Youth football team misses out on championship, hammers Kelso

The Mini Mules lost a heart breaker on October 15 for the League championship 3-0 to STS.

The Mules controlled the game with their defense and strong running game but untimely turnovers with five fumbles and penalties proved to be costly. STS was limited to four first downs, two were from penalties and the other two came on the last drive of the game. Our defense gave up 20 yards all game until the last drive. We drove the ball into their end of the field several times only to stall without putting points on the board. They had a couple of huge fast lineman that gave us fits all game and we weren't able to get our passing game going. Linebacker Zach Brown lead the way with 22 carries and 130 rushing. STS ran a little bit of trickery on the last drive. Facing a third down near mid field the quarterback tossed a screen pass with four blockers out in front. The back took that pass and went 40 yards to set up STS inside the 20. Zach Brown read the play and had the running back in his sights only to be tackled from behind. Facing a third and long Luke Brown made a tackle for a loss. We were flagged for a face mask penalty that took the ball from the 26 to the eight yard line. STS ran one play and then were able to kick a field goal. Kicks can't be rushed in this league so all our kids could do was watch. We got the ball back with five seconds to go and our last pass attempt dropped incomplete ending the game. Leading tacklers were Jordan Crawford with seven, Zach Brown with six, Parker Patching with five, Casey Wilson and Luke Brown with three each.

The Mini Mules played in a crossover game with the Kelso #2 team on October 22 and came away with blowout win in Kelso 34-6. Our kids felt they had something to prove after losing the previous week. They wanted to leave no doubt who the best team in the area was. We scored on the first play from scrimmage with Jordan Crawford running a sweep around the right side following the blocking of Parker Patching and Cody Terpsma. Crawford converted the two point conversion. We had a successful on side kick and drove the ball inside their 30 yard line only to lose the ball on fumbles. We had six fumbles but only lost two this time. They had a 220 nose guard that leaped over the top of our center and was able to knock the ball out of the quarterbacks hands as he was just receiving the snap. Lineman Patching, Terspma, and Gage Horman put a quick stop to that by double teaming him and putting him flat on his back several times. Our offensive and defensive line controlled the game from start to finish. Nathan Dault, Terspma, Patching, Horman, Levi Delamarter, Casey Wilson, Bryce Good, Chuck Barton, and Rafeal Gilbertsen. We gave up five yards rushing on 21 attempts and they completed a half back pass for 75 yards and a touchdown. Everyone wants to hit and sometimes we forget to stay home. We took the next drive and scored quickly with Zach Brown hitting Crawford on a short pass that he ran away from tacklers and went 50 yards to the end zone. We stuffed Kelso on the next possession and with less than a minute to go Brown hit a streaking Levi Delamarter who made an amazing one handed catch with a defender on his arm. He out ran the coverage and got a great block from Crawford to score a 43 yards touchdown reception. Crawford scored from three yards out in the second half and Zach Brown ran up the middle from 48 yards out to score our last touchdown. Ashden Niemeyer converted the two point conversion. Zach Brown picked off a pass and Casey had one bounce out of his hands. Our defense was flying all over the field and it didn't matter who was playing, everyone got in on a tackle. We had 239 rushing and 93 passing. Crawford had nine carries for 160 yards, Zach Brown had five carries for 63 yards, Delamarter had two carries for 11 yards, and third grader Ashden Niemeyer had one carry for five yards. Zach Brown was two of two passing for 93 yards and two touchdowns. Leading tacklers were Patching and Crawford with six each, Zach Brown with three, and Good with two sacks. Thanks to all the parents and fans for helping us have such a successful year!