Tigers top Mules in league finale

The Napavine Tigers played an almost perfect football game to defeat the Wahkiakum Mules 23-12 last Friday in a Central League game.

The Tigers built a 20-6 halftime lead and did what they needed to do to survive a determined Mule rally in the second half.

The Tigers received the second half kickoff and boosted the score to 23-6 with a 21 yard goal at 5:55. The Mules then got their offense going. Wyatt Parker scored on a 32 yard run with 51 seconds left in the third quarter to cut the Tiger lead to 23-12.

The Mules recovered an onside kick but had to punt the ball away early in the fourth quarter. The Mule defense forced the Tigers to punt, and Tylor Russell was able to block the kick, giving the Mules the ball in good field position. The drive ended when Lars Blix passed to Parker who carried the ball deep into Tiger territory. When tackled, Parker lost the ball, which was covered by a Napavine player. Mule fans thought the ground caused the fumble, so the Mules should have retained control, but officials ruled the Tiger tackler had already knocked the ball loose and that Napavine had recovered a fumble. The Tigers then ran out the clock to claim the win.

Napavine started the game with an onside kick which they recovered and set up a scoring drive.

The Mules responded with a scoring drive, with Blix passing to Parker for an 11-yard touchdown play. Napavine scored twice on runs in the second quarter to lead 20-6 at halftime.

The Mules ran the ball 36 times, gaining 198 yards. Blix completed four of eight passes for 69 yards, with one interception. The Mules lost their only fumble and were called for four penalties for 20 yards.

The Tigers ran the ball 46 times for 281 yards and completed two of four passes for 54 yards. They had no fumbles or interceptions and were called for seven penalties for 45 yards.

Parker gained 146 yards on 22 runs and caught two passes for 30 yards. Blix gained 49 yards on eight runs, and Austin Good picked up eight yards on four carries. Good caught one pass for 25 yards, and Eli McElroy caught one for 14 yards.

On defense, Blix was in on 17 tackles, Bubba Calvert 15, Parker 14, Nathan Cothren and Brett Chaput 10 each, and Russell seven.

The loss left the Mules in fifth place in league standings; it was their final league game. They entertain the Raymond Seagulls Friday in a non-league game.

The Mules will recognize senior athletes before the start of the game.