Mules beat Winlock 40-8; host Adna Friday

The highlights came early and often last Friday as the Wahkiakum Mules beat the visiting Adna Pirates 54-20 in Central League football.

The win boosted the Mules' record to 3-0; Adna fell to 0-3 for the first time in years and years.

The Pirates opened the scoring, however, taking the opening kick off and marching 75-yards for a two-yard touchdown by David Young. The conversion try failed, leaving the Pirates ahead 6-0 at 8:40 of the first quarter.

The Mules responded with their own scoring drive. Lars Blix completed passes to Austin Good and Travis Wegdahl to put the Mules in scoring position, and Blix scored on a two-yard run at 5:19. Peter Weiler kicked the conversion for a 7-6 Mule lead.

Before the Pirates' next score, the Mules boosted that lead with two more touchdowns. Blix scored on a seven-yard run at 1:39 of the first quarter, and Good caught a pass for a seven-yard score at 6:41 of the second quarter. Weiler kicked both conversions.

Adna put points on the scoreboard with a 39-yard pass play from Cooper Zurfluh to Jared Olson at 3:31 of the second quarter; the conversion try failed.

The Mules responded with a quick scoring drive; Blix scored on a six yard run with 46 seconds left in the half; Weiler's kick made the score 28-12 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Weiler scored on a 77-yard pass play from Blix at 7:34, and Good scored on a 28-yard run at 2:22.

Adna's Zurfluh returned the Mule kickoff 88 yards to cut the margin to 41-20 with 2:08 left in the third quarter.

The Mules bounced back with Good scoring on a 53-yard run; Weiler's kick made the score 48-20 with two seconds left in the third quarter.

Adna started the fourth quarter with a drive but turned over the ball at midfield. A 37-yard run by Good put the Mules in scoring position. At that point, Mule Coach Eric Hansen put in the junior varsity, and Adna Coach KC Johnson followed suit. The Mules didn't score, but when Adna got the ball, freshman Mule safety Joe Moore intercepted a Pirate pass and returned it 30 yards for the final 54-20 score.

"I was really pleased with our balance on offense," Coach Hansen said after the game. "The big boys up front did a great job blocking.

"We didn't follow assignments on their first scoring drive, but the defense played better after that."

The Mules piled up 624 yards of offense, 388 on the ground and 236 in the air. Adna had 230 yards, 99 yards passing and 131 yards rushing.

Good carried the ball 11 times for the Mules and gained 154 yards. Blix picked up 145 yards on 10 runs, Wegdahl gained 25 yards on five carries, and Steven Doumit had 20 yards on six runs.

Blix completed 11 of 15 passes, with two interceptions for 236 yards and two touchdowns. Good caught four passes for 36 yards and one touchdown; Weiler caught three for 99 yards and one touchdown; Wegdahl caught two for 75 yards; Seth Doumit had one for 14 yards, and Kohl Bergseng one for 12 yards.

On defense, Trystan Mendez made four tackles and had four assists; Nathan Cothren made five tackles, and Blix, Steven Doumit and Shane Souvenir all had three tackles and two assists. Blix and Moore intercepted passes; Bergseng made a quarterback sack, and Cothren recovered a Pirate fumble.

The Mules hit the road for Pe Ell this Friday to take on the 1-2 Trojans who lost 46-0 to Morton/White Pass last week.

"In this league, you can't look past anybody," Hansen said. "They have two great running backs, and we play them up there."

Gridiron notes

--The Naselle Comets blasted the North Beach Hyaks 43-6 last Friday. The 3-0 Comets entertain the 3-0 Willapa Valley Vikings this Friday.

--So far this year, the Mule offense has gained 849 yards on the ground and 498 yards in the air.