Mules clobber Trojans, head to Napavine

The Wahkiakum Mule football team gave the Pe Ell Trojans a couple kicks enroute to a 48-21 win in the Mule homecoming game last Friday.

The Mules 21-0 after one quarter and 41-0 at haltime. Mule Coach Eric Hansen started the junior varsity in the second half, and after the Pe Ell starters scored 21 points, the Mule starters came back in to punch in another touchdown and put the game out of reach.

“The team came ready to play,” Hansen said. “They were intense. They knew it was a big game.”

The win left the Mules 3-1 in Central League play, tied with this week’s opponent, Napavine, for third and fourth in the league standings. Adna and Toutle Lake stand tied for first and second with 3-0 records.

Bryce McClain got the Mules going against Pe Ell, juggling the opening kick and running it back for a 81-yard touchdown. The Mules then forced a couple Trojan fumbles for good field position. The first ended short of the goal line inside the Trojan 5-yard line; the second ended in a one-yard touchdown plunge by quarterback Joel Fudge. Fullback Blake Anderson ended the first quarter with a 36-yard run up the middle.

In the second quarter, interceptions led to Mule scores. Ryan Helms returned a Trojan pass to the Pe Ell 5-yard line; and Fudge punched in the touchdown. Not long after, Fudge grabbed a floating Trojan pass and returned 51 yards for a touchdown. Anderson capped another Mule drive with a one-yard run to end the half.

Pe Ell’s Eric Pace returned the Mules third quarter kickoff 66 yards to put Pe Ell on the scoreboard. The Trojans mounted a scoring drive to cut the Mule lead to 41-13 mid-way through the third quarter; that’s when the Mule starters came back in to get things under control.

Anderson’s 20-yard run at 5:32 put the Mules up 48-13, and the JV’s came back in. Pe Ell scored again with 17 seconds left for the final 48-21 margin.

The Mules gained nine first downs with 296 yards rushing. Pe Ell had nine first downs and 244 yards rushing and nine yards passing.

Anderson led the Mule running attack with 184 yards on 19 carries, and Bryce McClain had 85 on 16 runs.

Leading the defense for the Mules were Jordan Fritsch, 5 tackles and one assist; Ty Bain 4/3; Fudge and Wyatt Parker, 3/3, Mitch Moonen and 34 2/2; Ben Doumit 3/0, and Jeff Vik, 1/5. Doumit recorded a quarterback sack; 81 had two interceptions and Fudge one; and Doumit, Bain, Moonen, 7, Vik and 34 made tackles for loss. Vik recovered two fumbles, and Stian Vik, Fritsch, and Major Thomas all recovered one.

The Mules have another important game this Friday with one of the many teams battling for the league’s three berths in post season playoffs.

“Napavine is a good team,” Hansen said. “They run the ball well, and their quarterback can throw. They’re big up front. We’ll have to be ready to play.”Mules clobber Trojans, head to Napavine

by Rick Nelson

The Wahkiakum Mule football team gave the Pe Ell Trojans a couple kicks enroute to a 48-21 win in the Mule homecoming game last Friday.

The Mules 21-0 after one quarter and 41-0 at haltime. Mule Coach Eric Hansen started the junior varsity in the second half, and after the Pe Ell starters scored 21 points, the Mule starters came back in to punch in another touchdown and put the game out of reach.

“The team came ready to play,” Hansen said. “They were intense. They knew it was a big game.”

The win left the Mules 3-1 in Central League play, tied with this week’s opponent, Napavine, for third and fourth in the league standings. Adna and Toutle Lake stand tied for first and second with 3-0 records.

Bryce McClain got the Mules going against Pe Ell, juggling the opening kick and running it back for a 81-yard touchdown. The Mules then forced a couple Trojan fumbles for good field position. The first ended short of the goal line inside the Trojan 5-yard line; the second ended in a one-yard touchdown plunge by quarterback Joel Fudge. Fullback Blake Anderson ended the first quarter with a 36-yard run up the middle.

In the second quarter, interceptions led to Mule scores. Ryan Helms returned a Trojan pass to the Pe Ell 5-yard line; and Fudge punched in the touchdown. Not long after, Fudge grabbed a floating Trojan pass and returned 51 yards for a touchdown. Anderson capped another Mule drive with a one-yard run to end the half.

Pe Ell’s Eric Pace returned the Mules third quarter kickoff 66 yards to put Pe Ell on the scoreboard. The Trojans mounted a scoring drive to cut the Mule lead to 41-13 mid-way through the third quarter; that’s when the Mule starters came back in to get things under control.

Anderson’s 20-yard run at 5:32 put the Mules up 48-13, and the JV’s came back in. Pe Ell scored again with 17 seconds left for the final 48-21 margin.

The Mules gained nine first downs with 296 yards rushing. Pe Ell had nine first downs and 244 yards rushing and nine yards passing.

Anderson led the Mule running attack with 184 yards on 19 carries, and Bryce McClain had 85 on 16 runs.

Leading the defense for the Mules were Jordan Fritsch, 5 tackles and one assist; Ty Bain 4/3; Fudge and Wyatt Parker, 3/3, Mitch Moonen and 34 2/2; Ben Doumit 3/0, and Jeff Vik, 1/5. Doumit recorded a quarterback sack; 81 had two interceptions and Fudge one; and Doumit, Bain, Moonen, 7, Vik and 34 made tackles for loss. Vik recovered two fumbles, and Stian Vik, Fritsch, and Major Thomas all recovered one.

The Mules have another important game this Friday with one of the many teams battling for the league’s three berths in post season playoffs.

“Napavine is a good team,” Hansen said. “They run the ball well, and their quarterback can throw. They’re big up front. We’ll have to be ready to play.”