7th Mules vs. Friona (10-16-14)

7^th Mules vs. Friona (10-16-14)

The seventh grade Friona Braves just avoided a shutout Thursday by scoring late in the final period. The Mules defeated Friona 38-6.

Nathan Rodriguez kicked off and Jose Cardenas made the tackle at the Friona 37. Damian Juarez broke through to the Brave backfield and made the stop for a seven-yard loss. That loss forced the Braves to punt on fourth down. The punt rolled dead at midfield.

Juarez kept up the middle on first down and was tackled by the facemask. The 14-yard gain plus the 15-yard penalty moved the Mules to the Friona 21. Juarez kept the ball on the quarterback sweep and scored from 21-yards out with 4:35 left in the first period. The Mules led 6-0.

Cristian Bustillos made a pair of tackles on the Braves three-and-out series. The punt was caught at the Friona 40 and the Mule return man was hauled down by his facemask to give the Mules a first down at the Brave 39.

The Mules lost five yards on first down and Juarez threw an incomplete pass on second down. Juarez kept on the quarterback sweep to the right side and Jesus Montiel made the block to open up the green way for Juarez. Juarez scored on a 44-yard run. The Mules led 12-0 with one minute left in the first period.

Rodriguez booted the kickoff deep down field and Jacob Barron rushed down field and stripped the ball. The Mules recovered the football at the Friona 12-yard line. Juarez pitched the football to Hector Arras for a sweep left. He scored on a 12-yard run with 39 seconds remaining in the first period.

Juarez passed to Cardenas in the end zone for the two-point conversion and a 20-0 Mule lead after one quarter.

The game did not get any easier for the Braves in the second period and it was three-and-out on the ensuing series. The Brave punt rolled dead on the Friona 34.

Arras broke a tackle and gained 15 yards to the Brave 19. The Mules need seven yards on fourth down and Ramirez kept left and scooted 16 yards for a touchdown. The Mules had extended their lead to 26-0 with 4:30 left in the half.

Friona kicked off to start the second half and Juarez returned the ball 16 yards to the Mule 44. The Mules first miscue of game came when the Mules fumbled on first down and Friona recovered on the Mule 45.

Eddie Vasquez sacked the Brave quarterback for an 11-yard loss. The Braves gained 10 yards on third down to set up fourth and 10-yards needed for a first down. Bustillos broke through to the Brave backfield and snatched the ball from the quarterback as if running the Statue of Liberty play. 

Bustillos raced 55 yards for a touchdown and a 32-0 lead with 4:21 remaining in the third quarter.

Rodriguez kicked off for the Mules to start the game and Kelan Florez and Cardenas tackled the return man at the Friona 30. Five plays later Cardenas reached in a stripped the ball from the ball carrier and Julian Elizalde recovered for the Mules.

The Mules started their final drive at the Mule 37. It took the Mules four plays to score with a 57-yard touchdown pass and run from Juarez to Cardenas. The Mules led 38-0 with 4:58 remaining in the game.

The Braves scored on a 67-yard run for their only points of the evening.

The Mules will take the long bus ride to Childress to battle the Bobcats Thursday afternoon.