Sunday, September 27, 2015

MHS C-C in Lubbock (9-19-2015)



MHS C-C in Lubbock (9-19-2015)

The varsity Lady Mules placed sixth out of 15 teams in the Lubbock Cross-Country Meet Saturday. Liliana Martinez medaled with a time 13 minutes and 20 seconds placing 13th and Dellany Martinez finished 29th with a time of 13:51. These two ladies are classified as freshmen.

Other members of the team helping with the sixth place finish were Mireya Ruvulcaba, Alyssa Wheeler, Reina Regalado, Jasmine Garza, and Brylee Beall. There were 109 girls in the race.

The Mule varsity boys finished ninth out of 17 teams. Evan Paez squeaked by in 19th place to receive a medal finishing with a time of 17:57. Other members of the team this week were Jacob Kettner, Eduardo Pantoya, Edyy Elizalde, Malachi Rodriquez, Rejino Sanchez, and Kevin Gonzales. There were 121 boys running this week.

No junior varsity times were available as only the varsity teams were timed.

“Our kids ran better this week than last and we hope to improve with every meet,” said Muleshoe cross-country coach, Edie Niblett. “We will travel to Amarillo Saturday and Sundown the following week. We only have three more meets before running district.”

Mules vs. Perryton (9-18-2015)



Mules vs. Perryton (9-18-2015)

There are many ways to win a football game and the Mules seem to find a new tactic that works each week. The Mules made kickoff returns of 95 and 49 yards for touchdowns. One capped off a three-touchdown scoring flurry that took just 18 seconds of the final period.

“My Dad told me a long time ago that if you won your Homecoming game, no matter what happened, it was a good game,” said Mule coach David Wood. “There are numerous distractions during Homecoming week and keeping the players focused is difficult at best.”

The Mules never trailed during the game and claimed a 52-37 win over the Perryton Rangers to top off the Homecoming festivities.

Danny Campos followed Jaxon Lee’s block to the end zone. The run completed a 13-play 62-yard drive to put the Mules on top 44-29 after Bryce Mauricio split the uprights with 2:46 remaining in the game.

Perryton refused to quit and 11 seconds after the Mules had scored: Hadley Allred connected with Dalton Rigdon streaking down the sideline for a 75-yard touchdown. The Allred-to-Rigdon combo tacked on the two-point conversion to trim the Mule lead to 44-37.

The Rangers had recovered an onside kick earlier in the contest and attempted a second. The Mules were ready and Jason Florez stepped forward to receive the ball at the Perryton 49.

He split a pair of Rangers and out distanced the field to the end zone 18 seconds after Campos had scored. The Mules lined up to boot the point after but it was a fake. Dagen Dunham snapped the ball high so Campos could catch the ball standing up.

Dunham and Mauricio sealed off the Rangers and Campos scooted through for the two-point conversion to end all scoring.

The Mules seemed to catch a break during the opening kickoff. Jesse Easley ripped the ball away from a Ranger and Evan Paez recovered on the Perryton 45.

The Mules were forced to turn the ball over on downs and the two teams exchanged possession of the ball four more times. Paez sniffed out a Ranger screen pass and ripped the ball loose. Lee recovered on the Perryton 12-yard line.

An interference penalty on first down moved the Mules to the Perryton two. Josh Lopez powered in for the TD. Mauricio tacked on the point after and the Mules led 7-0 with just over two minutes remaining in the opening period.

The Rangers returned Tony Vasquez kickoff to the Perryton 22. It was three and out for the Rangers with Matt Flores breaking up a pass on third down. The Rangers punted to the Mule 43.

A holding penalty backed the Mules up 10 yards on first down. Campos made the most of a bad situation when an unexpected snap hit him on the leg and dropped to the turf. Campos quickly picked up the ball and fired a strike to Vasquez streaking down the field.

Vasquez was brought down at the Perryton 14 after Vasquez’ 53-yard gain. Lopez went up the middle for nine yards on first down. Lopez powered in from the five. Campos carried the two-point conversion over to give the Mules a 15-0 lead with 20 seconds left on the clock in the first period. 

The Rangers broke the scoring ice with a 29-yard field goal with nine and half minutes remaining in the first half. The Mules led 15-3.

Tre Villa took the ensuing Ranger kickoff at the Mule five-yard line. Easiley raced back across the field to make the block that set Villa free to race up the middle of the field 95 yards for a touchdown. Campos tossed to Ross in the end zone for the two-point conversion and a 23-3 Mule lead.

The two teams exchanged possession and the Mules punted to the Perryton 31.

The Rangers gained a first down before Vasquez hit the intended receiver as the ball arrived. The ball was tipped up and Jose Mendoza ran under the loose ball for an interception to give the Mules the ball on the Mule 46.

The ensuing Mule 15-play drive consumed four minutes and 40 seconds. Campos tossed it up to Castillo in the end zone from eight yards out. The Mules extended their lead to 29-3 with the half winding down.

The Rangers only had 35 seconds to make something happen before the intermission and were 58 yards from pay dirt. Allred hit Rigdon with a 53-yard scoring pass to cut the Mule lead to 29-11 at the half.

Torres got the scoring started for the Rangers in the second half following a successful onside kick. Torres booted a 24-yard field goal after the Mule defense stalled the Perryton offense.

The Mules answered with a four-play 59-yard drive. Lopez returned the kickoff 10 yards to the Mule 41. Campos hit Vasquez over the middle for a 34-yard gain. Lopez bounced off tacklers up the middle for 12 yards.

Lopez added five more yards before Campos kept up the middle behind blocks by Conner Harrison and Lee for a TD. Campos tossed to Ross for the two-point conversion and a 37-14 Mule lead.

The Rangers scored twice more on with the Allred-to-Rigdon connection. On score was from 17 yards out and the second covered 67 yards. The Mules still led 37-29 before the 18 second scoring flurry began.

The Mules were short of their average offensive explosion with a total of 361 yards. Campos completed 14 of 29 passing attempts for 203 yards and threw for one touchdown. He rushed 12 times for 45 yards and two touchdowns.

The Mules rushed for 158 yards with Lopez carrying 17 times for 77 yards and two TDs. Paez ran four times for 32 yards. Vasquez made two receptions for 83 yards,  Florez caught four throws for 58 yards and Castillo snagged three passes for 36 yards and one touchdown.

Donovan Gutierrez led the Mules on defense with 15 tackles, one on special teams and two quarterback hurries. Mario Flores finished for 12 tackles, Paez made 11 stops and forced two fumbles.

Dominik Hasley made 10 tackles. Dunham had eight tackles, two for losses, two sacks, one big hit, two quarterback hurries and blocked two passes. Lee made eight tackles one for a loss, one sack and recovered a fumble.

The Mules will board buses early Friday afternoon for a long trip to Kermit. The Yellow Jackets are currently 0-4 on the season.

8th Mules vs. Shallowater (9-17-2015)



8th Mules vs. Shallowater (9-17-2015)

The eighth grade Mules were in a battle Thursday night with the Shallowater Mustangs. Neither team could score in the opening period but the Mules toughed it out and improved their record to 2-0 with a 24-20 win.

Cristian Bustillos blocked a Mustang punt just before the first period ended and the ball rolled out of bounds at the Mustang 17.

Damian Juarez kept right on first down for nine yards. Two plays later Juarez scored on a five-yard run to give the Mules a 6-0 lead with 7:14 remaining in the first half.

Nathan Rodriguez kicked off to the Mustang end zone and Shallowater started a drive on the 25.

The Mustangs drove down the field and scored on a one-yard plunge. Shallowater added the two-point conversion to take an 8-6 lead over the Mules with 2:48 left in the first half.

Matthew Alarcon returned the Shallowater kickoff 15 yards to the Mule 37. Juarez located Jacob Barron open at the Mustang 35 and tossed him the ball. Barron was finally brought down at the Shallowater 19.

Bustillos caught a screen pass that was good for five yards. Jose Cardenas came open in the end zone and Juarez fired him the ball for a touchdown with 20 seconds left in the first half. Juarez ran in the two-point conversion for a 14-8 Mule lead.

Rodriguez kicked off and the ball hit a Shallowater player on the foot before going into the end zone. A Mustang picked up the ball and was tackled by the Mules for a safety. The Mules led 16-8 at the intermission.

The Mustangs scored on the first play of the second half with a 65-yard pass and run. The Mules held a 16-14 lead with 7:45 left in the third period.

Alarcon returned the ensuing kickoff six yards to the Mule 19. Juarez had carries of seven and four yards before a holding penalty set the Mules back to the 23. Jesus Montiel went six yards. The Mules stalled with an incomplete pass on fourth down.

The Mustangs scored on a one-yard run with 1:55 left in the third period to take a 20-16 lead over the Mules. 

Kelan Florez returned the Shallowater kickoff 11 yards to the Mule 40. Juarez put the Mules on his back and had runs of seven, 15 and eight yards before he scored on a 19-yard jaunt. Juarez added the two-point conversion for the final points of the game.

Juarez led the Mules in rushing with 147 yards. Barron led the Mules in receiving with 50 yards, Jimmy Villa had 25 yards receiving and Jose Cardenas caught passes for 20 yards.

The Mules will travel to Kermit to meet the Yellow Jackets Thursday afternoon.


7th Mules vs. Shallowater (9-17-2015)



7th Mules vs. Shallowater (9-17-2015)

The seventh grade Mules hosted the Shallowater Mustangs Thursday afternoon. The Mules appeared to get off to a fast start with Joe Gutierrez returning the opening kick 47 yards.

The Mules fumbled on the first play of game. The Mustangs then scored two plays later on a 50-yard run to take a 6-0 lead over the Mules.

The Mules were able to bounce back and improved to a 2-0 season record with a 42-18 win over the Mustangs.

Joe Martinez returned the second Mustang kick off 22 yards to the Shallowater 48. The Mules lost three yards on first down. Guiterrez kept the football and rolled wide right and after turning the corner raced 51 yards for a TD.

Martinez took a pitch from Guiterrez for the two-point conversion to put the Mules in front to stay. The Mules led 8-6 with 5:32 remaining in the first period.

The Mustangs did not return the ensuing kick and started the drive on the Shallowater 32. Kurt Rodriguez sacked the Mustang quarterback on third down to force a punt. The Mustang punt rolled dead on the Mule 35.

Martinez went up the middle on second down and cut to his left. He ducked under a flying tackler and raced 47 yards to the Shallowater 16.

Gutierrez capped off the drive with runs of 14 and seven yards for a score. The Mules led 14-6 with 45 seconds left in the opening period.

It was three-and-out for the Mustangs with Riley Kettner returning the punt six yards to the Shallowater 30. A fumble gave the Mustangs the ball back as the second period started.

Elias Aguirre flashed through the Mustang line to sack the quarterback for a seven-yard loss. Jacob Toscano plugged the running lane to set the Mustangs back one yard. Guiterrez picked off a Mustang pass at the Shallowater 48 and returned to the Mustang 22.

Martinez raced wide left for 13 yards. Then Guiterrez connected with Martinez over the middle for 15 yards to the Mustang one-yard line. Gutierrez plunged in for the score to put the Mules on top 20-6 with 1:04 remaining in the first half.

The ensuing kick hit a Mustang and he covered the ball at the Shallowater 45. The Mustangs scored on a 55-yard run to cut the Mule lead to 26-12 at the half.

The Mules kicked off to start the second half. The Mustangs failed to move the ball with Eli Macias making back-to-back tackles. The Mustang punt rolled dead on the Shallowater 49.

The Mules scored on a 49-yard run by Gutierrez to take a 36-12 lead to end the third quarter.

The Mustangs again failed to move the ball with Aguirre and Victor Velasquez both making tackles for losses. Shallowater punted to the Mule 46 and Gutierrez returned 54 yards for a touchdown. Martinez tacked on the two-point conversion to extend the Mule lead to 42-12.

Shallowater score the final touchdown with a 16-yard pass.

Guiterrez led the Mules with 124 yards rushing and Martinez added 78 yards. 

The Mules will make the long trip to Kermit Thursday afternoon to play the Yellow Jackets. 



Monday, September 14, 2015

Mules vs. Seagraves (9-11-2015)



Mules vs. Seagraves (9-11-2015)

It was almost like the scene from the sports movie ‘Hoosiers’ Friday night. The Mules were the beneficiary of one final play following a defensive penalty on what had appeared to be the final play of the game.

A time out was called and the Mules huddled around their coach, David Wood. By using a certain amount of imagination the fans may have thought they heard Bryce Mauricio tell Coach Wood, “I will make it Coach.”

No one in the stands actually heard him say it but Coach Wood heard his players telling him that Bryce (Mauricio) could make the 28-yard field goal. Wood agreed and sent Mauricio in to attempt the field goal.

Mauricio took the field and after Danny Campos spotted the tee, Mauricio lined up the kick and stepped off his approach. Campos called for the ball, placed it on the tee and Mauricio split the uprights for the 39-36 Mule win over the highly rated Seagraves Eagles.

“I was not sure we had a kicker for Friday night after we had lost ours early in the week,” said Coach Wood. “We had three players practicing kicking but we had prepared to go for the two-conversion after we scored. I felt the guys needed another week of practice before kicking in a game.”

“Bryce had been kicking off for us during the game and was putting the ball where I  asked him to place it. The team believed in him also so I made the decision to go for the field goal.”

Coach Wes Wood told Mauricio just before the Mules broke the huddle, “Just relax. The worst that can happen if you miss is that we win it in overtime.”

Mauricio showed no emotion as he methodically went about preparing for the winning kick. After the ball went between the standards he began to stride off the field with even less emotion being displayed. The same can not be said for his teammates as they began to celebrate and then brought Mauricio into the growing number of celebrating Mules on the field.

The Mule won the toss and kicked off to the Eagles. Mario Flores made the tackle at the Eagle 33. A high snap on first down cost the Eagles 15 yards. The Mules held and forced a punt that rolled out of bounds on the Mule 45.

The Mules worked their way toward the Eagle end zone with the help of a 20-yard pass and run from Campos to Tony Castillo running a slant over the middle. Josh Lopez then found a running lane up the middle for 14 yards.

A screen pass to Jason Florez was good for 11 yards. Dagen Dunham and Aaryn Ross opened the way down field for Florez. Lopez then powered up the middle to the Seagraves one-yard line. Campos dove over for the Mules first touchdown with 8:06 left in the first period.

Campos attacked the line of scrimmage from the Swinging Gate and tossed to Dunham for the two-point conversion for an 8-0 Mule lead.

The Mule defense stepped up after the Eagles made a first down at the Mule 15. Jose Mendoza tripped up premier Eagle running back, Cory Kyle, on first down and Donavan Gutierrez applied the finishing touches.

Rigo Rivas and Javy Perez flew to the ball on third down to make the stop a yard short of a first down. The Eagle quarterback fumbled the snap on fourth down at the Mule six. The Mules took over on downs.

The Mules gave the ball back to the Eagles with a fumble at the Mule 37.

Dunham managed to leap high in the air while being blocked and batted down an Eagle pass with his big left hand. But that was not enough and the Eagles would not be denied and scored early in the second period to tie the score at 8-8 with 10:19 remaining in the first half.

The Mules returned the ensuing kick to the Mule 21. Campos tossed to Tre Villa for a 31-yard gain to midfield. Campos tossed to Florez on a screen pass for 18 yards. Castillo was Campos next target at the Eagle five. Castillo avoided a defender and scooted in from five yards out.

Campos again found Dunham for the two-point conversion and the Mules led 16-8 with 7:48 remaining in the first half.

The Eagles again tied the game on a two-yard run by Kyle. Kyle then added the two-point conversion with just under four minutes still on the clock in the half.

Florez received the Eagle kickoff on the Seagraves side of the field and returned the ball back toward the center of the field. Villa raced toward Florez. Florez pitched the ball to Villa for a reverse that caught the Eagles flat footed.

Villa split the defense behind a block by Ross and raced behind a wall of Mule blockers to the Mule 40. Campos connected with Dunham for a six yard gain. The Campos to Florez screen pass was working for the Mules.

Castillo and Dunham provided blocks and Florez forced a defender to miss before he raced 54 yards for a touchdown. The two-play 60-yard drive only took 42 seconds off the clock. A Campos to Ross pass in the end zone gave the Mules a 24-16 advantage with 3:03 still in the half.

Cameron Hardwick dropped Kyle for a single yard on first down following the Eagle return to the Seagraves 45. Jaxon Lee wrapped up the Eagle quarterback after a short gain on second down. Dunham again showed his hops as he leaped and knocked down the pass with his left hand. The Eagle punt rolled dead on the Mule 27.

Lopez gained three yards on first down. The Campos to Florez screen connection was still hot. Hardwick made a block at the line of scrimmage for Florez before an Eagle missed a tackle opportunity. Kevin Mendoza provided a block 10-yards down field to set Florez free for a 70-yard TD pass and run.

The conversion failed but the Mules owned a 30-16 lead with a just over a minute left in the half.

The Eagles quickly marched down field and scored on a 28-yard toss over the middle to Kyle. Jose Mendoza circled the outside blockers and leaped in front of the holder to block the point-after kick. The Mules lead had been cut to 30-22 at the intermission.

The Mules only touchdown of the second half came on a Campos to Villa 37-yard scoring toss. The two-point conversion was short. The Mules led 36-22 with 4:32 remaining in the third quarter.

The Eagles gathered some momentum in final period and scored twice to tie the game at 36-36 with 4:19 left in the game.

Dylan Miller and Gutierrez combined for a stop on third down of what proved to be the Eagles final drive. Tony Vasquez made the tackle leaving the Eagles two-yards short of a first on fourth down. The Mules took over on downs at the Mule 34.

Campos tossed to Florez for 12 yards on first down. Florez made a catch on third down and ran over one defender for an extra 10 yards to the Eagle 13. Campos then scrambled up the middle for eight more yards.

Seagraves brought the house and Campos was again forced to scramble. He fumbled when he was hit from behind but the ball rolled out of bounds at the Eagle 18. The Mules lost five more yards on a motion penalty.

Only :02.2 seconds were left in the game when the Mules lined up on fourth down and needed 26 yards for a touchdown. Campos saw Castillo about to come open in the end zone when he launched his final pass.

The Eagle defender realized he was beaten and reached back and drug Castillo to the turf before the ball arrived. A flag was immediately thrown. The penalty was stepped off and the Mules had one final opportunity to score before the game went to overtime.

“In 20 years of coaching,” continued Wood. “I had never won a game on a last second field goal. We have tried a few times but it never worked out. This just gives us another arrow in our quiver.”

The Mules finished the night with 479 total yards of offense. Campos completed 27 of 37 attempts for 415 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for another. The Mules rushed for 64 more yards. Lopez led the Mules in rushing with nine attempts for 43 yards and made two receptions for 49 yards.

Florez led the Mules in receiving with 11 catches for 221 yards and two TDs. Villa caught five passes for 102 yards and one touchdown. Castillo had five receptions for 53 yards and one TD. Three other Mules combined for four receptions for 20 yards.

The Mule defense held the Eagles to 301 yards with 183 being on the ground and 118 coming through the air. Kyle was held to 117 yards rushing on 28 attempts. He also caught three passes for 65 yards. Kyle rushed for two touchdowns and made one receiving.

Gutierrez led the Mules with 17 tackles and caused a fumble. Ross also had 17 tackles with six being on special teams. Mendoza made 15 stops with three being on special teams and blocked a kick. Hardwick finished with 15 tackles, one being for a loss and one quarterback hurry. 

Perez had 13 tackles and made an interception. Dunham made 11 tackles, had a quarterback hurry and blocked two passes. Tony Vasquez had 11 stops with two on special teams.

The Perryton Rangers will visit Benny Douglas Stadium Friday night. It is the Muleshoe High School’s Homecoming celebration and the bonfire will be held about sundown Thursday evening. The Homecoming Queen will be crowned during half time of the game. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM.