Mules blank Ducks, head for Napavine

Not all the highlights were on offense as the Wahkiakum Mules shut out the Toutle Lake Ducks 21-0 last Friday in Central League football.

The Mule defense held the Duck offense to just four first downs and 77 total yards. And in a game that featured some hard hitting, the Mules came out on top.

"Joel Nicolazzi laid out some hard hits," said Mule Coach Eric Hansen. "Cameron Elliott had some, and so did Brett Chaput."

Nicolazzi had a good game on both sides of the line. He led the team with 16 tackles, caught three passes for 98 yards and one touchdown, and ran for a 45-yard touchdown.

The Mules got on the scoreboard early in the first quarter. Lars Blix completed a four yard pass to Wyatt Parker and then connected with Nicolazzi who turned the short pass into a 57-yard touchdown play. Blix kicked the extra point--he made all three attempts during the game, and the Mules led 7-0 at 9:09 of the first quarter.

At 5:31 of the third quarter, Nicolazzi scored on his 45-yard run to put the Mules up 14-0.

The Mules closed out the scoring at 2:14 of the fourth quarter when Cameron Elliott bulled into the endzone from two yards out.

The Mules piled up 376 yards of offense, with 250 yards coming on 16 pass completions and 126 yards on 33 rushes.

Nicolazzi had 70 yards rushing on five runs; Parker had 32 on eight runs, and Elliott had 23 on eight runs.

Blix completed 16 of 27 passes for 250 yards and one touchdown without an interception. Parker caught five for 69 yards; Ryan Helms had four for 45 yards; Nicolazzi three for 98 yards; Zach Pierce two for 26 yards and Brandon Fudge two for 12 yards.

Nicolazzi had 16 tackles, Elliott 10, Parker nine, Tyler Russell and Kohl Bergseng eight each and Helms seven. Pierce intercepted a Duck pass.

The Mules had nine penalties for 70 yards; Toutle Lake had one for five yards.

The Mules travel to Napavine this Friday to take on the undefeated, second ranked Tigers.

"They have some quick kids and very skilled people," Hansen commented. "But they're starting some freshmen, too."

The Mules sat five starters last week because of grades. Hansen hopes to have at least four of those players back.