Mule-Duck winner is 2nd, loser in Saturday playoff

The Wahkiakum Mules shut out the Vancouver Christian Light in a 28-0 Central League win last Friday.

The win left the Mules tied with the Toutle Lake Ducks at 5-2 in league play. The two teams meet tonight (Thursday), 7 p.m., in Toutle. The winner places second; the loser will likely be tied with Mossyrock and Napavine for the third and final playoff spot.

League athletic directors were meeting Wednesday morning as The Eagle went to press to settle where the playoff would take place. It was initially set for 1 p.m. at Kalama, but the venue wasn't settled, Wahkiakum High School Athletic Director Bob Garrett said Monday.

The third place team from the Central League will take on the third place team from the Pacific League on Tuesday; the winner of that game plays again November 10.

The Mules showed more weapons than the Light and used them to score their 28-0 win.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Light drove to the Mule 9-yard line and failed on a field goal attempt.

The Mules took the ball at their 20-yard line and drove to midfield where quarterback Joel Fudge passed to B.J. Helms for a 52-yard touchdown. Michael Weiler's extra point kick put the Mules up 7-0 with 4:33 left in the first half.

The Mules forced a punt and took the ball at their own 22-yard line. On second down, Alec Sealund broke free for a 75-yard touchdown run. With the conversion kick, the Mules led 14-0 at halftime.

In the third quarter, the Mules stopped a Vancouver Christian run attempt on fourth down and took over at the Mule 36-yard line. A 28 yard run by Matt Willette put the ball deep in Light territory, and Sealund scored on a 19-yard run at 5:20.

Helms stopped a Vancouver Christian drive by stripping the ball from a VC runner and recovering the fumble at the Mule 15-yard line. The Mules moved the ball to midfield, and Fudge connected with Helms for a 52-yard touchdown pass at 7:00.

The Mule junior varsity entered the game after that, stopping a VC drive inside the Mule 1-yard line and running the ball out to midfield to run out the clock.

The win came at a price. The Mules lost Bobby Ferguson, the team's biggest player, to injury in the first quarter. Ben Doumit, the number one reserve on the line, went out in the second half.

"We're scrambling now," Coach Eric Hansen said. "Some of our freshmen and sophomores are going to have to step up."

Overall, Hansen was pleased with the Mules' play. They had no turnovers, and the passing game kept the Light defense off balance.

Sealund gained 180 yards on 13 carries, and Blake Anderson picked up 130 yards on 14 carries.

Anderson led the defense with six solo tackles and 17 assists. Willette had 4/13, B.J. Helms 3/16, Zach Schneider 4/11, Doumit and Ty Bain 4/10 each, Sealund 4/7, Weiler 3/7 Stian Vik 5/4, and Mike Mogush 3/6.

Summary

Van. Christian0000--0

Wahkiakum01477--28

MulesLight

First downs813

Rushes/yards36/33056/234

Passes/yards3/980

Total offense428234

Passes/complete/intercepted

6/3/00

Punts/avg.2/323/41

Penalties4/301/15

Fumbles/lost1/02/1