The Mule Fan

Mules overwhelm the Ducks for another win....

ALAMO HEIGHTS 51 and TAYLOR 0

In our last non-District game of this season our beloved Mules, now 4-1, did not merely clip the wing feathers of the 3A Taylor "Ducks," we RIPPED out their wings completely.

Consider this Duck hunting list of team accomplishments:

1) During the first half, under starting QB Drew Allen's command our Offense scored every time it touched the ball;

2) Because our Defense was so strong, our "D" gave the Mules Offense the ball on a "short field" (e.g. 50-yards or less to move down the field for a score) for all but one series in the 1st half, resulting in skewed individual stats for QB Drew Allen, who only needed 57-yards of passing and roughly 50-yards of rushing in the first half (his only half of playing time) to pair up with Sergio Acosta's 63-yards of first half rushing on 15 carries and Andrew Bailey's first quarter 42-yard field goal, all contributing to a 30-0 halftime lead;

3) Drew's first half offensive prowess garnered him a Mules coaching staff-awarded 2nd half "spectator's seat from the sidelines" to supposedly cut the Ducks a little breathing space from an Offense hitting on all cylinders... however, a "full choke Duck-downing shotgun attack" ensued during the 2nd half through outstanding performances by back-up QB Cullen Mills and the Mules "O";

4) In the second half, with QB Mills at the Offense's controls our Mules scored, once again, every time it touched the ball, with Mills passing for 120-yards and two touchdowns (one TD being an impressive 20-yard zip-pass to WR Cody Courtney between two Duck defenders) as complemented by a solid running attack spearheaded by Running Backs Richard Donnegan and A.J. Lewis;

5) Cornerback Sean O'Brien continued his "sticky defensive hands" performance from this summer's 7-on-7 experience and had his first interception of this fall season, and followed it up with an athletic 14-yard return to the Taylor 25;

If there was one lament this night, it was watching an incredible 54-yard catch and run play by Team Captain Bobby Broadnax down to the Taylor 2-yardline being called back due to a penalty. Bobby stiff-armed two Duck defenders, out maneuvered a third, and dragged a fourth Duck holding on for dear life a good 15-yards before finally being brought down near the Taylor goal line. This reporter cannot wait to see a fully-unleashed Bobby "B" during district play...

Note: To keep website interest running high during a bye week, this reporter will include the photo album of our Taylor game in next week's Mule Fan website posting... remember Mule Fans, patience is a virtue!

FREDERICKSBURG INTELLIGENCE REPORT

Following a well earned bye week this week, our District 27-4A play begins at home on Friday, October 12th, against the Fredericksburg "Battlin' Billies." The Billies are presently 2-2, having lost their first two games of the season to New Braunfels (at Fredericksburg) and Pflugerville Connally (at the Alamodome "Kick-Off Classic").

However, the Billies have won two in a row against South San and Pflugerville Hendrickson. Unlike our rested Mules, who have a bye this week, Fredericksburg will arrive at Orem Stadium after facing Cameron Yoe at the Billies home stadium on October 5th. With a bye this week, "off-the-charts" Mule Fans might consider a road trip to Fredericksburg this Friday to personally see what we will be up against. This reporter cautions that this Hill Country team is likely better than its record indicates, and will also probably arrive with a win against Cameron Yoe and the momentum of a three-game winning streak. LOOK OUT MULES.

Fredericksburg has 17 returning letterman from last year's 9-3 football team, which went 4-1 in district play in 2006. Billlies' Coach Dean Herbort, who has six seasons as Fredericksburg Head Coach, reported to the Express News at the beginning of this season that his two-back system with returning players Craig Petty and Sean Atkins will be carrying the load for him through this season. "If we had it our way, we'd just run it down your throat," says Coach Herbort.

Here is a look at returning Fredericksburg starters, with top players in bold italic:

Billies Offense:

Senior RB Sean Adkins, ht. 5-9, wt. 200, 600-yards rushing last year and 8 TDs
Senior RB Craig Petty, ht. 5-9, wt 165, 600-yards rushing last year and 6 TDs
Senior FB Nick Alejandro, ht. 6-0, wt. 260 (A LOAD), 2006 Second Team All-District
Senior L Jacob Behens, ht. 5-10, wt. 230, part of an experienced line
Junior L Lincoln Wells, ht. 6-3, wt. 250, hurt most of last year
Senior T Bradley Dittmar, ht. 6-4, wt. 245, 2006 Second Team All-District
Senior K Will McCormack, ht. 6-0, wt. 190, 2006 Second Team All-District
Senior WR Ryan Turner, ht. 6-1, wt. 175, new QB will have plenty to throw to
Senior WR Josh Weirich, ht. 5-10, wt. 175, 32-671; 2006 First Team All-District

Billies Defense:

Senior P Nick Alejandro, ht. 6-0, wt. 260, special teams is a Fredericksburg strength!
Senior SS Michael Cleland, ht. 5-9, wt. 150, Billies will use his leadership in secondary
Senior DE Porfie Diaz, ht. 5-11, wt. 185, 8 sacks last year, 2006 Second Team All-District
Senior LB Zack Hale, ht. 5-9, wt. 200, lone starting returner among LBs
Senior CB James Perez, ht. 6-0, wt. 150, 2006 Second Team All-District
Senior S Josh Weirich, ht. 5-10, wt. 175, 2006 Second Team All-District; a two-way player
Senior DE Travis Maner, ht. 6-1, wt. 215, 2006 First Team All-District

As you can see from the list above, this year's Fredericksburg football team has a plethora of experience and good football players. Our Mules need to be ready, as Fredericksburg is returning a full contingent of players that will remember the "serious 49-13 spanking" delivered by our State Champs in the Billies' own backyard last season. They will be looking for redemption...

OTHER NEWS

The Mean Green "Gio and Sam Show":

This reporter found that you can listen to the football exploits of Gio Vizza and Sam Dibrell at the University of North Texas (UNT) by going to UNT's athletics website at:

http://www.meangreensports.com

... and thereafter clicking on "Football" and then clicking on "Listen Live." This function takes you to "The Word," a Christian radio station in Denton that carries UNT football.

Against Arkansas last week, UNT suffered a 66-7 loss, BUT, Gio saw extensive playing time and scored the Mean Green's only touchdown. Also, Sam Dibrell saw playing time during the 4th quarter of this game while Gio held the reigns of the Offense. The announcers did a nice job of playing up the fact that both Gio and Sam were High School teammates and were, once again, on the playing field at the same time as collegiate athletes... it was really neat to listen to!

Mules are on the State Top 25 Poll radar screen:

After this past week's win against Taylor, Dave Campbell's Texas Football website has the Mules listed as a Top 25 4A team in the Great State of Texas. Please see:

http://www.texasfootball.com/index.php?s=&change_well_id=2&url_article_id=833

ENJOY THE FOOTBALL REST THIS WEEK, and GO MULES!!!!!!!