Mules blast Panthers, host Pirates on Friday

The Wahkiakum Mules blasted the White Pass Panthers 64-36 in a Central League football game last Friday at White Pass.

The win kept the Mules' playoff goal alive: They host the Adna Pirates this Friday in a must-win game with a team tied for second in league standings.

Offense was the name of the game at White Pass. The teams traded touchdown in the first period; the Mules led 33-22 at halftime and pulled away with 33 second half points.

Mule quarterback Joel Fudge scored four times for the Mules on runs of one, two, 10 and 77 yards; he finished the game with 135 yards rushing on 12 carries.

Fullback Blake Anderson scored three touchdowns on runs of two, 10 and 59 yards; he tallied 160 yards on 22 runs. Running back Bryce McClain scored on a 50-yard run; he gained 173 yards on 10 carries.

Jared Fudge recovered a blocked punt in the Panther endzone for another Mule touchdown, and Zach Schneider gained 53 yards on nine runs.

"We had some players out with injuries and didn't play good defense," Mule Coach Eric Hansen commented. "They couldn't stop us on the run, and linemen Stian Vik and Ben Doumit played very well.

"Derek Moody, the White Pass quarterback, completed 24 passes for 260 yards and four touchdowns, and he ran another 85 yards on a play that took over 20 seconds. We didn't pursue well.

"For us to beat Adna, who has a balanced attack, we have to pursue and tackle."

The game is the last home game for the Mules; senior athletes and their parents will be introduced before the ball game, which starts at 7 p.m.

Scoring

First quarter

Mules--Zach Schneider 3-yd. run; Blake Anderson kick, 9:36.

Mules--Joel Fudge, 10-yd. run, PAT failed, 7:12.

Panthers--Spencer Baier 4-yd. pass from Derek Moody, 4:51.

Mules--Anderson 10 yd.-run, PAT failed, 3:36.

Panthers--Jordan Sume, 7-yd. pass from Moody, Sume pass from Moody, 1:40.

Second quarter

Mules--Fudge, 2-yd. run, PAT failed, 8:46.

Panthers--Shane Dewalt, 26-yd. pass from Moody, Sume pass from Moody, 5:35.

Mules--Fudge, 1-yd. run, Ryan Helms catch from Fudge, 1:16.

Third quarter

Mules--Jared Fudge, fumble recovery, PAT failed, 10:31.

Panthers--Moody, 85-yd. run, Sume pas from Moody, 8:32.

Mules--Anderson, 59-yd. run, PAT failed, 6:27.

Mules--Joel Fudge, 77-yd. run, PAT failed, 2:02.

Fourth quarter

Mules--Joel Fudge, 2-yd. run, Anderson kick, 8:16.

Panthers--Baier, 55-yd. pass from Moody, PAT failed. 7:32.

Mules--Bryce McClain 50 yd. run, PAT failed, 4:31.

Statistics

Mules

Panthers

First downs

16

8

Rushes/yards

55/368

29/166

Passes/yards

2/24

24/260

Total offense

392

426

Punts/average

2/44

3/33

Fumbles/lost

3/1

3/2

Penalties/lost

4/20

3/20

Rushing: Mules--Bryce McClain 10/173, Blake Anderson 22/160, Joel Fudge 12/135, Zach Schneider 9/53. WP--Derek Moody 17/129.

Passing: Mules--Fudge 6/2/0 24 yds. WP--Moody 38/24/2, 260 yds, 4 TD.

Receptions: Mules--Anderson 1/7, Schneider 1/17. WP--Spencer Baier 10/137, 2 TD; Shane Dewalt 7/53, 1 TD.

Tackles/assists/sacks: Mules--Jeff Vik 8/5; Blake Anderson 7/2; Bryce McClain 4/1; Mitch Moonen 2/5; Ben Doumit 2/3; Jared Fudge 2/3; Stian Vik 1/4; .

Fumble recoveries: Jared Fudge, Mitch Moonen.

Interceptions: Mules--Joel Fudge, Ryan Helms.