Mules trample Toutle Lake, take on No. 2 Tigers Friday

The Wahkiakum Mule football team overpowered the visiting Toutle Lake Ducks to claim a 36-6 season opening Central League football game last Friday.

The game opened with fireworks from both sides. The Mules received the kickoff and moved down the field, with junior quarterback Gunnar Blix connecting with several receivers on passes. Running back Brandon Budd caught one six yards out of the endzone and barreled through four Ducks to put the Mules on the scoreboard at 9:37 of the first quarter. Blix connected with freshman Zach Brown for the two-point conversion and 8-0 Mule lead.

Toutle Lake responded with its only touchdown drive of the night, breaking long pass and running plays to their right. Cody Anderson scored on a 1.5 yard run at 8:19. The Mules stopped the conversion try, claiming an 8-6 lead.

From there the game belonged to the Mules. Brown set up the next Mule touchdown by throwing a 34-yard halfback pass to sophomore Joey Moore to put the Mules in scoring position. Blix powered in from a yard out; the conversion try failed, leaving the Mules up 14-6 with 4:10 left in the first quarter.

The Mules reached scoring position in the second quarter but turned over the ball on downs. Budd then intercepted a Toutle pass and returned it 18 yards for a touchdown with 1:35 left in the half. Blix passed to Michael Zurick for the conversion and a 22-6 halftime lead.

The Mules kicked the ball to Toutle to start the second half, and on the Duck's first play, Budd stripped the ball from the ball carrier and returned to the Duck 14-yard-line. Blix then passed to Budd for a touchdown; the conversion failed, and the Mules led 28-6 at 10:05 of the third quarter.

The Mules closed the scoring at 6:05 of the fourth quarter with Blix passing to Moore for a 28-yard scoring play. Blix connected with Hank Ferguson for the conversion and 36-6 final score.

Blix completed 11 of 17 passes for 214 yards and three touchdowns. Budd caught six for 117 yards and two touchdowns; Zurick and Moore each caught two and and Brown one.

Budd picked up 100 yards rushing on 13 carries; Blix gained 48, Ferguson 42 and Moore 29. The Mules totaled 204 yards rushing.

Toutle Lake managed 106 yards rushing and 34 yards passing. The Ducks lost four of five fumbles, with Budd and Zurick each recovering two for the Mules. The Mules were called for 13 penalties for 83 yards.

"Overall, I was glad to get the win," Mule Coach Eric Hansen said. "We had too many penalties, and we were in scoring position three times and didn't put it in. We've got a lot to work on."

The Mules head to Napavine this Friday to take on the second ranked Tigers.

"Offensively, they're a lot like us--they like to throw the ball," Hansen said. "They've got a lot of returning good, experienced players, so they'll be tough."