Mule running attack overwhelms Comets

The Wahkiakum Mules opened the 2016 season with a 48-6 win over the visiting Naselle Comets last Friday in the battle for the KM Trophy.

The Mules stayed on the ground to control the game. Quarterback Lucas Brown opened the scoring with a three-yard run in the first quarter. The conversion kick failed, leaving the Mules up 6-0. Hank Ferguson punched in a one-yard plunge later in the quarter, and Zach Brown ran the conversion for a 14-0 Mule lead.

In the second quarter L. Brown completed a 21-yard pass play to Evan Quigley for a touchdown; Z. Brown kicked the conversion for a 21-0 Mule lead. Then James Anderson found good blocking and made a good cut to score on a 65-yard run. L. Brown passed to KC Beery for the conversion and 29-0 Mule lead.

The Comets got on the board in the third quarter when Eric Lund scored on a nine-yard run to trim the margin to 30-6.

The Mules responded with three touchdowns. Anderson scored on a 45-yard run, and L. Brown kicked the conversion. Terris Record scored on a 30-yard run, and the score stood 42-6 at the end of the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Z. Brown scored on a 23-yard run to complete the scoring.

Mule Coach Eric Hansen was pleased with his team's effort.

"The young guys did good," he said. "We ran the ball really well; the guards really got out to block on the sweeps."

The Mules gained 437 yards on the ground and 21 in the air on two pass completions. Anderson gained 175 yards, Ferguson 105, Z. Brown 93, and Record 44.

Z. Brown and Ferguson led the Mule defense with 10 tackles each; Quigley had nine. For the Comets, Donny Edwards had 10, and DJ Wirkkala and Gabe Gilbert each made seven.

The Comets gained 164 yards, with 107 in the air as Cody Condon completed 11 of 28 passes. Lund ran for 52 yards.

The Comets play at Rainier Christian this Friday, while the Mules head to Ocosta to take on the Wildcats. Both are non-league games.