Vikes pound Mules for 43-21 victory

Size and experience matter in football.

The Mossyrock Vikings used their advantage in those categories to hand the Wahkiakum Mules a 43-21 River League football loss last Friday.

The Vikings converted three turnovers into touchdowns, and until the Mules got their defense adjusted, the visitors dominated the game.

The Vikes opened the game with a strong drive that gave them a 6-0 lead early in the first quarter. The Mules responded with a good drive that ended when they fumbled away the ball at the Viking 25-yard line. The Vikings then marched to the endzone for another score and a 14-0 lead.

The Mules fumbled the Vikes onside kick and scored again to lead 22-0 early in the second quarter.

The Mules put together their first scoring drive, with sophomore quarterback Lucas Brown scoring on a one-yard drive. Brown kicked the conversion to narrow the score to 22-7.

Shortly before halftime, Brown recovered a Viking fumble and the Mules threatened to score. However, Viking Evan Gootgeld intercepted a Mule pass and returned it 98 yards for a touchdown as time ran out of the second quarter, which ended with Mossyrock leading 30-7.

The Vikings returned a Mule punt for another touchdown to start the third quarter and take a 36-7 lead. The Mules responded with Zach Brown's 65-yard touchdown run that cut the Viking lead to 36-13. The Vikings responded with a scoring drive to lead 43-13 at the end of the third quarter.

The Mules closed the scoring with a four-yard Hank Ferguson run with about 3:38 left in the game; Lucas Brown ran the conversion to make the final 43-21 score.

The Mules had a statistical edge in total offense with 287 yards to the Vike's 255. The Mules had 202 yards on the ground and 85 in the air; the Vikes ran for 218 yards and passed for 37. Mossyrock had only one turnover; the Mules lost the ball four times.

"The turnovers hurt us," said Mule Coach Eric Hansen. "Without them, it would have been a different game."

Zach Brown led the Mule running attack with 143 yards. Ferguson had 45 and James Anderson 17. Lucas Brown completed six of 10 passes, with two interceptions. Anderson caught three for 48 yards; Terris Record caught two for eight yards, and Zach Brown had one catch for 29 yards.

On defense, Zach Brown had 17 tackles and assists, Ferguson 14, Lucas Brown 11, Cody Terpsma 10, Anderson and eighth grader Ashden Niemeyer eight each.

The Mules head to Kalama this Friday.