Mules upset Toledo with 18-7 victory

The Wahkiakum Mules shocked the state's fifth ranked Toledo Indians in an 18-7 Central League River Division football game last Friday.

Coming off a strong performance in a loss last week to Kalama, the state's top ranked 1B football team, the Mules cut down on errors, turned on the defense and used a balanced offense to claim the victory.

The Mules scored first, with Lucas Brown passing to brother Zach Brown for a 4-yard touchdown at 5:07 of the first quarter. The conversion failed, leaving the Mules up 6-0.

Toledo struck back in the second quarter on a 4-yard run; the conversion kick gave them a 7-6 lead which stood till halftime.

"At halftime, we told the team the game is up here," Coach Eric Hansen said later, pointing to his head.

The Mules took a 12-7 lead at 6:02 of the third quarter when L. Brown connected with Chance Cothren on a 12-yard touchdown play; the conversion failed.

Toledo responded with a drive into scoring position, but the Mules took over on downs at the end of the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Mules ran 20 plays, 13 runs and seven passes, in a drive that ate up 11:26 on the clock and culminated with L. Brown scoring on a quarterback sneak with 1:34 left in the game.

Out of time outs when they got the ball, Toledo ran three pass plays. A penalty wiped out a good gain on first down, and the Mule defensive line sacked the quarterback on the next two plays to close out the win.

The Mules gained 89 yards on the ground on 29 runs and 130 yards in the air as L. Brown completed 12 of 21 passes with two touchdowns. The Mules had no turnovers and only two penalties for 20 yards. James Anderson gained 45 yards on the ground, and each of the Browns gained 21 yards running the ball.

Z. Brown caught four passes for 69 yards and a touchdown; Anderson caught three passes for 20 yards; Cothren had two receptions for 17 yards and a touchdown, and K.C. Beery had one reception for nine yards.

Defensive statistics weren't available.

Toled gained 182 yards on the ground on 36 rushes and 37 yards in the air on two pass receptions in four attempts. Aaron West and Tristan Collupy recovered two of Toledo's three fumbles.

The visitors had four penalties for 34 yards.

"It was a huge, satisfying win for us," Hansen said. "The kids know they can play with anybody."

The 5-2 Mules head to Winlock this Friday to play the 2-5 Cardinals.