Mules trample Cards; face Ducks for playoff

With a 42-6 win over the Winlock Cardinals last Friday, the Wahkiakum Mules kept themselves alive in a quest to advance to post season football playoffs.

The Mules need to win at Toutle Lake this Friday. That would most likely put them in a tie with Toutle Lake and Mossyrock, and the teams would hold a playoff on Monday, with two of the three teams advancing to the crossovers on November 4.

A loss to Toutle Lake would bring the season to an end.

The Mules left no doubt last Friday, scoring twice in the first quarter and twice in the second to lead 28-6 at halftime. Single touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters, respectively, sealed the game.

Hank Ferguson, one of three seniors on the roster, ran for 208 yards on 22 carries and scored on runs of four, six and nine yards. He caught a pass for a 12-yard touchdown plan and scored two two-point conversions.

James Anderson scored on a 20-yard run and added a twopoint conversion; he gained 48 yards on five carries. Lucas Anderson gained 47 yards on four carries. Terris Record ran twice and gained 11 yards. Anderson completed four of eight passes for 32 yards and one touchdown. Ferguson and Anderson each caught two passes.

Cody Terpsma intercepted a Winlock pass and returned it 40 yards for another Mule touchdown.

Overall, the Mules gained 309 yards on the ground and 32 in the air. They held the visitors to 72 yards rushing and 87 yards passing (including a 71-yard touchdown pass play).

"We played well at times," said Mule Coach Eric Hansen.

Ferguson and Brown led the defense with 11 tackles apiece; Bryce Good had nine, Record and Alexander Merill eight apiece, Anderson seven, Terpsma six, Dylan Ahmed and Casey Wilson five each, Isaac Moon four, Gage Horman three and Evan Quigley two. Quigley also intercepted a Cardinal pass.