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.