the ball for four yards. Rocky Martinez went in motion from his wide receiver position and took the handoff on the Jet play.

Martinez scored on the 56-yard run. Hurtado scooted wide right for the two-point conversion to cut the Shallowater lead to 28-14.

It only took the Mustangs two plays to score and increase the Mustang lead to 36-14.

The Mules next drive began on the Mule 31. Luke Del Toro powered up the middle for 14 yards. The Mules had to over come a holding penalty with Brady Martinez taking an option pitch 51 yards for a touchdown with 4:10 left in the half. B. Martinez added the two-point conversion by battling into the end zone. The Mules trailed 36-22 at the intermission.

The two teams exchanged turnovers early in the third period. The Mules had a pass intercepted at the Shallowater 17 but the Mules got the ball back on a Mustang fumble that Jamie Vidana recovered on the Mule 48.

The Mules failed to convert the turnover and were forced to return the ball on downs near midfield. It only took the Mustangs two plays to score and take a 44-22 lead over the Mules with 2:33 left in the third quarter.

The Mules needed only one play to score on a reverse and Reyes zipped 66 yards for TD with 2:13 left on the clock in the third quarter. Del Toro kept up the middle for the two-point conversion to trim the lead to 44-30.

Shallowater scored on the first play of the final period to extend the lead to 52-30.

The Mules final scoring drive started at the Mule 37 after an 11-yard kickoff return by the Mules. Del Toro tossed the ball 22 yards downfield to Reyes at the Shallowater 42. Reyes raced in for a 63-yard TD pass and run. Del Toro passed to Raul Sierra for the two-point conversion.

The Childress Bobcats no longer have a freshmen team so the Mules have invited the Lubbock Monterey Plainsmen to play in Benny Douglas Stadium following the seventh and eighth grade Mules‘ games.  

 

7th & 8th Mules vs. Friona (10-15-2015)



7th & 8th Mules vs. Friona (10-15-2015)

The seventh and eighth grade Mules both rolled over the Friona Braves Thursday evening to remain undefeated with records of 6-0. The seventh grade Mules blasted the Braves 44-16 while the eighth grade Mules pulled out a 26-20 victory. 

Joe Gutierrez got the seventh grade Mules started with 40-yard touchdown scamper. Matthew Fabela scored on a 20-yard reception from Gutierrez. Joey Martinez was the next Mule in the end zone with a 30-yard scoring run. Martinez added the two-point conversion.

Gutierrez scooted in from 36-yards out for his second TD. Mario Guardado caught a 60-yard score toss from Gutierrez. Guardado ran for a 55-yard TD and Martinez was back in the end zone from 25 yards out.

Riley Kettner, Victor Velasquez and Kurt Rodriguez all made fumble recoveries.

Jimmy Villa got the eighth grade Mules on the board with a 15-yard reception for a touchdown from Damian Juarez. Elio Sanchez added the two-point conversion with a reception from Juarez.

Matthew Alarcon scored on a 60-yard reception from Juarez. Hector Arras also had a 60-yard scoring toss from Juarez. Jose Cardenas caught a 30-yard toss from Juarez.

The Mules return home to play the Childress Bobcats Thursday evening. The seventh grade will kick off at 4:00 PM and the eighth grade will follow. The freshmen Mules will play immediately following the eighth grade Mules.

MHS C-C @ Abernathy (10-10-2015)



MHS C-C @ Abernathy (10-10-2015)

The Muleshoe High School and Junior High School cross-country teams competed in the Abernathy Antelope Cross-Country Meet Saturday. The varsity Lady Mules placed sixth from 12 teams, the Mules finished first from 11 teams, the JV Lady Mules ran fourth and the JV Mules did not have enough runners to compete as a team.

The Junior High Lady Mules won the team silver medal and the Mules came away with the team gold medal.

Liliana Martinez led the Lady Mules with a time of 12 minutes 50.20 seconds to win the individual silver medal. Reina Regalado placed 18th with a time of 13:34.40. Other members of the team were Jasmine Garza, Mireya Ruvalcaba and Citlalli Vargas.  

Evan Paez paced the gold medal Mules with a 17:39.20 for the individual silver medal.
Jacob Kettner placed eighth with an 18:21.50, Eduardo Panjota finished twelfth in a time of 18:29.50. Edyy Elizalde ran twenty-fifth with a time of  19:25.80 and Jesse Leal finished thirty-second with a 19:37.70. There were 78 competitors in this race.

“These guys did great,” said Muleshoe cross-country coach Edie Niblett. “The weather was a little chilly and grass was freshly mowed with a rain shower on top.”

Kyndal Miller led the JV Lady Mules with a fifteenth place finish in a time of 15:22.40.  Cassidy Cage ran eighteenth with a time of 15:51.50, Blanca Ramirez was steps behind for nineteenth with a 15:55.10 and Brylee Beall finished twenty-second with a time of 16:03.80. Lillie Barrera placed thirty-third with a time of 17:36.70.

“There were several things going on this particular week-end,” continued Coach Niblett. “I appreciate these ladies competing in this meet.”

The JV Mules did not have enough to compete as a team but ran as individuals. Kevin Gonzales finished in ninth place with a time of 21:22.90. Mario DeHoyas placed sixteenth and Luke Leal crossed the line in twenty-second place.

“I appreciate these young men running when there isn't enough to make a team,” concluded Coach Niblett.

“This weekend we ran in Abernathy,” said Muleshoe Junior High cross-country coach, Jalissa King. “Every week we seem to be improving and almost all of our kids ran their personal best for the season thus far.”

The young Lady Mules earned the team silver medal. Anahi Barrera set the pace for the Lady Mules with a bronze medal time of 13:04.41. Anzley Rodriguez finished sixth with a 13:30.70

The young Mules won the team gold with Ricky Diaz leading the way with a bronze medal time of 11:43.80. Beto Mendoza was steps behind in fourth place with at time of 11:50.20

The District Meet will be in Lubbock October 19th on the Mae Simmons Park Course. The JV girls are scheduled to run first at 1:30 PM with the other teams to follow.