JV Mules vs. River Road (10-13-2016)

JV Mules vs. River Road (10-13-2016)

Raul Sierra was pressed into service as the JV Mules quarterback Thursday evening. The Mules all pulled together to hold off the River Road Wildcats 36-19. 

The Wildcats kicked off to start the game and the Mule drive started on the Mule 37. Sierra passed to Sergio Solano for a six-yard gain. Solano was tackled by his facemask and the 15-yard penalty advanced the Mules to the Wildcat 39. 

Ryan Rodriguez broke up the middle on a draw for 11 yards. A pitch wide right from Sierra to Rodriguez covered the final 27 yards for the Mules first touchdown with 8:41 left in the opening period. The Mules led 6-0.

The Wildcats made one first down after the Mules kicked off but could not keep the drive alive and punted to the Mule 32.

It was three and out for the Mules and a snap over the head of Rodriguez gave the Wildcats the ball on the Mule three-yard line. It only took the Wildcats one play to score and then kick the point after to take a 7-6 lead over the Mules with 3:25 left in the first period. 

The Wildcats kicked off and Justin Carrion returned to the Mule 38. A pair of offside penalties and a quarterback sneak put the Mules at midfield. Sierra carried wide right for eight yards. 

Rodriguez scooted wide right for 18 yards to the Wildcat 25. Sierra connected with Solano for a first down at the Wildcat 10. Sierra rolled wide left for seven yards. Sierra tossed to Fabian Valdez running a slant for a three-yard touchdown. The Mules led 12-7 with no time remaining in the first period. 

Luis Franco kicked off and Rigo Mendoza made the stop at the River Road 38. Two motion penalties and a sack by Leonel Camarena halted the Wildcat drive. River Road punted out of bounds at the Mule six-yard line. 

The two teams exchange possession of the ball the Mules finally got the ball on the Mule 20 with 1:52 left in the half. 

Sierra scrambled for five yards on first down. He then connected with Valadez for three yards. Rodriguez broke loose on a run up the middle for a 72-yard touchdown with 1:22 remaining in the second period. Sierra hit Valadez in the back of the end zone for the two-point conversion and a 20-7 Mule lead at the intermission. 

Jacob Kettner made the tackle for the Mules at the River Road 15 to start the second half. The Wildcats broke loose for a 70-yard run and Jacob DeLeon chased down the running back at the Mule two-yard line. River Road scored on a two-yard run and added the two-point conversion to cut the Mule lead to 20-13. 

The Wildcats kicked off and Corbin Hardwick’s long return was called back to the Mule 34 on a block in the back penalty. 

Sierra tossed to Solano and he raced down the River Road sideline for 53 yards to the Wildcat 13. A personal foul penalty advanced the Mules to the River Road seven. A pitch right from Sierra to Rodriguez scored with 8:02 left in the third period. A reverse pitch to Solano added the two-point conversion for a 28-13 Mule lead. 

The Wildcats consumed the final eight minutes of the third quarter to score on a nine-yard run. The Wildcats moved before attempting the two-point conversion and attempted a dropkick for the point after. The Mules held on to a 28-19 lead at the end of the third quarter. 

Hardwick returned the River Road kickoff to the Mule 46. The Mules worked their way to the River Road nine-yard line before Sierra was stripped of the ball and the Wildcats recovered. 

Sierra returned the favor on first down by going high behind the intended receiver to pick off the pass at midfield and returned to the Wildcat 35 and keep the game out of reach for River Road with time running down. 

The Mules took time off the clock but turned the ball over on downs. Solano picked off a River Road pass at the Wildcat 35. 

Sierra carried for three yards on back-to-back plays. Rodriguez broke up the middle to the River Road 14 and was pulled down by his facemask. After the penalty Rodriguez scored on a seven-yard run up the middle. Sierra scrambled wide left for the two point conversion to end all scoring. 

Sierra completed 15 of 26 passes for 159 yards and one touchdown. He also threw for a two-point conversion. Rodriguez led the Mules in rushing with 11 carries for 172 yards and four touchdowns. Solano caught four passes for 74 yards, Valdez made five receptions for 29 yards, one touchdown and a two-point conversion. 

Kettner led the Mules with eight tackles, Camarena made seven stops and Franco finished with five tackles. Solano made two tackles and Sierra recorded two tackles. 

The Mules will travel to Friona Thursday afternoon to play the Chieftains.