Mules vs. Levelland (9-1-2017)

Mules vs. Levelland (9-1-2017)

Luke Del Toro scrambled 13 yards for the Mules' final touchdown Friday night against the Levelland Lobos to cut the Mules' deficit to 34-47.

"We had three opportunities to cut the lead to a single score," said Mule's head coach, David Wood. "That would have made it a different game, but we just could not connect. The kids never gave up and continued to fight to the end."

"We changed our defense at the half and did a better job of stopping them. That is why we like to play good teams so we can find our weaknesses before district starts."

The Mules lost their season opener 34-54.

The bright spot in the game for the Mule fans came early. Matthew Alarcon received the opening kickoff at the Mule 10-yard line. He returned the ball up the right hash with Ean Hasley and Justin Carrion moving Lobos out of his path. Alarcon was finally brought down on the Mule 47. 

The Mules sent twin receivers to the short side of the field. Del Toro looked over the defense and called for the snap. Yoel Reyes was the tight end on the opposite side of the field.

He ran a hitch-and-go pattern, and Del Toro delivered him the ball at the Lobo 34-yard line. Y. Reyes leaped to make the reception and spun to the inside to avoid one tackler. He then broke a tackle and out raced the defense to the end zone for a 53-yard touchdown.

The point-after attempt was off the mark, but the Mules led 6-0 with just 18 seconds into the game.

Brady Martinez booted a squib kick toward the Lobo sideline. The ball took a high hop and slipped through the hands of the Levelland receiver. Isaac Mendoza tackled the receiver while three other Mules scrambled after the ball. Jacob Kettner snatched the ball from the air at the Lobo 41.

The Mule could not convert the turnover, and Mikey Lozano kicked the ball away and out of bounds at the Lobo 12.

It took the Lobos nine plays take the lead for good. Levelland scored on a one-yard run by Chris Gerber with 6:23 left in the first period. Just over two minutes later the Lobos scored again on a 67-yard pass from Gerber to Zack Estrada. The Lobos led 14-6.

One minute into the second period, Gerber was again in the end zone on a one-yard run to put Levelland in front 20-6.

The Lobos kicked off to the Mule 12 and Alarcon returned it to the Mule 34. Lozano scooted up the middle for 11 yards. After two incomplete passes, Del Toro again connected with Y. Reyes on the hitch-and-go for a first down.

A fumble cost the Mules 10 yards on first down. A wide receiver screen pass to Martinez gained nine of those yards back. Facing fourth down and needing 11 yards, Del Toro again found Y. Reyes open down the field. 

Y. Reyes made the catch at the Lobo 10, broke a tackle, and pulled a second defender into the end zone with 9:24 remaining in the first half. The Mules trailed Levelland 13-20.

The Lobos scored twice more before the Mules could again find the end zone. Del Toro followed Lozano into the end zone on a quarterback draw. The Mules trailed Levelland 20-34 with 36 seconds left in the first half.

Gerber got loose for a 76-yard romp with eight seconds left in the second period to extend the Lobo lead to 41-20.

The Mules kicked off to start the third period. The Lobos needed nine plays to travel 74 yards for a score to lead the Mules 47-20.

Romeo Reyes and Ryan Rodriguez each made a sack to force the Lobos to punt. The snap was over Gerber's head, and he chased down the loose ball. He passed the ball out of bounds to save the large loss.

The Mules took over on downs at mid field. R. Reyes made a catch for 11 yards. Ryan Rodriguez made a quick conversion from receiver to defender on a pass to the goal line.

R. Reyes ran a down-and-out pattern to the short side of the field. He made the catch for nine yards. Del Toro made the first down on a five-yard quarterback sneak.

Lozano scored on a 20-yard gallop up the middle with just six seconds left in the third period. The Mules trailed 27-47 with one-quarter left to play. 

Both teams scored in the final period.

The Mules rolled up 415 yards of offense with 99 yards rushing and 316 passing. Lozano led the Mules in rushing with 16 carries for 47 yards. Del Toro connected on 23 of 47 passing attempts and tossed two touchdowns.

Y. Reyes led the Mules with nine receptions for 159 yards. R. Reyes made nine catches for 111 yards.

The Mules will be on the road next Friday night when they travel to Snyder to play the 0-1 Tigers.