9th Mules vs. Shallowater (10-15-2015

9^th Mules vs. Shallowater (10-15-2015

Friona did not field a freshmen team for the 2015 football season so the Mules were forced to look elsewhere for an opponent. The Shallowater Mustangs were having a similar problem so the two teams squared off Thursday evening in Muleshoe.

It did not take the Mustangs long to jump in the lead and scored on the first offensive play of the game. Shallowater added the two-point conversion. The Mules answered quickly with Yoel Reyes returning the ensuing Shallowater kickoff 82 yards for a Mule TD just 14 seconds after the Mustangs.

The Mules two-point conversion failed. Shallowater went on to defeat the Mules 60-38.

The Mustangs added two more touchdowns in the first period to lead the Mules 20-6 at the end of the first period. Shallowater punched in another score early in the second period to increase the Mustangs lead to 28-6.

Ean Hasley leaped high in the air to snag the Shallowater kickoff at the Mule 40 and dropped to the turf. Izaiah Hurtado kept the ball for four yards. Rocky Martinez went in motion from his wide receiver position and took the handoff on the Jet play.

Martinez scored on the 56-yard run. Hurtado scooted wide right for the two-point conversion to cut the Shallowater lead to 28-14.

It only took the Mustangs two plays to score and increase the Mustang lead to 36-14.

The Mules next drive began on the Mule 31. Luke Del Toro powered up the middle for 14 yards. The Mules had to over come a holding penalty with Brady Martinez taking an option pitch 51 yards for a touchdown with 4:10 left in the half. B. Martinez added the two-point conversion by battling into the end zone. The Mules trailed 36-22 at the intermission.

The two teams exchanged turnovers early in the third period. The Mules had a pass intercepted at the Shallowater 17 but the Mules got the ball back on a Mustang fumble that Jamie Vidana recovered on the Mule 48.

The Mules failed to convert the turnover and were forced to return the ball on downs near midfield. It only took the Mustangs two plays to score and take a 44-22 lead over the Mules with 2:33 left in the third quarter.

The Mules needed only one play to score on a reverse and Reyes zipped 66 yards for TD with 2:13 left on the clock in the third quarter. Del Toro kept up the middle for the two-point conversion to trim the lead to 44-30.

Shallowater scored on the first play of the final period to extend the lead to 52-30.

The Mules final scoring drive started at the Mule 37 after an 11-yard kickoff return by the Mules. Del Toro tossed the ball 22 yards downfield to Reyes at the Shallowater 42. Reyes raced in for a 63-yard TD pass and run. Del Toro passed to Raul Sierra for the two-point conversion.

The Childress Bobcats no longer have a freshmen team so the Mules have invited the Lubbock Monterey Plainsmen to play in Benny Douglas Stadium following the seventh and eighth grade Mules‘ games.