Ducks edge Mules 26-21

The Toutle Lake Ducks edged the visiting Wahkiakum Mules 26-21 in a game that left them tied for second in Central League standings.

"Toutle didn't beat us," Mule Coach Eric Hansen told his team after the game. "We beat ourselves."

The Mules fumbled the ball six times, losing three, and giving the Ducks a short field for a touchdown drive. The Ducks also intercepted a Mule pass.

Toutle took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a seven yard run by Zach Hayes.

The Mules responded with a touchdown, a 12-yard run by Kohl Bergseng. A two-point conversion put the Mules up 8-7.

The Ducks took advantage of their breaks and added two scores before halftime, a five-yard run by Hayes at 3:26 and a five-yard pass with 19 seconds to go, giving Toutle a 20-8 lead at halftime.

The Mules put together a scoring drive in the third quarter, with Bergseng scoring on a 19-yard run with 2:27 to go. Blix kicked the conversion to cut the lead to 20-15.

The Ducks responded with Hayes running 70 yards for a touchdown on the next play from scrimmage to go up 27-15.

The Mules cut the margin to 27-20 at 11:20 of the fourth quarter, with Bergseng scoring on a five-yard run.

The Mules put together another drive late in the fourth quarter, but a Bergseng fumble gave the Ducks the ball, and they ran out the clock for the win.

The Mules had 15 first downs, 247 yards rushing and 36 yards passing. The Ducks gained 228 yards on the ground and 22 in the air for 250 yards of offense and 13 first downs.

The Mules fumbled six times, losing three, and had four penalties for 50 yards. The Ducks lost their one fumble and had two penalties for 10 yards.

Bergseng gained 146 yards for the Mules. Wyatt Parker had 69, Blix 20 and Steven Doumit 12. Blix completed three of 11 passes for 36 yards, with one interception. Hayes gained 146 yards for the Ducks.

On defense, Blix made 24 tackles; Bergseng 14, Doumit 13, Parker and Bubba Calvert 12 each, and Tylor Russell and Brett Chaput 10 each.

The Mules entertain the league leading Napavine Tigers this Friday in their final league game. On October 21, they host the Raymond Seagulls in a non-league game, and then they'll have two weeks before the start of cross-over play. If they lose Friday, the Mules should finish fifth in the league and start the playoffs on the road against the fourth-ranked Naselle Comets.