Toledo proves too much for pesky Mules

The winless Wahkiakum Mule football team hung close to the Central League's number two team for a quarter but ended up in a 47-13 loss to Toledo on Thursday night.

Even with star running back Taylor Hicks on the sideline with a knee injury, Toledo jumped to a 7-0 lead on a quick drive to start the first quarter.

The Mules responded with freshman James Anderson breaking free for a 37-yard run. The conversion kick tied the score 7-7 at 4:02 of the first quarter.

The Mule defense got the ball back, and senior Joey Moore set up another touchdown, running around right end and then cutting back across the field and getting to the Toledo 4-yard line before being tackled. Hank Ferguson poked it into the endzone, and the Mules led 13-7 after Toledo stopped the conversion pass play.

Toledo tied the game with 48 seconds left on a 55-yard run, and the successful conversion kick gave the visitors a 14-13 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Then the visitors took control, keeping the Mule offense in check and breaking some big plays. Toledo scored twice in the second quarter on runs of 55 and 31 yards and led 28-13 at halftime. Three more second half touchdown runs produced the 47-13 score.

The Mules finished the game with 216 yards rushing and 36 yards passing, their best offensive performance of the season. Moore gained 94 yards, Zach Brown 87 and Anderson 38. Ferguson completed two of six passes for 12 yards and one interception, and Brown completed two of three passes for 24 yards.

Leading defenders were Brown with five tackles and seven assists, Casey Wilson 2/6, Ferguson 4/3, Dylan Ahmed 3/4 and Alexander Merrill 1/6. Ryan Quigley blocked a Toledo extra point, and Anderson recovered a fumble.

The game was the last for seniors Moore, Quigley, and exchange student Chaipat Thongkigliahachai who started on special teams.