The Mule Fan

Looking Back:

AH Mules vs. Reagan Rattlers

Good Training for District

Welcome Mule Fans. Given that this is my first time as the guest blogger, please forgive any breaches in protocol or failure to say enough positive things about our kids. In exchange, I am going to give you an unprecedented depth of analysis that normally can only be found on ESPN. Let me warn you before you read further that: if you try to share my “wisdoms” or “insights” with your kids they are unlikely to admit listening (my son tuned me out years ago, although it doesn’t stop me from trying). Just tell them you read it on the Mule Blog and you have a chance.

Before turning our attention to the AH v. Reagan game, I think a midseason/predistrict review is in order. Our kids should be proud of their stellar 3-1 record against 5A competition. These games have all been good preparation for district play. That being said, we still have a lot of room to improve and our kids should strive for perfection (yeah, right. Let’s be honest, at this point we just want them to get out of HS without any hiccups). Here are my takeaways from the first 4 games.

Ability to be Special. At times, each of our offense, defense and special teams have looked spectacular. If we can get them to each perform at the same time, our team will be something special.

Next Man In. As a 4A team, we don’t have luxury of a deep bench of seniors. Thru the first 4 games, we have had a lot of injuries/illnesses, which have given a lot of kids a chance to play and improve. Our players have been ready to step up. This experience will help us later in the season.

Mistakes Make Us Average. Any part of our game can look mediocre if we make mistakes and don’t come prepared to play. If our kids continue to improve/eliminate mistakes we are going to be very, very good. If not, each game is going to be an adventure.

Never Give Up. We came from behind in our 3 victories and, in the Reagan game, they kept fighting until the end. We can play with and beat anyone if our kids work together and believe in each other (we actually won the second half of the Reagan game)

NOTE: THAT LAST COMMENT CAME FROM MY WIFE- SHE DOESN’T UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF A SISTER KISSING WEEKEND.

About this time, I can sense that about one-half of the readers (if there are any) are complaining that I haven’t mentioned their kid’s name yet. Be patient. Remember we lost the Reagan game so I am not exactly excited about recounting it.

Reagan vs. Alamo Heights:

First, let’s not get too worked up about the loss to Reagan. I am predicting a 9-1 regular season. You have to remember even David would have lost to Goliath if he had to fight him 4 straight times. (Editor’s Note: Joey and Jeff are certain that David would have gone 4-0!) That being said, I was happy to see our kids ticked off after the game. They will need to bring that attitude with them into some of the tough district contests. I will summarize the game, but will not go into the excruciating detail that only a win deserves.

As they took the field, Reagan was noticeably bigger across both lines and was very well coached. Our kids came prepared and excited about the challenge. In the first defensive series, our defense grudgingly gave up a few yards before Garret Hisle made a great interception on the AH 10 yard line. The offense then moved quickly down the field on a nice run by Thompson and two long passes from Elder to Richter. The offense was stopped at the 10 and we weren’t able to convert the FG. Reagan came back down and scored a TD, and then recovered another fumble. On a short field, the defense stood up and made them take a FG for a quick 10-0 lead. On the next possession, Wyatt Ponton made a spectacular diving catch, which was somehow ruled incomplete. The offense bogged down for the remainder of the half and the defense spent a lot of time on the field, but only yielded 1 TD and a FG. Overall, Reagan’s offense played very good and their defense hit harder than any team we have played this year. When the dust cleared in the 1^st half, we were down 20-0.

The Mules came out after halftime with something to prove. The defense gang tackled and hit harder than any previous game this year. Against a huge offensive line, our defensive front seven played great and took the battle to Reagan. Sandoval and AK frequently penetrated to disrupt the offense, with AK stripping the QB and recovering the fumble. James Uhl even took advantage of his quickness to make plays (see Arthur, I told you I could use quickness and Uhl in the same sentence). Myer showed a noise for the ball and Nelson made a number of huge hits. The secondary stepped it up also with some great open field tackling. Boatman, Newman, Hisle and Thurmond were all over the field. A lot of the younger guys also stepped up and made some big plays. Our defense was clearly the aggressor in the 2^nd half and they held Reagan to just 3 points.

The offense mounted two solid drives in the second half, each ending in a Kristian Stern field goal. The offense line (particularly Stevens, McCarty and Mullins) opened up some solid holes for Thompson and Brooks. Elder completed passes to Ponton and Yarborough. Overall, a decent 2^nd half performance against a very good Reagan defense.

The Reagan game gives us something to build on. In the 1^st half, we let Reagan bring the game to us. Not only were they bigger, but they were more aggressive. In the second half, our kids stepped it up and were the aggressors. While the Mules need to continue reducing the mistakes, it is exciting to watch the kids improving.

Chirps from the Byrd - Head Coach Byrd, that is:

The Mule Fan: What is your evaluation of the team after completing a rough predistrict schedule (e.g., strengths, weaknesses, areas of improvement)?

Coach Byrd: I am proud of them. They have played a lot of strong teams well. We aren’t taking care of the little things. That is the difference between a good and great team. We have been through a lot of adversity and had a number of players hurt. We have put them in a lot of different positions of adversity and all in all they have done a great job.

My analysis of what he meant: He expects great things from this team and the 5A teams are part of his brilliant masterplan. He thinks we should have won all of the games and his primary concern is the team’s consistency and eliminating the little mistakes that add up to big mistakes. If the parents will do their jobs, he is confident we are going to run the table and make a deep playoff run.

The Mule Fan: It seems that at times, all facets of the team have looked very good, but our kids have trouble with consistency/cutting down mistakes. How do you approach practices and games to ensure that the kids keep improving as the season progresses?

Coach Byrd: Mentally you tell them how important it is and emphasize on doing the little things. We are going back to the basics this week. Basic passing routes of our offense and basic parts of the running game. Try to see if we can get more consistency. There shouldn’t be any excuses for not understanding. Hopefully, we will see who rises up and can play more consistently for us.

My analysis of what he meant: With the exception of that Elder kid, it is really the parent’s fault when the kids make mistakes. With Elder, Coach Byrd takes responsibility for his mistakes. His parents have done a wonderful job and he is just trying not to undue all of their good work. (ha ha)

The Mule Fan: Given that Lockhart has started 0-4, how do you make sure that your kids are ready to play?

Coach Byrd: It really isn’t about Lockhart. If AH wants to be a good football team it is really about fixing the mistakes. It’s not what Lockhart brings to the table but about how well we execute and the intensity we bring to each and every play. If we do that the scoreboard in the Lockhart game will take care of itself. The first district game and Lockhart is hungry for a win, so they’re going to bring the fight to AH.

My analysis of what he meant: Games like Lockhart scare the heck out of me. They are going to be pumped up and we need to come ready to play or our mistakes can put is in a hole. It’s like a rabid dog backed into a corner with nothing to lose. Parents, make sure your kids eat their Wheaties and get a good night’s sleep.

The Mule Fan: What is the injury report for the team? Are you contemplating any further position experiments?

Coach Byrd: We’ve had a lot of kids out with this virus so we’re going to have to wait and see. As far as changing positions, I really don’t see that. Maybe a few JV kids will have to come up to give us depth. Mullins has been sick (with unnamed illness) but we think we will get him back next week. We’ve lost a lot of kids with this bug going around and I think they’re giving it to each other (e.g., kissing in the locker room) (he didn’t really say that last part). We need these kids to take care of themselves.

My analysis of what he meant: By this time of the season, the time for experiments is over. We just have to line up and play. I am tired of the injuries and illness, but we can’t use that as an excuse. I am looking for kids that will line up and play consistently.

JV-A Rallies A Little Too Late:

The JV-A faced their first big test of the season against a much bigger Reagan JV team. Unfortunately, the Rattlers controlled the line of scrimmage for much of the game, allowing Reagan’s offense to use the clock and move the ball at will offensively. Reagan started their first drive on their own 3-yard line and with the help of a couple of Mule penalties, took the lead 7-0 on an impressive drive. The Mules offense failed to sustain a drive of it’s own in the first half, but their were some bright spots. Running back Coby Bailey had some good runs against a tough and big Rattler defense. On the passing side, QBs Wes Yancy and Kevin Kujawa found throwing the ball a frustrating experience as the Reagan defense made it difficult for them to find open receivers. Alex Bathie was able to find an opening and made a nice reception from Yancy in the first quarter. The 2^nd quarter elapsed quickly as Reagan again controlled the clock and kept the Mules offense watching the game from the sideline. After a Rattler score late in the first half, the extra point was blocked by the Mules and was returned 70 yards by Francisco Alvarez before he was caught from behind. It was a valiant effort, but with no reward. The Mules went into the locker-room at halftime down 13-0.

In the 3^rd quarter, neither team was able to produce much offensively. Penalties kept both teams from capitalizing on opportunities. Reagan continued to control the quarter offensively and stayed with their “end read” running attack. At one point, they resorted to a “Swinging Gate” play to pick up a tough 1^st down. Defensively, Ben Bass, David Verette and Alex Rodriguez provided the good hits for the Mules. The 3^rd quarter ended with the score still 13-0 in favor of the Rattlers. The 4^th quarter began with a long Reagan drive that resulted in a touchdown and the score was suddenly 19-0. But the Mules dug deep and decided to fight back. Robert Low returned the ensuing kickoff to the Reagan 47-yard line, which fired up the Mules. On the next play, Low made a terrific run and put the Mules down on the 10-yard line. The Mules finally got on the board with a scrambling pass to George Mixon in the endzone to put the score at 19-7. Reagan tried to run the clock down late in the 4^th quarter but the Mules stopped the Rattler drive. The Mules took over on offense with 1:00 left in the game. After a nice pass to William Foster for 25 yards, QB Yancy hit Deon Demus in the enzone for a 30-yard touchdown pass to close the gap to 19-14 with 45 seconds left. But time ran out and Reagan walked away with the victory.

JV-B Charms the Snakes 35-0

The JV-B was the bright spot of the Mules program as they shutout the Reagan Rattlers. Things started out well for the Mules as Charles Kaufmann picked up a Reagan bobbled snap and returned it 20 yards for a Mules touchdown. Reagan was unable to sustain a drive n the 1^st quarter as the Mules defense was in control. On the first play of the 2^nd quarter, a Rattler pass was picked off by Jesus Cerda, who took it 29 yards for a Mules TD. So, with the score 14-0, it was defense 14, offense 0. Later, Regan Williams recovered a fumbled punt reception to give the Mules the ball in Reagan territory. That started a drive that included a nice pass from Kalen Brockwell to Robert Weigel, followed by a 21 yard run play from Christian Biedenharn. With 49 seconds left in the 1^st half, Brockwell finished the drive with a 15 yard scramble up the middle for a TD to take the score to 21-0, Mules. The 2^nd half was also good news for the Mules and bad news for the Rattlers. After the Mules strip a Reagan running back of the ball on the Rattler, 45, Brockwell connected again with Robert Weigel for a 45-yard touchdown pass with five minutes left in the 3^rd quarter. Mules 28, Reagan, 0! The 4^th quarter was more of the same as the Mules offensive line opened up big holes for Biedenharn and fellow running back Bryan Nino to run through. The O-Line of Regan Williams, Sammy Navarro, Julian Jimenez, Gabe Salomon and Joshua Smith also provided Brockwell with plenty of time to throw the ball. The final score fo the game came on another QB keeper by Brockwell who found the endzone from 9 yards out. Finishing the game was a great interception by Mules cornerback Charles Stuckey. Mules win 35-0!

Freshmen A-Team:

The Freshmen A team, once again playing strong against a much larger team, lost to Reagan 21-12 in a contest, which was much closer than the final score. Besieged by penalties and a suspicious and untimely water sprinkler outburst, the Mules were in the game until the bitter end. The Mules scored on strong runs from Brandon Wasson and a touchdown pass from Scott Uhl to Robert Schuler, and Schuler also had a fantastic 50-yard kickoff return. Other offensive highlights included strong runs by Justin Latimer and good blocking by Darrion Simmons. Defensive highlights included a pass deflection by Ben McSween and nice tackling by Elijah Williams.

Freshman B- Team:

The freshmen defense played extremely well shutting down Reagan in the first half. They had 2 goal line stands to keep the game scoreless. The offense continues to improve but could not put any points on the board. They had no turnovers in the game however. The bigger Reagan team eventually wore our boys down and won 13-0.

Looking Ahead:

AH Mules vs. Lockhart Lions

Friday, September 25^th, 7:30 PM

Lockhart Stadium - #1 Lion Country Lane, Lockhart

District Begins!

Lockhart Scouting Report:

The Lockhart Lions have started the season slow, with a 0-4 record. They are young and have been improving every game. Their offense has tripled their scoring from the 1^st to the 4^th game (OK, from 6 pts to 18 pts). They are lead by Joseph Bell (a 6’, 185 lb running back) who is capable of breaking off long runs at any time. They recently moved Vonte Hedspeth (6’2”, 165 lbs) from WR to QB to spark their offense. This is the type of trap game that keeps coaches up at night. While the records would indicate that AH should win, the reality is that football is a game of emotion and if we don’t come ready to play, then all bets are off. Additionally, the Lions have designated this game as “Pop Warner Night,” which I don’t know what that means but it sounds ominous.

In any event, come out this Friday to Lockhart to support the Mules. A pre-game dinner will be planned at Kruez Market, one of the famous Lockhart BBQ places, so we hope to see you there.

Map link to Lockhart Stadium

Tickets:

Tickets are available at the AHHS Athletic office Thursday and Friday from 8:30am - noon and from 1:30pm -3:30pm. Tickets are $6.00 for adults and $3.00 for students. Note that tickets bought at the gate at Lockhart Stadium will be $7.00 for both students and adults

Freshmen and JV Schedules: Please note the

New game schedule for Thursday's games vs. Lockhart:

Location: Alamo Heights Harry B. Orem Stadium

4:00 - 5:15 Freshman B game

5:30 - 7:00 Freshman A game

7:00 JV Game (A&B combined--Lockhart has only one JV team)

Lockhart's fields are under water, so all of their Thursday games will be played at AHHS.

Pre-Game Get-Together:

All Mules fans are invited to meet before Friday's game with Lockhart at Kreuz Market at 619 N. Colorado 512-398-2361 at 5:30pm. Come get some sauce on your game-face and get ready to cheer on the Mules. See you there! www.kreuzmarket.com

Map Link to Kreuz Market

Coach Byrd Live on the Radio:

Come on out to the Dave Parker's Coach's Show at Baseball Express on Nacoma on September 22nd from 7:00-8:00PM. Coach Byrd will be Dave’s guest and we need the Mule Faithful to be there to support him. It will be broadcast on ESPN 1250.

If you have any questions please give Dave a call at 210-602-3784.

Also don't forget the broadcast on Friday night at 7:00 PM on KKYX-680 AM. This is a change from AM 1250, which was a much weaker channel. You can also hear the game on the internet live or archived at www.tsrnsports.com

Calling All Mules Fans:

Come support the Varsity Football team on Wednesday, September 22 and eat lunch and/or dinner at Billy T's. Billy T’s is now located at the intersection of Nacogdoches at N. New Braunfels. This is a great opportunity to wish the boys well as they enter district play, visit with other Mule fans, and help raise money for the team. Billy T's will donate 20% of all Mule sales dropped in the Mule helmet that day to the team to help defray costs over the year. Be sure to tell them that you are a Mule Fan and put your receipt in the Mule helmet!

7^th Annual Fenley Trophy Golf Tournament

Sign-up today for the 7^th annual Fenley Trophy Golf Tournament honoring the late great Mules head coach, Gaylard Fenley. The tournament will be held October 15, 2010 at The Quarry Golf club. All of the details are on the attached flyer. All proceeds benefit AHHS sports programs which are supported by the AH Mule Team. Participation and support is not limited to golfers. Tee sign sponsors and auction item donations are also needed. Please send to any alumni, parent, vendor or prospective supporter. Thank you in advance for your support and help getting the word out.

Flyer for Fenley Trophy Golf Tournament

Mule for A Day: Punt, Pass and Kick:

Come join the AH Varsity Football Team for an afternoon of fun and games and to form the Spirit Line at the home game against Smithson Valley.

Sunday, October 3, 2010 - AH Football Stadium - 2:00 p.m.– 5:00 p.m.Four Year Olds– 5th Grades are welcome. See the attached flyer for more information.

Mule For A Day Flyer

Mules on Twitter:

The Mule Fan has figured out the tweet! Go to www.twitter.com/mulefanblog and sign up to follow the Mules and get quick updates on Mules football announcements. Activate Twitter on your mobile phones so you can stay on top of all the action!