Tigers corral Mules in seesaw contest

The Napavine Tigers claimed a 32-20 win over the Wahkiakum Mules in a key Central League contest last Friday.

The win left the Tigers in a position to challenge Toutle Lake for the league championship, and the loss left the Mules in a must-win-out position to be able to compete for the third place playoff berth from the league.

The momentum of the game swayed back and forth as each team’s offenses and defenses took turns at dominance.

Twice the Tiger defense stopped the Mules in goal line situations. The Mules came up short at the Tiger 5-yard line in the second quarter and on the Mules’ final drive inside the game’s final minute.

A good kickoff return to midfield set up Napavine’s first scoring drive; the Tiger fly motion offense took a 6-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

The Mules responded with a scoring drive; a 31-yard pass play from Joel Fudge to Jordan Fritsch set up Blake Anderson’s 10-yard scoring run at 3:49. Anderson kicked the conversion to put the Mules up 7-6.

The Tigers came back with a score on a 34-yard option play; they ran to conversion to go up 14-7 at 10:26 of the second quarter.

The Mule drove to Napavine’s 5-yard line and turned the ball over on downs. The Mule defense forced the Tigers to punt from inside the 10-yard line, but the Tigers faked the punt and completed a pass for a first down on their own 45-yard line. They scored on the next play on a long run to take a 20-7 lead.

The Tiger defense forced the Mules to punt, but Ty Bain recovered a Tiger fumble to give the Mules possession at their own 45-yard line. Anderson picked up 19 yards on two carries, and Zach Schneider’s 26-yard run put the Mules on the Tiger 13-yard line. Anderson ran it in from there and kicked the conversion to cut the Tiger lead to 20-14 as the second quarter ended.

The Tigers put another touchdown on the board at 3:59 of the third quarter to take a 26-14 lead.

The Mules got their offense going early in the fourth quarter. A 39-run by Schneider put the Mules at the Tiger 1-yard line, and Fudge scored on a one-yard drive with 9:26 left in the game. The kick failed, leaving the Mules down 26-20.

The Tigers took control on the ensuing kickoff, returning the Mule kick 75 yards for a touchdown. The Mules stopped the conversion run to leave the score 32-20 with 9:08 to play.

The Mules mounted a final scoring threat, with Fudge keeping the drive alive on a 24 yard scramble to the Tiger 20-yard line. Anderson’s 16-yard run took the ball to the Tiger 4-yard line, but the Mules couldn’t punch it in and Napavine ran out the clock.

The Mules gained seven first downs with 290 yards rushing and 77 passing. Napavine had six first downs and 256 yards rushing and 49 yards passing.

Anderson led the Mule running attack with 112 yards on 19 carries. Schneider gained 106 yards on nine runs; Fudge had 44 yards on six runs, and Bryce McClain picked up 37 yards on 17 carries. Fudge completed six of 11 passes for 77 yards; Anderson caught three for 27 yards.

Schneider led the defense with 6 tackles and five assists; Bain tallied 5/3; Fudge 5/1; Zach Pierce 4/2, Anderson 4/1, Ben Doumit 3/4 and Jeff Vik 3/1.

The Mules host Portland Christian this Friday in a non-league battle.

“We have to tackle better,” said Mule Coach Eric Hansen. “Poor tackling hurt us against Napavine; we didn’t wrap up.

“Portland Christian’s only loss this season has been to Rainier (Ore.), who is undefeated. They run a spread option offense and like to throw the ball.”

Statistics

Mules

Tigers

First downs

7

6

Rushes/yards

49/290

39/256

Passes/yards

77

49

Total offense

367

305

Punts/average

2/25

2/29

Fumbles/lost

1/1

2/1

Penalties/lost

9/55

2/15

Passes/complete/intercepted

11/6/1

4/2/0

Rushing: Mules--Blake Anderson 19/112; Zach Schneider 9/106; Joel Fudge 6/44; Bryce McClain 17/37.

Passing: Mules--Fudge 11/6/1, 77 yds.

Receiving: Mules--Anderson 3/27; Jordan Fritsch 1/31; McClain 2/11.

Tackles/assists/sacks: Mules--Schneider 6/5; Ty Bain 5/3, fumble recovery; Fudge 5/1; Zach Pierce 4/2; Anderson 4/1; Ben Doumit 3/4; Jeff Vik 3/1; Luke Thomason 2/4/1, tackle for loss; Fritsch 1/4.