Mules vs. Childress (10-24-2014)

Mules vs. Childress (10-24-2014)

The Mule defense smothered the running game of Childress and held the Bobcats to just nine yards on 19 rushes. Two Mule miscues allowed Childress to hang close in the first half. But the Mules came out firing on all cylinders in the second half to defeat Childress 44-14.

“The long ride did not hurt us tonight,” said Mule coach David Wood. “Childress was not the longest trip for us this year and I believe that made a big difference. It was good night for us.”

“Everybody got in the game again tonight. It has been three games since we have had to call on Wesley Clarkson to punt for us. That is a very good feeling. Now we get to go home and start getting ready for the Dimmitt Bobcats.”

The Mules kicked off to start the game and Childress returned the kick to the Bobcat 43. Roman Franco made an open field tackle on third down. The Bobcats were five-yards short of a first down and had to punt.

Danny Campos connected with Saul Sanchez for an eight-yard gain on third down. The Mules needed two yards for a first down at the Mule 49. Campos used a hard count to draw the Bobcats offside.

The Mules continued with their play and Campos tossed the ball over the defender. Jason Florez climbed the ladder to pull down the pass for a 24-yard gain. Josh Lopez gained nine yards on first down.

Campos got the first down with a four-yard run up the middle. The Mule drive bogged down at the Childress 11. Felipe Guerrero used his left foot to put the Mules on top to stay with a 28-yard field goal. The Mules led 3-0 with 6:38 remaining in the first quarter.

The Mules forced the Bobcats to go three-and-out. The punt took a Mule bounce and rolled dead on the Mule 38. Campos located Sanchez for a nine-yard pass. Lopez took a short pass wide right for 13 yards to the Childress 40.

Keagan Gonzales came in at quarterback and had runs of seven, five and 18 yards to advance the Mules to the Bobcat 10. Sanchez got open in the end zone and Gonzales delivered him the ball. Guerrero’s point after kick was good and the Mules led 10-0 with 1:17 left in the first quarter.

It was three-and-out for the Bobcats early in the second period and Florez returned the punt 11 yards to the Mule 39. The Mules quickly marched down field and Gonzales scored on a quarterback sweep that he cut up field early.

Jaxon Lee took out two Bobcats to clear Gonzales path. He scored from 36-yards out. Guerrero’s kick put the Mules ahead 17-0 with 8:29 left in the half.

The Mules fumbled and two plays later Childress scored on a 55-yard pass from Luke Darter to Kaden Keys. The kick was good and Childress trailed 17-7 with 8:02 to play in the first half.

The Mules turned the ball over again on interception but the Bobcats could not cash in on the miscue and was forced to punt. Kevin Mendoza came off the edge and got a hand on the Childress punt. Braden Bessire spotted the short punt and caught the ball at the Mule 34. No Bobcats could get close to Bessire as he raced 66 yards for a touchdown to extend the Mule lead to 23-7.

The Bobcats turned a Mule fumble into seven points with just one second left the half. Bryce Bowman connected with Jantzen Martinez. The kick was good and the Mules led 23-14 at the intermission.

The Mules wasted no time after the break and drove 67 yards in six plays. Gonzales teamed up with Cristian Paez with a 32-yard pass and run. Guerrero kicked the point after for a 30-14 Mule lead with 9:29 remaining in the third quarter.

A high snap that went over the punter’s head and the Mules took over on the Childress 23. Gonzales scored on a 15-yard run to the right. Guerrero tacked on the point after for a 37-14 Mule lead.

The Mules final touchdown came early in the final period. It took the Mules 13 plays to drive 63 yards and erased 5:52 off the clock. Gonzales pushed in from one yard out. Guerrero added the extra point.

The Mule offense rolled up 440 yards of offense with 316 being on the ground and 124 yards were through the air. Gonzales rushed 20 times for 150 yards and was six of seven passing for 70 yards. He ran for three touchdowns and passed for two.

Lopez rushed 13 times for 116 yards and caught three passes for nine yards. Campos ran four times for 14 yards and was five of eight passing for 54 yards. Paez carried four times for 13 yards and caught one pass for 31 yards.

Florez caught two passes for 23 yards, Sanchez made two catches for 20 yards, Tony Vasquez had one reception for 22 yards and Chamel Regalado caught two pass for 18 yards.

The Mule defense held Childress to a total of 165 yards. Franco led the Mules with nine tackles, broke up a pass and made two special teams tackles. Kevin Mendoza had six stops, one quarterback hurry, blocked a kick and made three special teams tackles.

Issac Acosta made six tackles, two quarterback hurries and two special teams tackles. Chamel Regalado had six tackles, one being for a loss and broke up two passes. Javy Perez made five stops with two being special teams tackles.

Braden Bessire had four tackles, one quarterback hurry, broke up a pass and scored a touchdown. Dagen Dunham made four tackles and one quarterback hurry. 

The Mules play at home Friday night against the Dimmitt Bobcats. It is Senior Night and the Seniors will be introduced at 7:00 PM.