Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Mules vs. Idalou (9-23-2016)

Mules vs. Idalou (9-23-2016)

The Mules and Idalou Wildcats both came into the game Friday night with records of 2-2. The Mule defense had been in question this past week after the Mules had lost on the road to the Childress Bobcats. 

“It felt like a shutout tonight,” said Mule coach David Wood. “We gave up no touchdowns to a very good Idalou team. Our defense was very aggressive and was able to handle the very big front line of Idalou.”

“Our offense was also aggressive and demonstrated a lot of determination during the game. We controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. I was proud of our team and it was my first win over Idalou since I becoming a head coach.”

The Mules improved to a record of 3-2 in non-district with a 31-9 win over the Idalou Wildcats. 

The Mules won the opening toss and declined to the second half. Arturo Contreras kicked off to the Idalou 23. Mario “Boo” Flores slipped a block and made the tackle at the Idalou 35. 

A pitch to Idalou’s tailback, Mark Caballero, around the right side broke free. Dagen Dunham chased him down and stripped him of the ball. The Mules recovered at the Mule 44. 

Diaz scrambled left for five yards and a first down. He later scrambled right and then back left with his eyes downfield. He tossed to Yoel Reyes on the run. Y. Reyes broke a tackle and dove for the first down. 

Diaz spotted a hole in the Idalou defense on the left side and scooted 12 yards. The Mules inserted the “Heavy Package” and Diaz followed his blockers for six yards to the Idalou 17. 

Javy Perez took a pitch wide left and Jason Florez threw a block to set him free for a 17-yard touchdown run. The PAT was no good and the Mules led 6-0 with just under nine minutes left in the first period. 

Contreras kicked off to the Idalou end zone and the Wildcats started on their 25-yard line. 

A holding penalty on the Wildcats and a sack by Donavan Gutierrez that cost Idalou 13 more yards forced the Wildcats to punt. The punt rolled out of bounds at the Mule 35.

The Mules went three and out. Diaz punted to the Idalou 27. Florez and Carlos Meza raced down field to make the tackle at the Idalou 28. 

The Mule defense reciprocated and forced the Wildcats to punt. The ball was allowed to roll dead on the Mule 25. 

Diaz rolled right and tossed to Isaac Mendoza for seven yards. The Mules then ran the double-reverse flea flicker with the final pitch going back to Diaz. He fired a strike to Perez at the Mule 45. Perez spun away from a tackler for three more yards. 

Diaz kept twice for runs of five and 10 yards. An Idalou defender pushed Yoel Reyes out of the way to make the interception and a flag came out. Idalou was penalize 15 yards to the Wildcat 22. 

A one-yard gain by the Mules ended the first period. The Mules made two yards on a wide-receiver screen to Y. Reyes. Diaz then tossed to Florez at the Idalou one-yard line and Florez stepped across the line to give the Mules a 12-0 lead. 

Romeo Reyes made the tackle, after Contreras kicked off to the Wildcat 25, at the Idalou 38. 

Dunham broke into the Idalou backfield to sack the quarterback for a six-yard loss. A screen pass to Caballero produced the longest play of the night for the Wildcats, 54 yards, to the Mule 14. Caballero then bulldozed his way to the Mule three-yard line. 

A holding penalty cost Idalou 10 yards. Gutierrez made the stop after a four-yard gain. The Idalou quarterback was scrambling on third down and was forced to fumble. The Wildcats recovered at the Mule 13. 

Idalou spotted the ball on the Mule 20 and Landon Reeves booted a 30-yard field goal to cut the Mule lead to 12-3. 

Following the Idalou kickoff, I. Mendoza returned to the Mule 28. A swing pass to Michael Lozano went wide left for 35 yards to the Idalou 23. Diaz then went up the middle for four yards. 

A lineman down field penalty pushed the Mules back to the Mule 24. Diaz dropped back and threw to Florez racing down the Mule sideline. Florez came back to make the catch at the Idalou eight-yard line. 

He and avoided one tackler then broke two tackles at the one-yard line to score. The two-point conversion failed but the Mules led 18-3 with seven minutes left in the first half.

Reeves kicked his second field goal of the night near the end of the first half. The kick was from 39 yards out to cut the Mule lead to 18-6 at the intermission. 

It only took the Mules five plays to start the second half with their fourth touchdown. 

I. Mendoza returned the opening kick of the second half 27 yards to the Mule 29. Diaz kept off left tackle for 21 yards. He then kept left for five more yards to the midfield. 

Diaz tossed to Dunham running a slant over the middle. Dunham rumbled for 20 yards to the Idalou 30. Diaz looked left, pump faked and then made the throw back to his right to “Boo” Flores for a 15-yard gain. 

Diaz connected with a swing pass to Villa running wide left out of the backfield. Villa angled to the pylon on the left side of the end zone and dove in for a 15-yard touchdown. The PAT was no good but the Mules had increased their lead to 24-6 with 10 minutes left in the third period. 

But the Mules were not through in the third quarter. Florez picked off a Wildcat pass at the Mule goal line and returned to the Mule five. Eight plays later Diaz found “Boo” Flores from 21-yards out with four minutes remaining in the third quarter. 

Reeves booted his final field goal from 39-yards out with two-minutes left in the game. 

The Mules passed for 237 yards and rushed for 250 yards for a total of 487 yards of offense. The Mule defense held Idalou to 86 yards passing and 127 yards rushing for a total of 223 yards. 

Diaz completed 20 of 23 passing attempts for 237 yards, four touchdowns and he rushed 16 times for 78 yards. Perez carried five times for 63 yards and one touchdown. Florez caught eight passes for 82 yards and scored two touchdowns. 

Villa rushed five times for 23 yards and he caught three passes for 25 yards and one touchdown. “Boo” Flores made two receptions for 36 yards and one touchdown. 

The Mules will take a week off to heal bumps and bruises and shift gears for district play. The Mules will host the Slaton Tigers October 7 at 7:30 PM.  

JV Mules vs. Idalou (9-22-2016)

JV Mules vs. Idalou (9-22-2016)
 
The JV Mules found sledding rough in Idalou against the Wildcats. The Mules fell behind 22-6 in the opening period but were able to stand their ground in the second period. The Mules trailed 28-12 at the intermission. The Wildcats scored 22 unanswered points in the second half for a 50-12 win.
 
Ryan Rodriguez led the Mules in rushing with 14 carries for 97 yards and scored one touchdown. Luke Del Toro completed 21 of 39 pass attempts for 321 yards and one touchdown.
 
Izaiah Hurtado made three receptions for 133 yards and scored once. Sergio Solano had four catches for 68 yards, Fabian Valadez made five receptions for 46 yards and Jojo Rejino pulled in five tosses for 43 yards. Rodriguez made three receptions for 25 yards and Matthew DeLeon had one catch for six yards.
 
Raul Sierra made six tackles and forced one fumble. Rejino recorded four tackles and recovered Sierra’s forced fumble on the Mule one-yard line. Jacob Kettner had eight tackles and Josh Torres made five tackles.
 
The Mules big offensive play was an 84-yard touchdown toss from Del Toro to Hurtado. The forced fumble at the Mule one-yard line by Sierra that was recovered by Rejino was the Mules big defensive play.
 
The Mules have an open date this week but will travel to Slaton, October 6, to open District 1-3A action.     

9th Mules vs. Idalou (9-22-2016)

9th Mules vs. Idalou (9-22-2016)
 
The freshmen Mules trailed for most of the game on the road in Idalou Thursday evening but came back for the win in the fourth period. The Mules defeated the Wildcats 24-20.
 
The Mules fell behind 14-6 in the first quarter and cut the lead to 20-18 in the second period. The Wildcats held that advantage until the final period when the Mules took the lead for good.
 
Matthew Alarcon rushed 12 times for 63 yards and completed six of 15 passing attempts for 151 yards. He rushed for one touchdown and passed for three more. He made one tackle and forced a fumble.
 
Jose Cardenas made three receptions for 56 yards and two of those catches were for touchdowns. He made seven tackles, forced and recovered a fumble. Jesus Montiel carried nine times for 49 yards, caught three passes for 38 yards with one being for a touchdown. He made two tackles.
 
Damian Juarez rushed once for three yards, made eight tackles, intercepted one pass, forced and recovered a fumble. Kelan Florez made one catch for six yards and made two tackles. Jimmy Villa made two receptions for 40 yards. 
 
Cristian Bustillos made four stops. Fernando Rivas, Nathan Rodriguez and Eddie Vasquez recorded three tackles each. Elio Sanchez made two stops and Steven Atwood made one tackle.
 
The Mules are open this week but will be back in action October 6 when they travel to Slaton to open district play against the Tigers at 5:00 PM.

8th Mules vs. Idalou (9-23-2016)

8th Mules vs. Idalou (9-23-2016)
 
A missed two-point conversion by the Mules cost them their home opener Thursday night. The Mules lost the game to the Idalou Wildcats 16-14 to drop the Mules record to 1-2.
 
Idalou kicked off out of bounds and the Mules started the game on the Mule 35. A motion penalty set the Mules back five yards but got those yards back on a swing pass from Joe Gutierrez to Jose Martinez.
 
The Mules drove to the Idalou one-yard line, fumbled and Idalou recovered. The Wildcats only ran four plays before the first period ended with the score tied at 0-0.
 
Idalou clicked off plays of 12, 10 and eight yards before Victor Velasquez and Elias Aguirre made a tackle for a yard loss at the Mule 35. The Wildcats went on to score on a quarterback sneak with 3:13 left in the first half. The two-point conversion was good and Idalou led the Mules 8-0.
 
The Mule offense could not get untracked but the Mule defense stepped up to cause the Wildcats to fumble near midfield and the Mules claimed the loose ball. The Mules only had time for one play. Idalou continued to lead 8-0 at the intermission.
 
The Mules kicked off to the Wildcats to start the second half. Martinez made a big hit on the second play of the half and separated the ball from the Wildcat running back and Enrique Toscano fell on the ball for the Mules at the Idalou 31.
 
An incomplete pass and three downs that the Mules lost yardage gave the Wildcats the ball near midfield.
 
Aguirre, Martinez and Riley Kettner made the stop on first down. Jacob Toscano stripped the Idalou running back of the ball and E. Toscano recovered his second fumble of the game at the Idalou 43.
 
A swing pass from Gutierrez to Martinez went for 17 yards. The Wildcats intercepted a Mule pass at the Idalou 18 and returned the ball to the Wildcat 24.
 
A holding penalty set the Wildcats back ten yards on first down. A facemask penalty on third down gave Idalou new life at the Mule 43. Idalou fumbled and the carried the ball back across midfield to the Idalou 44.
 
Gutierrez connected with Martinez for a 42-yard gain to the Idalou three-yard line. A reverse pitch to Mario Guardado covered the three yards needed for a Mule touchdown with 1:12 left in the third period. The two-point conversion failed leaving the Wildcats in front of the Mules 8-6.
 
Guardado kicked off to the Idalou 26 and the Wildcats returned the ball 74 yards for a touchdown with 56 seconds remaining in the third quarter. The two-point conversion was good and the Wildcats had increased their advantage to 16-6 over the Mules.
 
The Wildcats attempted an onside kick but the spin on the ball carried it sideways and out of bounds at the Mule 49.
 
The Wildcats intercepted the Mules pass and returned it to the Mule 44.
 
The Mule defense nailed the Wildcats to the turf and the Mules took over on downs at the Idalou 44.
 
A pitch left to Martinez was good for six yards. Gutierrez kept the ball wide right for eight yards to the Wildcat 26.  Gutierrez tossed to Kettner at the goal line for a 26-yard touchdown with 5:06 remaining in the game. Gutierrez pitched right to Martinez for the two-point conversion. The Mules had cut the Idalou lead to 16-14.
 
The Wildcats extinguished the clock after the Mules kicked off.
 
The Mules will travel to Olton Thursday to play the Mustangs.

7th Mules vs. Idalou (9-22-2016)

7th Mules vs. Idalou (9-22-2016)
 
The seventh grade Mules found themselves locked in a defensive battle Thursday night against the Idalou Wildcats. The Mules gave up 12 points in the second period and that proved to be all the scoring in the game.
 
Idalou won the night 12-0 over the Mules.
 
Juan Nava kicked off for the Mules to the Wildcat eight-yard line to open the game. He then raced downfield to make the tackle at the Idalou 15.
 
Idalou ran 10 plays and consumed the entire first quarter. They had marched the ball from the Wildcat 15 to the Mule 11. The Wildcats scored on the first play of the second period. The two-point conversion attempt failed and Idalou led 6-0 with 6:54 left in the first half.
 
Following the Idalou kickoff the Mules fumbled and the Wildcats recovered on the Mule 27.
 
Jeremiah Barron made the stop after a five-yard Idalou gain. Zachary Hasley and Victor Morales teamed up for a tackle after a two-yard gain. Morales and Alex Regalado sacked the quarterback for no gain on fourth down to give the Mules the ball.
 
The Mules were intercepted at the Mule 30 and Joseph Estraca made the stop at the Mule 20.
 
The Mule defense stepped up with Mark Espinoza chasing down the quarterback after a five-yard pickup. Evan Lopez made the tackle after a three-yard gain. Nava shot the gap for a sack. Ever Ramirez and Evan Lopez teamed up to sack the quarterback for a one-yard loss on fourth down.
 
The Mules took over on downs at the Mule 18. Barron kept wide left and danced down the sideline for eight yards. A holding penalty set the Mules back 10 yards on third down and were intercepted on fourth down.
 
The Wildcats scored with five seconds remaining in the first half to take a 14-0 lead over the Mules. 
 
Nether team could find the end zone in the second half.
 
The Mules will travel to Olton to play the Mustangs Thursday, September 29, at 5:00 PM.

B-Team Mules vs. Idalou (9-22-2016)

B-Team Mules vs. Idalou (9-22-2016)
 
Idalou returned the opening kickoff 88 yards for a score against the B-Team Mules. Jacob Rodriguez almost returned the favor by returning the ensuing Idalou kickoff 30 yards to the Wildcat 35.
 
The Mules gave up six more points in the first half to trail Idalou 12-0 at the intermission. The Wildcats scored once in the second half to claim an 18-0 lead. The Mules then strung together an 62-yard drive for a touchdown to end the game with Idalou leading the Mules 18-8.
 
Idalou kicked off to the Mule 27 and Richie Martinez returned the ball 35 yards to the Idalou 38.
 
Martinez broke just off his right tackle for 14 yards. Jacob Alfaro tossed to David Bustillos in the left flat for 13 yards to the Idalou 12-yard line. Martinez scooted wide right for six yards.
 
Alfaro passed into the end zone and the intended receiver tipped the ball but could not make the catch. Drew Morris alertly made a dive to grab the ball just off the turf for the Mules only touchdown. Alfaro rolled left and made the swing pass to Martinez for the two-point conversion.
 
The Mules will travel to Olton to play the Mustangs Thursday, September 29 at 4:00 PM. 

Friday, September 23, 2016

Mules vs. Childress (9-16-2016)

Mules vs. Childress (9-16-2016)

The long trip to Childress along with playing in hot and humid condition on natural turf seemed to wear down the Mules Friday night. The Mules led 28-24 at the intermission but could not hang on in the second half. 

The Mules fell to the Childress Bobcats 45-28.

“Even as bad as the score looks,” said Mule coach, David Wood. “This game will make us better. We suffered a couple of injuries and now the guys know when that happens they need to step up and do even more. We are still growing in our knowledge of the game.”

The Mules led 28-24 at the intermission. The Mules’ lead could have been more except for a muffed snap on the final play of the first half from the Childress one-yard line. 

Childress took the opening kickoff at their own 36-yard line and marched 64 yards on 12 plays. The Bobcats scored on a two-yard run by their premier running back, Bo Lott. They added the two-point conversion to lead the Mules 8-0. 

Isaac Mendoza returned the ensuing Childress kickoff 12 yards to the Mule 35. A screen pass to Yoel Reyes gained five yards and Michael “Mikey” Lozano found a crease up the middle for eight yards. 

A bubble screen to the right side to Y. Reyes resulted in in a 35-yard gain to Childress 17. Jason Florez cut the legs from under one defender and Fidel Mendoza sealed off another to spring Y. Reyes. 

Beto Diaz rolled right and hung on to the ball for seven yards. Diaz was forced to scramble on fourth down and Javy Perez managed to shake his defender in the end zone and reversed his route. 

Diaz laid the ball in his hands for the Mules first touchdown. Diaz then tossed to Florez for the two-point conversion to tie the game at 8-8 with 4:37 left in the first quarter. 

The game quickly turned into a track meet with the Bobcats scoring one minute later on a 37-yard pass. The two-point conversion was good and the Bobcats had regained the lead 16-8. 

I. Mendoza returned the Childress kickoff 14 yards to the Mule 34. Diaz connected with R. Reyes on first down for nine yards. Diaz then tossed to Florez over the middle at the Childress 43. The ball floated over Florez shoulder and dropped in his hands. He dragged a defender to the Childress 28 for a 34-yard gain. 

Tre Villa scooted up the middle for a six-yard gain. Diaz hit Villa with a swing pass to the left side. Florez pancaked a defender and Villa reached the Bobcat nine. Villa covered the final seven yards on a pitch wide right from Diaz for a touchdown. Diaz found Mario “Boo” Flores open in the end zone for the two-point conversion to tie the game at 16-16 at the end of the first quarter. 

The ensuing Childress drive started just inside Mule territory. The Mules held the Bobcats on first down but gave up seven yards to the hard running Lott on second down. Dagen Dunham put heavy pressure on the Childress quarterback forcing him to throw the ball away. 

The pass did not reach the line of scrimmage and a flag came out for intentional grounding which not only cost the Bobcats yards but also the down. The Bobcat punt took a Childress bounce and rolled to the Mule 11. 

The Mules fumbled on first down and the Bobcats recovered on the Mule 17. A middle screen to Lott scored from 17-yards out. Childress led the Mules 24-16 with 11:50 remaining in the first half. 

I. Mendoza returned the Childress kickoff to the Mule 26. Diaz emptied the backfield and tossed to Florez for 16 yards. The Mules pulled out some razzle-dazzle and ran a double reverse flea flicker. 

Diaz launched a pass down field to R. Reyes for a 27-yard gain to the Bobcat 23. Villa cut through the Bobcats for 15-yard pickup to the Childress eight-yard line. Diaz made two yards before Villa went the final six yard up the middle. The two-point conversion failed and the Mules trailed 24-22 with just over 10 minutes left in the first half. 

Lozano kicked off to the Bobcat 37 and there was no return. The Mule defense shut down the potent Bobcat offense and forced a punt on fourth down. The punt rolled dead on the Mule nine. 

A screen pass to R. Reyes went nine yards. Diaz pump faked to Florez to freeze the defense. Florez raced on down field to make the catch at the Mule 46 and he dragged a defender to the Childress 39. 

Lozano gained four yards up the middle. Diaz tossed a screen pass to R. Reyes and Perez made a block for a six-yard gain. Florez was the inside receiver and ran a slant over the middle. Diaz fired him the ball at the Childress 20. Flores made two tacklers miss and out ran a third for a touchdown to give the Mules a 28-24 lead at the half. 

I. Mendoza forced a turnover by punching the ball loose from a Childress receiver. R. Reyes scooped up the ball and returned it down field but a penalty stopped the Mules at their own 20. 

Lozano found room to run through the left side of the line and galloped 15 yards. Diaz connected with Y. Reyes for five yards. Diaz tossed to Villa five more yards and a first down at midfield. The Mules ran a reverse and R. Reyes was jerked down backwards by his collar. 

The ensuing horse collar penalty gave the Mules a first down at the Childress 30. Diaz made a high throw to Florez on a slant over the middle. Florez leaped high in the air for the catch and his feet were cut from beneath him. He slammed hard to the turf flat of his back but held on to the ball at the Childress 10. 

Diaz connected with R. Reyes and he was tackled at the Childress one-yard line. The final seconds were ticking off the clock as the Mules hurried to the line. The snap never made it back to Diaz and the period ended with the Mules knocking on the door. 

The Mules could never score in the second half but the Bobcats found the Mule end zone three times. 

The Mules accumulated 479 yards of  total offense with 119 yards being on the ground and 360 through the air. Villa carried 11 times for 71 yards and two touchdowns. He caught four passes for 30 yards for a total of 101 yards. 

Lozano rushed seven times for 40 yards and caught one throw for 13 yards. Diaz connected on 28 of 47 passes for 360 yards and two touchdowns. Florez caught nine passes for 147 yards and one score. He also caught a pass for a two-point conversion. Perez made two catches for nine yards and one touchdown. 

Y. Reyes made seven receptions for 67 yards and R. Reyes had three catches for 52 yards. I. Mendoza made one receptions for 33 yards. 

Boo Flores led the Mule defense with 16 tackles. Dunham made 14 tackles, one for a loss, one sack and had two quarterback hurries. Donavan Gutierrez also made 14 tackles. Moises Vasquez had 10 stops, three special team tackles, one tackle for a loss, one sack and one quarterback hurry. Y. Reyes made 10 tackles. 

The Mule Players of the Game as chosen by the Mule coaches were: Jason Florez, Offensive Player of the Game; Dagen Dunham, Defensive Player of the Game; Player of the Game, Donovan Gutierrez; Lineman of the Game, Fidel Mendoza; Slobber Knocker, Jason Florez; and Special Teams Player of the Game, Moises Vasquez. 

The Mules will host the Idalou Wildcats Friday night in Benny Douglas Stadium at 7:30 PM.  

JV Mules vs. Childress (9-15-2016)

JV Mules vs. Childress (9-15-2016)

The JV Mules struggled in the first half against the Childress Bobcats Thursday in Benny Douglas Stadium. The Mules trailed 28-0 at the intermission and gave up a fifth unanswered touchdown a minute and a half into the third quarter. 

The Mules scored twice in the third quarter but ran out of gas. Childress added one more score to defeat the Mules 42-14.

After scoring early in the third quarter the Bobcats kicked off to the Mule 21. Justin Carrion returned the ball 19 yards to the Mule 40. Luke Del Toro tossed to JoJo Rejino on first down. Rejino pushed and pulled Bobcats for first down at midfield. 

Ryan Rodriguez blasted up the middle for eight yards. Del Toro tossed a screen pass to Brady Martinez. Using his blockers Martinez scooted for 11 yards to the Bobcat 31. Rodriguez pounded up the middle for six yards. 

Del Toro made a pitch right to Rodriguez and he scooted 14 yards for a first down at the Childress 11-yard line. Two plays later Del Toro kept the ball and went up the middle for the final four yards for a touchdown with 5:16 remaining in the third period. 

Del Toro pitched right to Corbin Hardwick for the two-point conversion. The Mules trailed 8-35.

The Mules attempted an onside kick but the Bobcats covered the ball on the Childress 45. Two plays into the Bobcat drive Raul Sierra picked off a pass at the Mule 30-yard line.

A roughing the passer gave the Mules a first down at the Mule 45. Rodriguez carried wide right for five yards. Del Toro called his own number and went wide right and dragged a tackler to the Childress 43. 

Del Toro dropped straight back and made the throw to Sergio Solano. Solano scooted to the end zone for a 43-yard pass and run with two minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Mules trailed 14-35. 

The Bobcats added one more score with just over eight minutes left in the ball game. 

Del Toro completed 12 of 28 passing attempts for 170 yards and one touchdown. He rushed five times for 25 yards. Rodriguez carried 15 times for 96 yards and Hardwick rushed three times for 18 yards. 

Solano made three receptions for 67 yards and one score. Martinez caught four passes for 46 yards and Rejino made four catches for 34 yards. The Mules had a total of 311 yards of offense. 

Josh Torres made five tackles and had one sack. Hardwick had five stops and Sierra made four tackles. Rejino finished with seven tackles and Jacob Kettner made five tackles. 

The Mules will travel to Idalou Thursday evening to play the Wildcats immediately after the freshmen game.   

9th Mules vs. Childress (9-15-2016)

9th Mules vs. Childress (9-15-2016)

Everyone from USA Olympic Champion Swimmer, Michael Phelps, to Lucy of the Charles Schultz Peanut cartoon fame have been credited with the often used adage, “It is not how you start that counts, it is how you finish”. 

The Freshmen Mules proved there is a lot of merit in that statement Thursday night when they hosted the Childress Bobcats. The Mules fell behind early in the first quarter in what quickly became a defensive battle. 

But the Mules finally took the lead with 1:25 left in the opening quarter. Jose Cardenas ripped the ball out of the hands of a Childress runner and raced 25 yards for a touchdown. Matthew Alarcon added the two-point conversion for a 14-8 Mule lead. 

The Mules never looked back after that and went on to defeat the Bobcats 42-8.

Both teams turned the ball over on downs, then the Mules fumbled before Jimmy Villa intercepted a Bobcat pass at the Mule 14-yard line. But the Bobcats returned the favor with an interception and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown with 4:30 left in the first quarter. The two-point conversion was good and the Mules trailed 8-0. 

Cristian Bustillos returned the ensuing kickoff 17 yards to the Mule 44-yard line. The Mule offense began to click with Jesus Montiel taking a pitch wide right nine yards before being stripped of the ball. Cardenas fell on the ball for the Mules at the 50-yard line. 

Montiel made a block to pave the way for his quarterback, Alarcon, to pick up 10 yards. Montiel carried left and broke a tackle for a 20-yard gain to the Bobcat 20. He then powered up the middle for seven more yards. 

Alarcon found Cardenas open five yards deep in the end zone with the Mules first touchdown pass. The two-point conversion failed and the Mules trailed 8-6 with 1:41 left in the first period. 

Nathan Rodriguez kicked off to the Childress end zone and the Bobcats did not return the ball. Cardenas stole the ball from the Bobcats and returned it 25 yards for the Mules’ second touchdown just 16 seconds after their first TD. The Mules led 14-8 when the first period ended. 

Steven Atwood plugged up the middle and Elio Sanchez and Eddie Vasquez made the tackle on third down. Cardenas made the tackle on fourth down to force the Bobcats to turn the ball over on downs. 

Alarcon connected with Cardenas over the middle for a 29-yard gain to the Childress 19. The offensive line opened a hole for Montiel in the middle of the Bobcat line. He then cut to the Mule sideline for a 19-yard touchdown run with 4:35 remaining in the first half. The Mules led 20-8. 

Following the Mule kickoff Sanchez broke up a pass by batting it away from the intended receiver. Vasquez put pressure on the Childress quarterback, then leaped high in the air and batted down the pass. Bustillos diagnosed a screen pass and tackled the receiver for a five-yard loss to force the Bobcats to punt. 

The Childress punter boomed the punt to the Mule 34 where Cardenas gathered it in and scampered 15 yards to near midfield. 

Alarcon kept the ball for a nine-yard run around the right side. Montiel then pounded up the middle for four yards. Alarcon scooted up the middle for five yards to the Childress 31. 

The Mules capped the drive with a swing pass from Alarcon to Montiel running out of the backfield with 1:40 left in the half. Alarcon passed to Bustillos in the end zone for the two-point conversion and a 28-8 Mule lead. 

The Mules struggled to hang on to the ball in the third period giving up fumble and an interception. But the Mule defense refused to allow the Bobcats to score on the turnovers. 

Fernando Rivas made first contact on a Childress fourth down and needing three yards. The Mule defense held the Bobcats for no gain and took over the ball on downs at the Mule 48. 

The Mules scored on the final play of the third quarter with a 35 yard pass and run from Alarcon to Cardenas. Cardenas tossed to Villa for the two-point conversion to lead the Bobcats 34-8 after three quarters. 

The Mules final score came on a 14-yard run up the middle by Cardenas. 

Alarcon went 13 of 19 pass attempts for 137 yards and two touchdowns. He rushed 12 times for 65 yards. Montiel carried 19 times for 166 yards and two touchdowns. Cardenas carried twice for 15 yards and caught six passes for 119 yards. He scored on two receptions, rushed for one and scored one defensive touchdown. 

Cardenas led the Mules with eight tackles, caused a fumble and recovered a fumble. Bustillos, Montiel, Rivas and Sanchez each made four tackles. Villa picked off two passes. 

The Mules go on the road to Idalou Thursday. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:00 PM

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Mules vs. Brownfield Cubs (9-9-2016)

Mules vs. Brownfield Cubs (9-9-2016)

In a pre-game interview, Mule coach David Wood said, “We are going against a D-1 quarterback that we must contain if we want to have a chance to win.” The Mules proved to be up to the task and never gave up a long running touchdown to Jaelyn Nolan. 

Nolan is the 6-3, 180 pound elusive Cub quarter. He has an arm that can launch a 60-yard strike or if no receivers are open can pull down the ball and take off for 70 and 80 yard gains. 

Nolan’s favorite target is Jezreel Griffin. He is a 6-4, 185 pound streak of lightning with sticky hands. 

The Mules never blinked at the challenge of playing the Cubs on the road and brought home a 45-22 win. But they did not settle their coaches’ nerves until late in the fourth period. 

“We had our chances early to put the game away,” continued Coach Wood. “But an interception that resulted in a touchdown for Brownfield just added to the pressure.” 

Mikey Lozano kicked off for the Mules to the Cub 33 where Brownfield covered the ball. On the ensuing Cub drive, Nolan completed passes of 43 and 30 yards before Jason Florez stepped in front of the intended receiver at the goal line and was pulled down at the Mule five-yard line. 

Two running plays and an offside penalty on the Cubs gave the Mules a first down at the Mule 19. A pass to Mario “Boo” Flores went for 22 yards. Beto Diaz then found a crease up the middle, slipped out of tackle at the Cub 40 and scooted to the Brownfield 14. 

Tre Villa powered up the middle on a block by Carlos Meza. Villa was wrapped up at the Cub seven-yard line but continued to churn his legs and Fidel Mendoza pushed the pile ahead to the two-yard line.

Diaz pass that was intended for Dagen Dunham was picked off and returned to the Brownfield 22. Nolan launched a pass to Isiah Hood racing down the field at the Mule 45 and he motored into the Mule end zone for a touchdown. The PAT kick was off the mark and the Cubs led 6-0 with 4:46 left in the first period. The drive had lasted just 14 seconds. 

Brownfield kicked off to the Mule 22 and the Mules could not mount a return. 

A motion penalty set the Mules back five yards. Romeo Reyes made nine yards on a screen pass and Diaz gained three yards on a quarterback draw on third down. Diaz quick kicked rolled dead at the Cub nine-yard line. 

The Cubs gained 10 yards on their first two plays of the drive. The Cub running back ran into a wall of Mules, Boo Flores, Dunham and Donovan Gutierrez, and the ball came loose. Boo Flores fell on the ball for the Mules. 

The Mules reached the Cub four-yard line before running out of downs. 

Nolan ended the first period with a 12-yard run for a first down at the Cub 16. The Cubs picked up a first down with screen pass. A run by Isaias Morin went for 28 yards to the Mule 28. 

Dominik Hasley dropped Morin after a three-yard gain on first down. Two incomplete passes by Nolan and a penalty forced the Cubs to punt. The ball went into the Mule end zone. 

Diaz hit Yoel Reyes with a pass for nine yards on first down. Diaz pump faked to Jason Florez to freeze the defense and allow Florez to zip down field for a finger-tip catch at the Mule 49. He then out ran the defense to the end zone for a 71-yard touchdown. Arturo Contreras booted the point after to give the Mules a 7-6 lead with 8:14 remaining in the first half. 

It did not take the Cubs long to answer with a three-play 66-yard drive that ended on a one-yard run by Nolan. The drive took eight ticks over a minute off the clock. The two-point conversion was good and the Cubs led the Mules 14-7 with just over seven minutes remaining in the first half. 

Isaac Mendoza retuned the ensuing Cub kickoff to the Mule 43 with a 16-yard return. Villa gained nine yards on first down and Diaz went up the middle for nine more yards to the Cub 39. 

Diaz connected over the middle with Florez for 16 yards and a first down at the Cub 23. A bad snap cost the Mules 11 yards. Diaz tossed to I. Mendoza running across the middle for 18 yards leaving the Mules needing one yard on fourth down. 

Dunham shuffled over from his up-back set and took the snap and followed his center, Donavan Gutierrez, for three yards and a first down. Diaz kept wide right for an 11-yard TD scamper. Contreras kick was good to tie the game at 14-14 with 2:53 showing on the clock. 

The Mule defense stepped up the intensity after I. Mendoza made the tackle on the kickoff return at the Cub 33. Boo Flores and Gutierrez held the Cubs to just two yards on first down. Y. Reyes and Moises Vasquez held the Cub receiver to four yards on second down. Dunham batted down Nolan’s pass leaving the Cubs with a fourth and four situation. 

The Cubs punted to the Mule five-yard line and before the ball came to a complete stop a Cub player came flying in to kill the ball but knocked it into the end zone for a touchback. 

The Mules started on the 20 and Diaz connected with Y. Reyes for seven yards on third down but the Cubs were off sides giving the Mules third down and five needed for a first. Diaz kept for seven yards and a first down. 

Diaz gained another first down with a 10-yard run. Diaz started left and flipped the ball to Florez for the reverse. Flores cut back across the field for a 32-yard gain to the Cub 28.  

Diaz tossed to Florez running a crossing route at the eight and Florez was shoved out of bounds at the Brownfield three-yard line. Villa scored on a three-yard drive. The faked the kick and Florez passed to Javy Perez in the end zone for the two-point conversion and a 22-14 Mule lead at the half. 

The Mule defense completely shut out the Cubs in the third period. 

But meanwhile the Mule offense added two touchdowns. Diaz scored on a four-yard run with 10:18 left in the third quarter after the Mules received the second half kickoff. The PAT kick failed and the Mules led 28-14. 

The Mules kicked off and the Cubs covered the ball at the Cub 44. D. Hasley and Dunham applied pressure to Nolan to force an errant pass that Florez intercepted at the Mule five-yard line. 

Thirteen plays later Diaz connected with Florez over the middle for a 15-yard touchdown. Contreras kick was good and the Mules led the Cubs 35-14 with 4:25 remaining in the third period. The 95-yard drive took 13 plays and erased five and half minutes off the clock. 

Lozano’s kickoff rolled to the Cub 10 before it was picked up. I. Mendoza made the stop at the Cub 31. Vasquez kept Nolan from getting wide and D. Hasley cut him down after a two-yard gain. Dunham forced Nolan to throw his pass high over the Cub receiver. Gutierrez and D. Hasley teamed up to hold Nolan for no gain to force the Cubs to punt. 

The Mules allowed the punt to roll dead at the Mule 37. The Mules eliminated the final minutes of the third period on the ensuing drive and almost two minutes of the final period. The Mules used 14 plays to drive down field but stalled out on the Cub six. 

Florez spotted the deep snap on the Cub 14 and Contreras boomed the 24-yard field goal to increase the Mules’ lead to 38-14 with just over 10 minutes left in the game. 

Nolan found Hood open to complete a 99-yard drive with a 44-yard pass and run play. Nolan passed for the two-point conversion to cut the Mule lead to 38-22. 

“We were trying to run the clock out by keeping the ball on the ground late in the game,” said Coach Wood. “But Brownfield kept calling time out. It was fourth down and we needed a eight yards for a first down. We ran a play we thought would have a chance for a first and Jason (Florez) didn’t see anything but green grass in front of him and went for the score.”

“Our defense corralled their quarterback and did not give up a long run for a touchdown to him. He normally has at least one every game. We also controlled their number one receiver. I was really proud of our kids.”

Florez took a reverse pitch from Diaz and two defenders forced him to cut up field. After getting past the Cub would-be tacklers he cut to the sideline and had an open field ahead of him to pay dirt. Contreras added the point after.

The Mules rolled up an impressive 707 yards with 401 yards being through the air and 306 via the air.  

Diaz completed 24 of 35 passes for 401 yards and two touchdowns. He rushed 18 times for 151 yards and two scores. Florez rushed twice for 61 yards and one touchdown. Florez also caught seven passes for 187 yards and scored twice. 

Villa carried nine times for 43 yards and one score and snagged three passes for 27 yards. Lozano rushed three times for 26 yards and caught two passes for 33 yards. Y. Reyes carried twice for 14 yards and caught four passes for 56 yards. 

The Mules will travel to Childress to play the Bobcats Friday night at 7:30 PM.

JV Mules vs. Brownfield (9-8-2016)

JV Mules vs. Brownfield (9-8-2016)

The JV Mules pitched a 42-0 shutout to the visiting Brownfield Cubs Thursday evening. The Mules scored twice in the first period once in the second, twice in the third period and tacked on one more touchdown in the final frame. 

The Cubs kickoff to the Mule end zone and the Mules started there opening drive on the Mule 20. Luke Del Toro tossed a wide-receiver screen pass to Sergio Solano on second down. Solano scooted 16  yards for a first down. 

Ryan Rodriguez powered up the middle for nine yards. He added runs of nine, three and five yards to the Cub 42. Del Toro hit Solano for seven yards on a crossing route. Solano then snagged a Del Toro toss for 14 yards.

Rodriguez powered up the middle for a 13 yard touchdown with 5:35 left in the first period. Ean Hasley booted the point after for a 7-0 Mule lead. 

The Mules kicked off and the Cubs returned the kick to the Cub 40. Luis Franco set the Cubs back three yards on a blitz. Corbin Hardwick made the tackle on second down near the original line of scrimmage. An incomplete pass forced the Cubs to punt. The Mules allowed the ball to roll dead on the Mule 32.

Del Toro tossed to Fabian Valadez. Valadez spun out of a tackle for 15 yards. Del Toro then hit Solano on a down-and-out pattern for 13 yards. Rodriguez blasted up the middle for thirteen yards. Del Toro found JoJo Rejino open for nine yards. 

Del Toro completed the drive with a 21-yard throw to Hasley at the goal line. The Mules added the two-point conversion for a 15-0 Mule lead with just over two minutes left in the first period. 

Raul Sierra stepped in front of a Cub pass at the Mule 39 and returned to the Mule 46 early in the second period. 

Del Toro found Rejino for a 16 yard gain. A roughing the passer penalty tacked on 15 more yards to the Cub 23-yard line. A reverse pitch to Solano covered the final 23 yards for a score. The Mules led 21-0 at the half. 

The two teams exchanged punts to start the second half. The Mules took over on their own 20. Joe Waggoner gained five yards on first down. Del Toro tossed to Rejino for seven yards. Waggoner found six yards up the middle. 

Del Toro hit Hasley at the Mule 41 and he raced to the Cub one-yard line for a 61 yard gain. Del Toro scooted in from a yard out with just under three minutes left in the third period. Hasley booted the point after for a 28-0 Mule lead to start the final period. 

Rodriguez kicked off to the Cub 27 and Justin Carrion made the tackle at the Brownfield 34. Rejino intercepted the Cubs pass at the Cub 44. He returned up the Brownfield sideline and fumbled the ball at the Cub 30. 

The ball took a Mule bounce and Rejino snatched the ball out of the air and continued down the sideline to the end zone for a defensive touchdown. Del Toro tossed to Rejino for the two-point conversion and a 36-0 Mule lead.   

Leonel Camarena made back-to-back tackles on the final two plays of the third quarter to force the Cubs to punt. The Mules allowed the ball to roll dead on the Mule 12. 

Rodriguez broke up the middle and cut to the sideline for an 88-yard touchdown for the final score of the game. 

Del Toro completed 12 of 17 passes for 178 yards and one touchdown. He rushed three times for 10 yards and one score. Rodriguez carried eight times for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Waggoner rushed five times for 34 yards, Hardwick carried once for 20 yards. 

Solano rushed once for 23 and caught four passes for 54 yards. Hasley had two receptions for 76 yards and one score. Rejino caught four passes for 33 yards and Valadez made three receptions for 23 yards. 

Camarena made four sacks, one tackle for a loss plus two tackles. Hasley made 10 tackles and recovered an onside kick. Hardwick had nine tackles and one tackle for a loss, Franco made 10 tackles and two tackles for losses, and Rejino had five tackles and an interception he returned for a TD.  

The Mules are currently preparing for the Childress Bobcats that will come to Benny Douglas Stadium Thursday evening.    

9th Mules vs. Brownfield (9-8-2016)

9th Mules vs. Brownfield (9-8-2016)

The freshmen Mules served notice early to the Brownfield Cubs that it was going to be a long night for them in Benny Douglas Stadium. The Cubs kicked off and Matthew Alarcon returned the ball 83 yards for the first score of the game just 14 seconds after the opening whistle. 

Alarcon tacked on the two-point conversion with a three-yard run up the middle. The Mules led 8-0 but the Cubs did not just pack up and go home. They answered seven plays later on a one-yard run on fourth down and tied the game at 8-8 with 8:05 remaining in the first quarter. 

The game was close through the first half but the Mules led 30-24 at the intermission. But in the second half the Mules took control and out scored the Cubs 20-8 in the second half for a 50-32 win. 

The two teams traded possessions before the Mules allowed a Cub punt to roll dead on the Mule 36. Alarcon tossed Jose Cardenas for a 20-yard gain down the Mule sideline. Jesus Montiel pounded through the right side for eight yards. 

Alarcon kept left for six yards before again connecting with Cardenas at the Brownfield 18 for a 30-yard touchdown pass and run with 3:35 left in the first period. Montiel went up the middle for the two-point conversion. 

The first period ended with the Mules leading 16-8.

The two teams traded possessions until the Cubs tied the game at 16-16 with 5:10 remaining in the first half. The Cubs scored on a one-yard run. 

The Cubs kicked off and Cristian Bustillos returned the ball up the middle to the Mule 49. Montiel broke up the middle for 15 yards and Alarcon kept the ball on a sweep for 16 more to the Cub 20. 

Alarcon tossed to Cardenas running a down-and-out pattern for 15 yards. Montiel scooted wide right for a six-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion failed with 3:26 left in the first half. 

Eddie Vasquez kicked off to the Cub 15 and there was no return. A facemask penalty on first down gave the Cubs a first down on the 32-yard line. Cardenas picked off a screen pass and scooted 32 yards for a defensive Mule touchdown. 

Just 35 seconds had been erased off the clock since the Mules had last scored. Alarcon connected with Jimmy Villa for the two-point conversion to give the Mules a 30-16 lead. 

Vasquez booted the ball to the Cub end zone for a touch back. 

The Cubs found the end zone with 17 seconds left in the half. The two-point conversion was good but the Mules led 30-24 at the intermission. 

The Mules caught an early break in the second half when a high snap sailed over the Cub punter’s head. The Mules claimed the ball on the Cub 40. 

Montiel made back-to-back runs up the middle for four and nine yards to the Cub 27. Alarcon located his favorite target, Cardenas, with a six-yard toss to the left flat. Montiel broke up the middle for nine yards to the Cub seven. 

Alarcon kept for two yards and a first down at the Cub five. From a tight formation Cardenas carried up the middle for a five-yard touchdown with 5:33 left in the third period. Alarcon added the two-point conversion for a 38-24 Mule lead. 

The Mules caught a second break late in the third period. The Cubs fumbled the second handoff on a reverse and Nathan Rodriguez fell on the ball at the Cub 28 for the Mules. 

Montiel raced 24 yards up the middle on first down. Alarcon scored on a two-yard keeper up the middle with 23 seconds left in the third period. The Mules led 44-24 at the quarter break. 

Fernando Rivas made back-to-back tackles on first and second down and Bustillos broke up a pass to force a fourth down and six-yards needed for a first by the Cubs. The Mules swarmed to the ball on fourth down to stop the Cubs short of first at the Mule 26.

Alarcon wrapped up the Mule scoring with a 62 yard touchdown run with 4:53 remaining in the game. The Mules led 50-24. 

The Cubs scored the final touchdown with 1:17 left in the game. 

Alarcon rushed 14 times for 216 yards and completed eight of 16 pass attempts for 95 yards. He rushed for two touchdowns, passed for one, returned a kickoff for a touchdown and rushed for two two-point conversions. 

Cardenas rushed twice for eight yards and caught four passes for 64 yards. He rushed for one touchdown, caught one TD pass and returned an interception for a touchdown. Montiel carried 13 times for 108 yards and scored one touchdown and scored a two-point conversion. 

Bustillos led the Mules with 10 tackles. Montiel made six tackles and forced one fumble. Nathan Rodriguez had six tackles and recovered a fumble. Rivas also made six tackles. Alarcon and Cardenas made an interception each. 

The Mules will host the Childress Bobcats Thursday evening. 

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Mules vs. Snyder (9-3-2016)

Mules vs. Snyder (9-3-2016)
 
Both the Muleshoe Mules and Snyder Tigers were looking for redemption Friday night. Snyder had lost a come-from-behind game, 34-20, to the Midland Greenwood Rangers. While the Mules lost their season opener on the road in Levelland 56-31.
 
The Mules took the task serious and jumped on the Tigers early and often. The Mules led 13-0 after one quarter, 33-0 at the half and picked up where they left off in the second half to a take a 47-0 lead with one quarter left to play.
 
The Tigers finally broke the scoring ice early in the final quarter and reeled off three touchdowns before Mickey Lozano ended all scoring with a 51-yard run to give the Mules a 54-21 win.
 
The win evened the Mules season record at 1-1.
 
The Mules kicked off and the Mule defense held the Tigers to three-and-out. The Snyder punt rolled dead at midfield.
 
A shovel pass from Beto Diaz to Lozano running out of the backfield behind three wide receivers resulted in a 16-yard gain. Diaz pump faked to Javy Perez to set up a double move. Perez then broke down field five-yards behind the defense and Diaz hung the ball up for him to run under for a 34-yard touchdown.
 
The Mules led 6-0 with 8:24 left in the opening period.
 
Lozano kicked off to the Snyder 30 and the Tigers covered the ball for no return. A holding penalty on the Tigers set up a first down and 18 yards needed for a first down. Donavan Gutierrez and Yoel Reyes sniffed out a draw play that cost the Tigers six yards.
 
The Tiger punter received the ball in his end zone and the ensuing punt rolled dead on the Mule 37.
 
Jason Florez ran a fly pattern down the sideline and was held as the pass was thrown. The penalty gave the Mules a first down at the Mule 47. Diaz rolled right out of the backfield and threw the ball just prior to reaching the line of scrimmage.
 
Isaac Mendoza made the catch at the Snyder 49, avoided a tackle for a 16-yard gain and a first down on the Tiger 42. Diaz carried up the middle for three yards and an off sides penalty left the Mules needing two yards. Diaz kept the ball for a 22 yard gain to the Tiger 12.
 
Diaz pass was thrown just out of the reach of Romeo Reyes and the Tigers intercepted and returned the ball to the Mule 28. Diaz made the touchdown saving tackle.
 
Moises sacked the Tiger quarterback for six-yard loss on first down. The Tigers could not recover and turned the ball back over to the Mules on downs at the Muleshoe 31.
 
The Mules were quickly on the march with Mario “Boo” Flores breaking two tackles on a wide receiver screen and gaining nine yards. Diaz rolled wide left for eight yards and a first down. Florez snagged a screen pass that went 12 yards with Flores blocking.
 
The Mules ran the same screen pass to Florez but this time he broke it for a 36-yard touchdown. Flores and Reyes provided blocks along the way. Arturo Contreras booted the ball through the uprights for a 13-0 Mule lead with 1:10 remaining in the first period.
 
The Tigers finally picked up a first down late in the first period with a pass over the middle. But Perez and Cesar Olvera teamed up on fourth down to stuff the quarterback on a one yard try.
 
Diaz rolled left on first down and tossed to Florez and he ran by two tacklers for 23 yards. A reverse pitch to Yoel Reyes went for 28 yards. Reyes waited for his blockers to clear a path. Diaz kept up the middle for five yards. Diaz then rolled wide left, pump faked to freeze the linebackers and rambled for eight yards to the Tiger seven-yard line.
 
From a double tight end set, Florez ran two-yards deep in the end zone, turned and came back to catch Diaz’s pass in the end zone. The Mules led 19-0 with 9:58 remaining in the second half.
 
Dagan Dunham leaped high to tip the Tiger pass and Perez made the interception at the Mule 32. The Mules could not convert and punted the ball away.
 
The running back fumbled on the Tigers’ second down and R. Reyes was there to recover for the Mules at the Tiger 12. Diaz scored on an 11-yard run on a roll out to the right side. Contreras kick was good to give the Mules a 26-0 lead with 4:37 remaining before the intermission.
 
Snyder’s second first down of the first half came on a 20-yard pass play. But a sack by Dunham stalled the Tigers and forced a punt from the Snyder 31.
 
The Mules marched 55 yards in six plays and scored on a four-yard pass from Diaz to I. Mendoza with 15 seconds left in the half. Contreras kick was good to give the Mules a 33-0 lead at the half.
 
The Mules added two more touchdowns in the third period with Diaz connecting with Florez for the tandems’ third score of the night at the 9:44 mark of the third period.
 
Diaz ran for his second touchdown of the game with a 26-yard jaunt with 1:12 left in the third period. Contreras booted the point after for a 47-0 Mule lead at the end of the third quarter.
 
The first two fourth period Tiger touchdowns came on runs of 17 and 32 yards by Snyder quarterback, Jarrett Renaue. He booted both extra points to cut the Mule lead to 47-14. Jeramiah Maldenado broke loose for a 67-yard scamper and Renaue added the point after to trim the Mule advantage to 47-21.      
 
Beto Diaz led the Mule offense by completing 17 of 28 passes for 280 yards and four touchdowns. He ran for 140 yards on 18 carries and two touchdowns. The Mules rolled up a total of 601 yards of offense with 321 coming on the ground and 280 through the air.
 
Jason Florez led all receivers with eight receptions for 138 yards and three touchdowns. Javy Perez made two catches for 60 yards and one score. Isaac Mendoza made three receptions for 37 yards and Yoel Reyes caught three passes for 32 yards.
 
Mickey Lozano rushed seven times for 87 yards and one touchdown.
 
The Mule defense held the Tigers to a total of 62 yards through the first three periods and held Snyder to a total of 262 yards for the game.
 
Yoel Reyes led the Mule defense with 12 tackles and Isaac Mendoza made 11 stops with one being for a loss. Donovan Gutierrez had nine tackles with one for a loss and Dagen Dunham made seven tackles, one for a loss and had three quarterback hurries. Moises Vasquez finished with five tackles, two for losses and four quarterback hurries.
 
Boo Flores and Javy Perez made an interception each. Romeo Reyes recovered a fumble and broke up a pass. Jamie Ceja led the Mules with five special team tackles.
 
The Mules will traveled to Brownfield to play the Cubs Friday night at 7:30 PM. 

JV Mules vs. Snyder (9-1-2016)

JV Mules vs. Snyder (9-1-2016)
 
The JV Mules scored touchdowns in the second and fourth periods to defeat the Snyder Tigers 14-0 Thursday evening in Snyder.
 
Luke Del Toro led the Mules by completing 12 of 21 pass attempts for 149 yards and threw one touchdown. He also rushed 10 times for 45 yards and one TD. Ryan Rodriguez carried three times for 52 yards.
 
Sergio Solano made four receptions for 70 yards and Brady Martinez caught four passes for 57 yards. JoJo Rejino made three catches for 21 yards and one touchdown.
 
“It was tough for us to score,” said Mule coach John Jay. “But our defense did a great job and held them out of the end zone.”
 
Raul Sierra made one interception and returned the ball 25 yards. Martinez forced one fumble and Josh Torres recovered the ball. Corbin Hardwick made nine tackles with two being for losses. Solano had 11 tackles with one being for a loss. Luis Franco made six tackles with four being for the losses.
 
The Mules will host the Brownfield Cubs Thursday, September 8, at 6:30 PM.

Freshman Mules vs. Snyder (9-1-2016)

Freshman Mules vs. Snyder (9-1-2016)
 
The freshmen Mules traveled to Snyder and defeated the Tigers 24-14. The Mules scored two touchdowns in the second period, one in the third period and one in the fourth period. The Mules gave up a touchdown and a two-point conversion in the third period and a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
 
Matthew Alarcon led the Mules with 12 carries for 123 yards and completed eight of 11 passes for 111 yards and three touchdowns. Cristian Bustillos caught three passes for 19 yards and one touchdown.
 
Jose Cardenas made two receptions for 39 yards and one touchdowns. Jimmy Villa had two catches for 40 yards and one touchdown. Jesus Montiel rushed nine times for 56 yards. Eddie Vasquez recovered a fumble for a touchdown and made six tackles.
 
Sanchez led the Mules with eight tackles. Cardenas made six tackles, Montiel had five stops and Nathan Rodriguez made three tackles.
 
The Mules will host the Brownfield Cubs Thursday, September 8 at 5:00 PM.