Tigers bite Mules 34-20; Morton/White Pass next

Most fans expected a shoot out when the Wahkiakum Mules entertained the Napavine Tigers last Friday, and it was just that in the first half which ended in a 20-20 tie.

However, the visitors took control of the game in the second half, blanked the Mules, and claimed a 34-20 Central League victory.

The two teams are tied for second place in league standings with 5-1 records; the Morton/White Pass Timberwolves, topped ranked team in the Associated Press Class 2B poll, lead the league with a 6-0 record.

The Mules scored first on a 29-yard pass play from Gunnar Blix to Brandon Budd at 7:35. The conversion try failed.

Napavine struck back with a 14-yard touchdown run at 4:44, and the conversion kick gave the Tigers a 7-6 lead.

Mason Mackey pulled a load of Tigers into the endzone at 4:05 of the first quarter to put the Mules back on top; Blix passed to Travis Wegdahl for a two-point conversion and a 14-7 Mule lead.

The Tigers closed out the first quarter scoring on a 36-yard run. The conversion failed, leaving the Mules ahead 14-13 as the first quarter came to an end.

The Mules went up 20-13 at 7:39 of the second quarter on a 39-yard pass play from Blix to Budd. The conversion failed.

Napavine tied the score just before halftime on a four-yard touchdown run.

The Tigers took control of the game in the second half. They blocked a Mule punt to gain field position and score a 22-yard passing touchdown at 3:05 of the third quarter. The conversion kick made the score 27-20.

At 11:04 of the fourth quarter, they went up 36-20 on a 30-yard run.

"Penalties and mistakes killed us in the second half," commented Mule Coach Eric Hansen.

The Mules gained 209 yards on the ground and 154 in the air, 363 total. The Tigers had 233 rushing yards and 84 passing yards, 317 total. The Mules had eight penalties for 45 yards; the Tigers had four penalties for 30 yards.

Blix led the Mule rushing attack with 107 yards on 14 carries; he completed seven of 21 passes, with four interceptions, for 154 yards and two touchdowns. Mackey had 72 yards on eight carries; Nathan Cothren gained 31 yards on six carries, and Austin Good had eight yards on four carries. Budd caught four passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns. Mackey caught three passes for 23 yards; Wegdahl and Seth Doumit each caught one pass.

Mackey led the defense with 16 tackles. Blix had 12; Shane Souvenir 11, Wegdahl eight, and Budd, Dylan Hansen and Trystan Mendez all had seven. Doumit intercepted a Tiger pass.

The Mules head to Randle on Friday to play the top-ranked Timberwolves.

The Mules' game with Manson on November 2 has been cancelled, Mule Athletic Director Rob Garrett announced this week.

Central League

League Season

W L W L

Morton/Wh. Pass 6 0 6 0

Napavine 5 1 5 1

Wahkiakum 5 1 5 1

Onalaska 2 3 3 3

Adna 2 3 3 3

Toutle Lake 2 3 2 4

Mossyrock 1 3 2 3

Pe Ell 1 4 2 4

Winlock 0 5 0 6

Last week

Napavine 34, Wahkiakum 20

Adna 22, Winlock 12

MWP 26, Toutle Lake 0

Pe Ell 35, Mossyrock 28

Onalaska 42, Naselle 26 NL

This Week

Wahkiakum at MWP

Mossyrock at Onalaska

Winlock at Pe Ell

Adna at Toutle Lake

Pacific League

League Season

W L W L

Raymond 3 0 5 1

North Beach 3 1 5 1

Willapa Valley 3 1 3 3

Ocosta 1 2 3 3

Naselle 0 2 1 4

South Bend 0 4 0 5

Last week

Onalaska 42, Naselle 26 NL

Raymond 41, South Bend 0

Willapa Valley 46, North Beach 6

Ocosta bye

This Week

Raymond at Naselle

North Beach at South Bend

Ocosta at Napavine NL

Willapa Valley bye