9th Mules vs. Idalou (9-28-2017)

9^th Mules vs. Idalou (9-28-2017)

The freshmen Mules wound up on the short end of a 28-20 score Thursday to the Idalou Wildcats on a cool and rainy evening. The Mules battled to the end and scored their final touchdown 20 seconds prior to the end of the game.

Idalou fumbled on the third play of the game, but the Mules could not cash in on the turnover. The Wildcats scored first on a 13-yard run with 3:42 left in the first period to lead the Mules 8-0.

The Wildcats kicked off to the Mule 17. Joey Martinez picked up the ball and cut to his right and raced to the Idalou 40 for a 43-yard return. Joe Gutierrez connected with J. Martinez running out of the backfield for a 19-yard gain.

Gutierrez kept wide left for a 21-yard touchdown run with 2:10 remaining in the opening quarter. The two-point conversion failed, and Mules trailed 8-6.

The Wildcats scored early in the second period to extend the Idalou lead to 14-6 with 6:12 left in the first half. The Wildcats hung on to that lead until the end of the first half.

Idalou kicked off to the Mule end zone for a touchback, and the Mules started their first drive of the second half at the Mule 25-yard line.

Gutierrez made a pitch to J. Martinez. J. Martinez found that gate closed and reversed his field and raced 40 yards to the Idalou 35. An encroachment penalty gave the Mules a first down and five-yards needed for a first down.

J. Martinez raced wide right for 17 yards to the Wildcat 13. Gutierrez connected with Cesar Enriquez on back-to-back plays. The first for three yards and the second Enriquez was standing in the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown.

Gutierrez then tossed to J. Martinez for the two-point conversion. The Mules had tied the game at 14-14 with 5:38 remaining in the third period.

The Wildcats scored twice before the third period ended and the Mules trailed 28-14 with one-quarter remaining to play.

Kurt Rodriguez recovered an Idalou fumble at the Mule 29 with 3:32 left in the game.

Gutierrez kept for 14 yards up the middle. Matthew Fabela made a block that took out three Wildcats to allow Gutierrez to gain eight yards. Gutierrez then tossed to Riley Kettner running a slant over the middle for 13-yards.

 The Mules emptied the backfield on fourth down and Gutierrez connected with Kettner for a first down at the Idalou 30. Gutierrez then tossed to Enriquez for 14 yards over the middle. Gutierrez found J. Martinez for a 10-yard completion at the Idalou 12.

Gutierrez completed his fourth consecutive pass with a throw to K. Rodriguez for a 12-yard touchdown that ended all scoring.

Joe Gutierrez rushed six times for 35 yards and completed nine of 17 pass attempts for 119 yards. He passed for two touchdowns and ran for another. Joey Martinez carried three times for 78 yards and caught two passes for 59 yards including one touchdown catch. 

Riley Kettner caught three passes for 37 yards. Cesar Enriquez made two catches for 14 yards, and Kurt Rodriguez made one reception for 12 yards and one touchdown.

Joey Martinez led the Mule defense with 10 tackles. Riley Kettner made seven stops. Elias Aguirre and Joe Gutierrez recorded five tackles each.

The Mules are open Thursday evening and will open their district season on the road against the Slaton Tigers.