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.