Tigers thump Mules 36-6

The second ranked Napavine Tigers handed the Wahkiakum Mules a 36-6 Central League loss last Friday at Napavine.

The Tigers intercepted two Mule passes in the first quarter and led 12-0 after 12 minutes. The Tigers added a field goal in the second quarter to lead 17-0 at halftime.

The Mules put together a scoring drive in the third quarter. A Tiger defender tipped a Lars Blix pass headed for Joel Nicolazzi in the endzone, and Brandon Fudge caught the ball for the Mule score.

Napavine scored once in the third quarter and twice in the fourth quarter to put the game away.

The Tigers gained 374 yards on the ground and 89 in the air and had 19 first downs. The Mules had only 27 yards rushing and 46 yards passing with five first downs.

Blix completed nine of 21 passes with one touchdown and two interceptions. Fudge caught three for 29 yards; Ryan Helms had two for 12 yards, and Cameron Elliott, Wyatt Parker and Zach Pierce each caught one pass.

Parker led the defense with 12 tackles. Fudge and Nathan Cothren each had 10, Elliott nine, Bubba Calvert and Tylor Russell eight each; Nicolazzi and Brett Chapput seven each; Blix six, Kohl Bergseng five, Helms and Pierce four each, and Blayne Edwards three.

"We got in a hole early and it killed us," said Mule Coach Eric Hansen. "Edwards and Bergseng played well for us."

The 4-3 Mules head to Raymond this Saturday with a non-league game with the 1-6 Gulls.