Vikes corral Mules in season finale

Above: Mule halfback Bryce McClain sliced through the Mossyrock defense for a 68-yard touchdown run last Thursday. The Vikings defeated the Mules 22-12.

Below: Blockers Ty Bain, left, and Zach Schneider are putting their targets on the ground for a good run by Joel Nicolazzi. Photos by Rick Nelson. The Wahkiakum Mule 2009 football season came to an end last Thursday in a 22-12 loss to the Mossyrock Vikings.

Mossyrock claimed third place with the win and advanced to post-season playoff competition.

The Mules finished in fourth place in the Central League with 3-3 league record, 5-5 over all.

Mossyrock played South Bend Tuesday night for a berth in the playoffs, which will be this Saturday at Kittitas.

Thursday's wet weather hampered both teams.

"Nine fumbles," said Mule Coach Eric Hansen. "You can't give the ball away that many times and win a ballgame."

The Mules received the opening kick and fumbled away the ball on their first possession.

Rudy Kaech of Mossyrock put the Vikings on the scoreboard with a three-yard touchdown run at 10:54 of the second quarter; Nic Gressett passed to Jonah Bradley for a two-point conversion that put the Vikings up 8-0.

The Mules put together a drive later in the second quarter. Brandon Fudge connected on a 22-yard pass to tight end Jordan Fritsch for the touchdown. The two point conversion failed, leaving Mossyrock ahead 8-6 as the first half ended.

After a scoreless third quarter, the Mules took the lead on the first play of the fourth quarter. Halfback Bryce McClain followed his blockers off tackle and cut back through the center of the Viking defense and broke free for a 68-yard touchdown run. The pass for the points after touchdown failed, leaving the Mules ahead 12-8.

Mossyrock responded for a scoring drive. Kaech scored on a two-yard plunge; Gressett passed to Kaech for two-point conversion and a 16-12 lead at 7:48 of the fourth quarter.

As the clock wound down, the Mules went to the air, and Mossyrock's Michael Eng picked off a Fudge pass and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown with 18 seconds left to put the game away.

The Mules gained 230 yards on 25 rushing plays and 40 on two passes for 270 yards of offense. They fumbled seven times, losing five and were called for one five-yard penalty.

McClain had 148 yards rushing; Joel Nicolazzi 52, and Zach Schneider 30.

The Vikings gained 308 yards on 94 running plays and 11 yards on two passes for 319 yards of offense. They fumbled six times, losing three, and were called for five penalties for 25 yards.

Austin Knight gained 175 yards for the Vikings, and Kaech had 115.

Luke Thomason led the Mule defense with 17 tackles. Nicolazzi had 13; Schneider and Ryan Helms each had 11; Mitch Moonen and Jeff Vik nine each, Ty Bain and Cameron Elliott eight each; Zach Pierce 7, Tylor Russell and Michael Paulsen six each, and Wyatt Parker five.

Seniors playing their last game for the Mules were Troy Howard, Schneider, Paulsen, Vik, Bain, Nicolazzi, Moonen, Thomason and McClain.