Tigers top Mules in league finale

The Wahkiakum Mules wrapped up their 2011 regular football season with a 40-7 win over the visiting Raymond Seagulls last Friday.

Raymond took the opening kickoff and mounted an eight minute scoring drive to lead 7-0. From there, it was almost an all -Mule football game.

The Mules responded with a scoring drive. Austin Good scored on a seven-yard run at 10:54 of the second quarter; a two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the Gulls ahead 7-6.

Raymond mounted another drive deep into Wahkiakum territory, but the Mules held on downs inside their own 10-yard line. Wyatt Parker completed the 93-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run; he ran the conversion, and the Mules led 14-7 at halftime.

The second half belonged to the Mules. They received the opening kick and marched for a touchdown. Lars Blix passed to Eli McElroy for a 25-yard touchdown; the conversion kick was wide, leaving the Mules up 20-7 at 9:40.

The Mule defense stopped Raymond cold--the Gulls had minus seven yards offense for the third quarter, and the Mules mounted another scoring drive. Parker carried the ball into the endzone from two yards out and then ran the conversion as the Mules went up 28-7 at 1:29 of the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Parker scored on a two-yard run, and junior varsity running back Mason Mackey scored on a seven yard run.

The Mules ran the ball 48 times for 349 yards and completed six passes for 77 yards. They had 426 yards total and 21 first downs. They fumbled once, which Raymond recovered, and were called for one five-yard penalty.

Raymond had six first downs, 130 yards rushing and 30 yards passing for 160 yards of offense. The Gulls fumbled five times, losing three, and were called for two penalties totalling 20 yards.

Parker led the Mule offense with 165 yards rushing on 29 carries. Good carried the ball four times for 22 yards; Blix had seven carries for 65 yards; Bergsen carried the ball six times for 74 yards, and Mackey had 17 yards on two runs. Blix completed six of 12 passes for 77 yards and one touchdown. Parker caught three passes for 34 yards, and McElroy had two receptions for 43 yards and one touchdown.

On defense Blix and Bubba Calvert each recored 12 tackles; Tylor Russell had 11, and Nathan Cothren had 10.

The win left the Mules with a 4-4 record, 3-4 in Central League. They'll finish fifth in the Central and travel to Naselle to play the unbeaten Comets in the first round of post-season playoff action.