7th Mules vs. Shallowater (9-17-2015)

7^th Mules vs. Shallowater (9-17-2015)

The seventh grade Mules hosted the Shallowater Mustangs Thursday afternoon. The Mules appeared to get off to a fast start with Joe Gutierrez returning the opening kick 47 yards.

The Mules fumbled on the first play of game. The Mustangs then scored two plays later on a 50-yard run to take a 6-0 lead over the Mules.

The Mules were able to bounce back and improved to a 2-0 season record with a 42-18 win over the Mustangs.

Joe Martinez returned the second Mustang kick off 22 yards to the Shallowater 48. The Mules lost three yards on first down. Guiterrez kept the football and rolled wide right and after turning the corner raced 51 yards for a TD.

Martinez took a pitch from Guiterrez for the two-point conversion to put the Mules in front to stay. The Mules led 8-6 with 5:32 remaining in the first period.

The Mustangs did not return the ensuing kick and started the drive on the Shallowater 32. Kurt Rodriguez sacked the Mustang quarterback on third down to force a punt. The Mustang punt rolled dead on the Mule 35.

Martinez went up the middle on second down and cut to his left. He ducked under a flying tackler and raced 47 yards to the Shallowater 16.

Gutierrez capped off the drive with runs of 14 and seven yards for a score. The Mules led 14-6 with 45 seconds left in the opening period.

It was three-and-out for the Mustangs with Riley Kettner returning the punt six yards to the Shallowater 30. A fumble gave the Mustangs the ball back as the second period started.

Elias Aguirre flashed through the Mustang line to sack the quarterback for a seven-yard loss. Jacob Toscano plugged the running lane to set the Mustangs back one yard. Guiterrez picked off a Mustang pass at the Shallowater 48 and returned to the Mustang 22.

Martinez raced wide left for 13 yards. Then Guiterrez connected with Martinez over the middle for 15 yards to the Mustang one-yard line. Gutierrez plunged in for the score to put the Mules on top 20-6 with 1:04 remaining in the first half.

The ensuing kick hit a Mustang and he covered the ball at the Shallowater 45. The Mustangs scored on a 55-yard run to cut the Mule lead to 26-12 at the half.

The Mules kicked off to start the second half. The Mustangs failed to move the ball with Eli Macias making back-to-back tackles. The Mustang punt rolled dead on the Shallowater 49.

The Mules scored on a 49-yard run by Gutierrez to take a 36-12 lead to end the third quarter.

The Mustangs again failed to move the ball with Aguirre and Victor Velasquez both making tackles for losses. Shallowater punted to the Mule 46 and Gutierrez returned 54 yards for a touchdown. Martinez tacked on the two-point conversion to extend the Mule lead to 42-12.

Shallowater score the final touchdown with a 16-yard pass.

Guiterrez led the Mules with 124 yards rushing and Martinez added 78 yards. 

The Mules will make the long trip to Kermit Thursday afternoon to play the Yellow Jackets.