8th Mules vs. Friona (10-20-2016)

8th Mules vs. Friona (10-20-2016)

There were 38 total points scored in the first period by the eighth-grade Mules and Friona Braves. The Mules led 22-16 at the end of the opening quarter. The Mules took over after that and defeated Friona 50-18.

The Braves scored on the second play of the game to lead the Mules 8-0. The Braves kicked off and Riley Kettner returned the ball 14 yards to the Mule 46. 

Jose Martinez carried off left tackle. After clearing the linebackers he cut back right for a 54-yard touchdown. He then scooted up the middle for the two-point conversion to tie the game at 8-8 with 6:50 left in the first period. 

It took the Braves four plays to reach the Mule end zone for the second time of the game and take a 16-8 lead with 5:23 remaining in the opening quarter. 

The Braves attempted an onside kick and Kettner returned the ball to midfield. Kettner went up the middle for 10 yards. Martinez went off left tackle for a 50-yard touchdown with 4:25 left in the first period. Kettner kept up the middle for the two-point conversion to tie the game at 16-16.

The Mules kicked off and Friona returned the ball to the Brave 47. Benjamin Ramirez made the tackle for a two-yard loss. Kettner and Elias Aguirre broke in the Brave backfield for the tackle and a three-yard loss. 

Aguirre and Jacob Toscano crashed into the Brave backfield for a five-yard loss. Aguirre blocked the brave punt and the Mules took over on the Mule 26. Kettner went wide right for a 26-yard touchdown with just under two minutes left in the opening quarter. The Mules led for the first time 22-16.

Martinez made back-to-back tackles after the Mules kicked off to push the Braves back and forced them to punt. 

Martinez returned the ensuing punt to the Mule 38. A  motion penalty backed the Mules up five yards on first down. Martinez broke a tackle and gained nine yards. Kettner kept wide left for seven yards and a first down. 

A reverse by Martinez with Kettner in front blocking was good for 30 yards to the Brave 25. Kurt Rodriguez broke up the middle for runs of six and eight yards. Martinez found a hole up the middle for a touchdown. Rodriguez added the two-point conversion for a 30-16 Mule lead with 3:19 left in the half. 

Eli Macias recovered a Friona fumble at the Mule 21. A snap sailed into the Mule end zone and the Mules recovered the ball for a Friona safety with just two minutes left in the first half. 

Friona kicked off to start the third quarter and Macias returned the ball to the Mule 43. A fumble backed the Mules up to the 28-yard line. Martinez carried wide left for a 72-yard touchdown run to give the Mules a 36-18 lead with seven minutes left in the third period. 

The Mules recovered a Brave fumble on the Mule 35. Martinez was there to claim the ball for the Mules. Joe Gutierrez tossed over the middle to Rodriguez in stride at the Mule 47. He raced to the end zone for a 73-yard pass and run. A pitch to Martinez gave the Mules the two-point conversion for a 44-18 lead with 4:25 left in the third period. 

A short punt by the Braves was returned from the Mule 45 to the Brave 15 by Martinez. The Mules scored on the second play of the final period on a pass from Gutierrez to Kettner wide open eight yards deep in the end zone. Dmetri Ramirez added the two-point conversion for the final score of the game.     

Joey Martinez led all rushers by carrying for 244 yards and Riley Kettner add 45 yards rushing. Kurt Rodriguez led the Mules in receiving with catches for 75 yards and Kettner caught passes for 20 yards. 

Joey Martinez led the Mule defense with eight tackles and Jacob Toscano made eight. Riley Kettner and Elias Aguirre recorded four tackles each. 

The Mules will host the Littlefield Wildcats Thursday afternoon immediately after the seventh grade game.