9th Mules vs. River Road (10-13-2016)

9th Mules vs. River Road (10-13-2016)

The freshmen Mules caged the River Road Wildcats Thursday afternoon 60-0 in what quickly became a runaway by the Mules.

Nathan Rodriguez kicked off for the Mules with a surprise onside kick. Jesus Montiel raced to the Wildcat 43 to cover the ball for the Mules. 

Matthew Alarcon launched a 28-yard pass on first down to Jimmy Villa 10-yards behind the Wildcats at the River Road 15. He scooted to the end zone just 12 seconds into the game to give the Mules a 6-0 lead. 

Rodriguez kicked off a second time and the Wildcats returned the ball to the River Road 40. The Mules plugged the middle for no gain on first down. Fernando Rivas and Jose Cardenas pulled down the Wildcat quarterback after a three-yard gain. Montiel raced wide to the right side to make the stop three-yards short of a first down. 

River Road faked the punt and Montiel made the tackle for a one-yard loss and the Mules took over on downs at the Wildcat 46.

Montiel hit a crease through the left side of the Wildcat defense and cut wide left for a 46-yard touchdown with 7:01 remaining in the first period. Montiel added the two-point conversion to give the Mules a 14-0 lead. 

It was three and out following the Mule kickoff. The River Road punt was allowed to roll dead at the Mule 36. Alarcon kept wide right on third down for a 14-yard gain and a first down at midfield. 

Alarcon tossed to Montiel for 19 yards and then passed to Elio Sanchez for 21 more yards. Alarcon completed the drive with a toss to Villa in the end zone from 20 yards out. Alarcon rolled right and made a jump pass to Leonel Belmonte at the goal line for the two-point conversion and a 22-0 Mule lead. 

After the ensuing kickoff the Mules again held River Road to three and out. The Wildcat punt was allowed to roll dead at the Mule 46. 

Alarcon tossed to Cristian Bustillos on first down for a 16-yard gain. Alarcon had to leap high in the air to tip a high snap. He caught the ball on the bounce and went right for a 38-yard touchdown with 9:18 left in the half. The Mules led 28-0. 

Bustillos picked off a Wildcat pass at the Mule 31 and raced up field. He was pushed out of bounds at the River Road 19. Alarcon scored on a nine-yard run with 6:24 remaining in the half. The two-point conversion was good and the Mules led 36-0 at the intermission. 

Kelan Florez took the helm for the Mules with six minutes left in the third period. He handed off to Belmonte up the middle for eight yards. Belmonte then scooted wide left for 50 yards. Cardenas carried wide left for the final 35 yards for a touchdown with 4:06 left in the third quarter. Florez kept up the middle for the two-point conversion and a 44-0 Mule lead. 

Aaron Venzor stopped the end around play for just a three-yard gain on third down to force the Wildcats to punt. The ball rolled dead at the Mule 30. 

The Mules quickly marched down field. Florez tossed a screen pass to Venzor that went 41 yards for a Mule touchdown with 9:50 remaining in the game. Florez added the two-point conversion for a 52-0 Mule lead. 

Florez scored one last touchdown on a 31-yard run with two and a half minutes left in the game. Belmonte tacked on the two-point conversion. 

The Mules will travel to Friona Thursday to face the Chieftains.