Alamo Heights 52, Floresville 7 October 31, 2015

Mules Smother Floresville 52-7 on the Home Turf

            -Win Streak Grows to Four

            -Crosshairs Swing to Kerrville Tivy in Huge District Clash

            By Bob Cohen, Senior Editor-in-Ink

            (San Antonio)—The Mules emerged from an odd stretch of time off and routine change to put another important deposit into their account on Saturday afternoon pounding the weary Floresville Tigers 52-7 at Harry B. Orem Stadium.  The game, originally scheduled as Floresville’s last home game of the year, had to change venues owing to the ill effects of a heavy weather day on Friday that saw tornados touch down in the Wilson County town and do some damage to the high school and other buildings.  It was necessary to find a different place to play. And, for Floresville citizens, to get something to take their mind off the mess they still were cleaning up on Saturday.  Fortunately, there were no injuries in those frightening storms.

            Mule fans attending Saturday afternoon were generous with donations to yellow buckets at the entry gates for what was officially a Floresville home game, and kind with their words on the PA system announcements that gave heartfelt feelings about what the town had been through just 24 hours before.  But once kickoff came along, it was all business on the field. And Alamo Heights marked the occasion with an all around excellent performance in all aspects of the game and kept the net taught underneath them for the playoff chase.  The oft-uttered “One Game at a Time” cliché has had a deeper meaning than ever for Alamo Heights since taking their mid-season dip in quicksand at Lockhart.  The one-sided win was the fourth straight for the Mules and now we can say that the last four weeks have been the undercard for the heavyweight bout coming up this week against Kerrville Tivy.

            Alamo Heights (6-3, 5-2) showed no signs of rust from the bye week layoff coupled with a “gimme” against Memorial going into the off week.  Well maybe they had to blow out the carburetor just a smidge as the offense notched a three and out on their first possession of the game. But from there, the Mules defense tallied their first of seven consecutive series where they forced Floresville to punt thereby giving the offense plenty of chances to make sure all the plays still worked.  On the second try with the ball, Alamo Heights rolled down the field behind the quarterbacking of junior Will Chaney who put the Mules in the attacking half with a splendid little 36-yard keeper as a highlight to the first scoring drive. The Mules got on the board first when Chaney spotted receiver Antoine Cole in the corner of the north end zone on Antoine’s favorite fade route play.  Cole out jumped the defender to get the 12-yard TD pass. Senior backup receiver Dorsey Walker would copy this play later in the game, as he also extended his frame to collect a touchdown pass on the fade route from Will Flannery with under two minutes to go in the contest.

            As mentioned above, the Mules defense was anything but charitable in their efforts forcing a total of nine punts (a season high) on the afternoon.  The second one followed another three and out and resulted in an 11-yard Mules touchdown screen pass from Chaney to Deryl Reynolds.   Floresville’s string of futility never ended and the only thing that broke the monotony of watching the punt receive team run on an off was an interception by Holden Daum, the first of two Alamo Heights picks, between the seventh and eighth punts.  Alamo Heights cruised through the rest of the first period with another Chaney strike this time a 34-yarder to Caleb Williams in the corner of the end zone.

            The second quarter started with a bit of hope for Floresville (2-8, 2-6), playing in their final game of the year, when the Tigers picked off a Chaney pass.  But the Heights defense remained stingy and used another punt to get the ball back into offensive possession.  Alamo Heights picked up their fourth touchdown on a backfield screen to Tucker Azar who, after his catch, noticed a vast expanse of geography open to him courtesy of the offensive line and bolted 49 yards for a score.  The string of touchdowns was temporarily paused for Koll Rada to punctuate a drive with a short field goal before the half ended with Heights stuffed with a 31-0 lead over Floresville.

            Proving they wouldn’t lose focus, Alamo Heights stormed out of the halftime locker room knowing that the Tigers would have the ball first.  And the Mules defense quickly decided they hadn’t had enough rest in the locker room so an interception was in order and was dutifully executed by junior defensive back Justin Barsalou.  Deryl Reynolds notched his second touchdown of the day a few plays later with a 10-yard pass reception into the flat, which he took to the pay station. With a 38-point lead flash frozen and stored on the scoreboard, substitutions began from the Alamo Heights bench.

            Kudos to an Alamo Heights defense that held the Tigers to five first downs, forced nine punts, two interceptions and restricted the air space to 12 emaciated yards.  When the defense wasn’t looking, Floresville snuck in 109 yards on the ground but no biggie.  Offensively, Alamo Heights gorged on Tiger meat to the tune of 596 yards of total offense (367 yards by air and 229 by land). Antoine Cole ripped down eight catches for 95 yards and a touchdown.  Will Chaney led the passing and rushing attack. He carried nine times for 92 yards and was 28 of 38 in the air.  Tucker Azar collected two touchdowns. Deryl Reynolds had two touchdowns through the air.  Caleb Williams scored once and hauled in three catches for 57 yards.  And the Mules offensive line was abusive in the win.

            The Mules win streak sits at four going into the last regular season game of the year and the last regular season home game of the season, after a bonus week.  With destiny within its own control, Alamo Heights now prepares for one of the biggest games of the year, which will be a lot like a playoff game, against the sixth ranked team in the state and the district 27-5A leading Kerrville Tivy Antlers just a bit before deer season actually opens.  Don’t miss this one Mule Nation.  The boys will need some decibels coming from the western stands this week.

October 30-31 Results

Kerrville Tivy 62, Memorial 7

Seguin 41, Kennedy 0

Boerne Champion 73, San Marcos 52

Alamo Heights 52, Floresville 7

Lockhart idle

District 27-5A Standings and This Week’s Schedule

Kerrville Tivy 7-0   @ Alamo Heights

Boerne Champion 6-1  @ Seguin

Lockhart 5-2  @ San Marcos

Alamo Heights 5-2 vs. Kerrville Tivy

San Marcos 4-3 vs. Lockhart

Seguin 3-4 vs. Boerne Champion

Floresville 2-6 Season over

Kennedy 0-7 @ Memorial

Memorial 0-7 vs. Memorial

Kerrville Tivy Notes

The Mules host Kerrville Tivy at 7:30pm on Friday, November 6 at Harry B. Orem Stadium this week. It is the last week of the regular season for both teams.  Kerrville is undefeated at 9-0 for the season and 7-0 in district play.  The Antlers moved up to #6 in the state 5A rankings after spending most of the first half of the year at #7.  Tivy averages 304.7 yards in the air every game and 222.6 on the ground.  Quarterback Cade Dyal averages 17.7 completions per game, 282.6 yards an 3.6 TD passes per game. He’s been intercepted four times this season.  Dyal’s most frequent targets are Carson McCoy, Hutch White, Ian Ronan and Tres White. The top Kerrville rusher is Hayden Schreckenbach averaging 9.9 yards per carry and eight rushing touchdowns.  They are led defensively by linebackers John Lampson and Cameron Melcher who are also their leading tacklers.  The Antlers average 55.9 points per game and allow 16.9.  Alamo Heights average 47.8 points per game and allow 24.8 points per game.

“His Inside Voice”

A Weekly Conversation with Coach Mike Norment

Mule Fan: After all of the interruption to your routine, the potential distractions, and the time off, the guys put together a very complete game in the win against Floresville.  Were you pleased with the focus and determination to get business handled against the Tigers?

Coach Norment: Of yeah. They did a really good job.  We said it was going to be important not to let the change in routine affect us and we didn’t.  We came out and played very well and that was the reason we came out with a victory.

Mule Fan: The defense may have had their best game of the season thus far holding Floresville to five first downs and 12 yards passing. They’ve improved steadily. It felt like their best effort. How did you see it?

Coach Norment: Well they’re definitely getting better. We’re starting to get healthy again. And we’ve had to make some position changes and like we’ve said the last few times we’ve talked, these new players in new positions are getting more reps. They’re getting better and more comfortable. And I think that’s showing on the field.

Mule Fan: Floresville showed you a lot of different looks on defense. What was the key to the offensive dominance on the Mules end?

Coach Norment: They did. They were multiple in their fronts and so that caused us some confusion. But overall we did a good job and were able to execute.   We were able to jump on them pretty quick.

Mule Fan: Every year you want to be playing your best as you hit this time of year and the home stretch. Like many teams, you’ve had some injuries that have affected personnel.  What do you see as the headlines as you compare the two halves of the regular season so far?

Coach Norment: We’re being more consistent in all phases and on the field.  Early on, one phase would do very well and the other two were struggling.  And now in the last few games, pretty much all the phases, kicking game, offense and defense are starting to play together and that’s what good playoff teams, teams that want to go and get in the playoffs, have to do.

Mule Fan: Last year, both Tivy and Alamo Heights knew their playoff slots.  But it was a fireworks display with the Mules winning 51-44 at their place.  What sticks out in our mind is no matter how much you opened up the score, they’d close the gap. It took big defensive stands and clutch drives to put it away. What sticks out in your mind about that game and this rivalry?

Coach Norment: If you look at all the games, no matter what, they’re going to be close. Three years ago, they were up at halftime and we were able to come back and beat them in the second half.  And the same thing happened the next year. This is just one of those series where Tivy and Heights get up for each other. No lead is safe.  If you’re behind you keep on fighting and put pressure on the other team and make sure they keep making plays.

Mule Fan: I think in two of the last three years, the team that was ahead at the half lost the game, which tells you something about how these games go.  Will this week have a playoff feel to it?

Coach Norment:  Of yeah. We had a good Monday practice and that’s what you want.  We need to win this game to make the playoffs and then if you do make the playoffs, these are the type of games you’re going to be playing so this is the great way to end the regular season and hopefully give us a springboard into the playoffs.

Mule Fan: You’ve seen their films now.  You know their program. They’ve been ranked in the top ten in the state all season. They’re undefeated. How did they get here?

Coach Norment: They’re explosive on offense. They’ve got speed. They’ve got a good quarterback who can spread the ball. They’ve got two good running backs that sometimes are in the backfield at the same time. Sometimes they’ll alternate them so they’re fresh. Offensively they’re very explosive. Defensively they fly to the football.  There’s going to be a bunch of jerseys at the football. They fly around. They’re aggressive. Their linebackers are exceptionally good. So that’s the reason why they’re undefeated so far.

Mule Fan: In these kinds of games, you know both teams are going to make plays. Both are explosive big play offenses.  What does it come down to and how does that add to the natural intensity of the atmosphere and preparation for the game?

Coach Norment: Well a lot of times it’s going to be turnovers or special teams.  It’s going to be the team that is able to take the best punch from the other team and come back and counter punch. We’ve already said that both teams are going to be able to land their punches. So it’s going to be the team that’s going to be able to take that and come back with their own.

Area Leaders

The Express-News Area Sub 6A rankings still have Kerrville Tivy and Boerne #1 and #2. Kerrville maintains its #6 ranking in the state 5A Top Ten. Tivy's quarterback Cade Dyal is 6th in area total offense and 5th in passing. For the Mules, in spite of not seeing the field the last couple of games, quarterback Jack Woodland is ranked #18 in passing.  Receiver Antoine Cole is 4th in receptions and #14 in receiving yards.  Brendon McClinton is tied for 12th in receptions.

Cliché Corner – Cuz u kneed to no futbal tirms to suxseed in lif

Which one if the football cliché?

A.     Mr. Bubble

B.     Bubble screen

C.     Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

Answer:  B. Bubble screen, a quick hit offensive pass play to a wide receiver, often behind the line of scrimmage, who breaks toward the quarterback behind a series of blockers

Mules on Twitter

When you want to know more about the Mules and only can afford 140 characters of reading time, then @ahmulesfootball is the place for you on Twitter.  Coach Bryan Narvaez curates these surgical word strikes of Mules Football nuggets.

"And you turn left here near the central wing, and you're at the library."

Mules on Radio

Last week’s radio broadcast had to scoot down the dial because of the schedule change but things are pretty much back to normal this week on 1160 AM KRDY for the broadcast. You can also get the game streamed on www.tsrnsports.com and on the TSRN sports app.  Announcers are still being recruited as our regulars are on assignment covering the bb guns wars in France.

Canned Hams

Well you cannot overlook the defense’s efforts in the win over the weekend.  These were some stellar results. The defense has really turned their fortunes around since the first half of the season.  This week, they’ll need to amp it up another notch or two but we gladly put a canned of succulent canned, sweet, smoky pork in a vacuum sealed house in front of them to devour.

Alamo Heights Day on SA Football Weekly

TSRN Sports, the folks that bring us our weekly game broadcasts, host a two-hour Sunday morning football show focused on local high school programs and college football. This week was Alamo Heights’ turn.  Coach Norment was the guest along with seniors Trem Carr, Benji Cohen, Antoine Cole and Riley Carew at the Lion and Rose British Pub on Broadway.  Four cheerleaders came along as well to do some cheers.  Using the theater of the mind concept, they portrayed that they were throwing their partners high into the air as well as shouting some of their best beloved cheers.  Coach Norment and the boys did a great job.  That place still allows smoking in it and, even though we were in a non-smoking room, the smoke smell is heavy and pungent, which is rare to find these days. In fact, your editor was asked after the show by one of the boys if I knew where they could get a couple of cartons of Lucky Strikes (just kidding).

 

Playoff Reporting

The Mule Fan will put out a special “update” edition as quickly as we can find out what the playoff picture looks like as early as Saturday night hopefully. We’ll do our best to get you the important and anticipated information and answer the question “Where to now, Mule Fan?”  We will use our developed sources for as much inside info as we can put out as quickly as we can.  So check in.  It's complex.  The most important fact is that if we win, we're in!!  

GO MULES!! DEER SEASON IS OFFICIALLY OPEN!!

Memorial 0, Alamo Heights 56 October 16, 2015 and "Off Week Update and Floresville Preview"

IMPORTANT ALAMO HEIGHTS FOOTBALL UPDATE:
Several items of importance to communicate to you today.  By now you will have heard that Floresville experienced some severe storms and tornados on Friday morning October 30.  Due to all that mayhem, the game at Floresville was cancelled for Friday BUT RESCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31 AT HARRY B. OREM STADIUM AT ALAMO HEIGHTS AT 2:00pm.  Any tickets purchased already for the Floresville game will be accepted at the gate on Saturday for general admission on our side of the stadium.  All seating and all tickets will be GENERAL ADMISSION ONLY. If you have season tickets in one area, someone else's tush may be in 'em when you get there, probably mine. Unless you can produce title, don't whine about it.  Play like you're in someone else's ballpark.  It will be officially a home game for Floresville but we can also play like it's our home game.

Radio:  Well with all this hoohaa, we had to change radio stations for this week because there is a knitting tournament in spanish on KRDY-AM 1160 at our new kickoff time.  We move down the dial to KSLR 630 AM and as always on www.tsrnsports.com for the live webcast and you can download their app as well.  Broadcast time is 1:30pm for keen insight and pre game festivities.

More Radio:  Coach Mike Norment will be making an appearance on the radio on Sunday morning November 1st, which you can watch live at the Lion and Rose British Restaurant and Pub on 5148 Broadway (near Sorrento's and Satel's). You can call them at 798-4154 if you don't believe me. The live broadcast on CBS Sports Radio 860 AM is called SA Football Weekly and airs from 10am-12noon and this week, Coach Norment is the honored guest.  You're invited to Sunday brunch. It's AH Mules Day, for boosters, cheerleaders and players.  Of course, you loyal Mule Fan readers are used to reading Coach Norment's here each week. But why not show up and show him some love and hear his velvety voice.  And get some Shepherd's Pie and a pint (must be 21 to do that bit, the pint, not the pie.)

Okay, that's all the business points we have here late in the week. Show up at our park on Saturday.  No excuses now. Trick or treating is later on. Too wet to mow the lawn.  GO MULES!!!

Mules Take Care of Business With 56-0 Blowout of Memorial

            -Win Streak Extends to Three

            -Off Week Arrives for Mules As Prep Continues for Stretch

            By Bob Cohen, Senior Editor-Working-Off-Week

            (San Antonio)—Alamo Heights celebrated another great Homecoming Week last week and capped it Friday with an expected lopsided win over the Memorial Minutemen 56-0 in front of a great home crowd at Harry B. Orem Stadium.  As Coach Norment often says, it’s not really about the other team in these games but about Alamo Heights.  And Heights made the most of the opportunity to showcase as many players as it could in front of a few reunion classes and folks attending who might not see the Mules play every game. 

            With a bit under two minutes to go in the first period, most of the Mules starters were removed from the game as the clocked ticked towards a 28-0 first quarter lead as the horn sounded.  The game didn’t start that way as Memorial pooched kicked on the opening kickoff and fielded the ball.  So with the Mules defense on the field earlier than they expected to be, and with Memorial in Alamo Heights territory, the defense quickly put things right. On the second play of the Minuteman possession, Memorial’s quarterback threw into the corner of the end zone and a double team of Riley Carew and Nik Proctor.  Proctor secured the interception giving the Mules the ball back at their own 20.  Alamo Heights went to work on plays featuring the running of Deryl Reynolds and a deep ball from Will Chaney to Preston Taylor getting them into position for a two yard Deryl Reynolds bump into the end zone for the Mules first score.

            After the first of many “three and outs” for Memorial, the Minutemen got to see Nik Proctor again as they punted from their own 26 yard line.  Proctor fielded at the 35 and after trying a right step and a left step, settled on another try right following the blocks of Riley Carew and Justin Barsalou, the latter of whom laid the last available defender out giving Proctor his fourth special team return touchdown of the season.  Once again the Mules defense held without yielding a first down and it was running back Tucker Azar’s turn to feature on a drive and 13 yard touchdown run, his first of two first half scores.  And again the Mules defense stuffed the Minutemen back for another three and out.  For the last score of the quarter, Will Chaney followed blockers for 14 yards for the Mules fourth touchdown.

How big is Parker?  Soooooooo Big!

            It was more of the same in the second period as Memorial found no openings in the Mules defense.  On the night, Memorial managed only eight first downs to the Mules 27.  Alamo Heights scored on the ground for the rest of the half and the game.  With the Mules substituting liberally at this point, they added another touchdown run from Azar from three yards and a three yarder from Jack Heydenreich with under a minute in the half.  Alamo Heights  took a 42-0 lead to the halftime locker room as Homecoming activities took the field.

            With an exhausted opponent forced to play most of their personnel both ways, the Mules slowed down the pace and ran the clock and the ball most of the second half.  Alamo Heights piled up 273 yards on the ground while the defense held Memorial to 16 ground yards and 113 in the air.  It forced four Memorial punts and three fumbles.  The Mules spread the running booty around.  Azar and Heydenreich had 75 and 74 yards respectively, while Reynolds, Will Chaney and Parker Taylor tacked on the rest.   Mules backup quarterback Will Chaney, played most of the game at quarterback and picked up 197 yards passing on 16 completions on 21 attempts.  Parker Taylor came in for a spell at QB late in the game and rushed for a 20-yard touchdown. 

            The Mules (5-3, 4-2) kept Memorial winless on the season and now have an off week before hitting the road on Halloween Eve to take on Floresville.

October 16 27-5A Results

Lockhart 42, Kennedy 7

Seguin 25, Floresville 22

Kerrville Tivy 48, San Marcos 14

Memorial 0, Alamo Heights 56

Boerne Champion idle

Standings after October 16

Kerrville Tivy 5-0

Lockhart 5-1

Boerne Champion 4-1

Alamo Heights 4-2

San Marcos 3-2

Seguin 2-3

Floresville 1-5

Kennedy 0-5

Memorial 0-5

Schedule for October 23

Boerne Champion @ Lockhart

Kerrville Tivy @ Seguin

Kennedy @ San Marcos

Floresville @ Memorial

Alamo Heights idle

Remaining Schedule After The October 23 Weekend

Boerne Champion 10/30 vs. San Marcos, 11/6 @ Seguin

Seguin 10/30 @ Kennedy, 11/6 vs. Boerne Champion

Kerrville Tivy 10/30 vs. Memorial, 11/6 @ Alamo Heights

San Marcos 10/30 @ Boerne Champion, 11/6 vs. Lockhart

Lockhart 10/30 idle, 11/6 @ San Marcos

Floresville 10/30 vs. Alamo Heights, 11/6 idle

Kennedy 10/30 vs. Seguin, 11/6 @ Memorial

Memorial 10/30 @ Kerrville Tivy, 11/6 vs. Kennedy

Alamo Heights 10/30 @ Floresville, 11/6 vs. Kerrville Tivy

Area Leaders

In this week’s Express-News Sub 6A rankings, Kerrville Tivy and Boerne Champion remain 1-2.  Alamo Heights maintains its ranking of 6^th.  Tivy is ranked 6^th in the state 5A rankings moving up one notch this past week.  Individually, Antoine Cole ranks 3^rd in pass receiptions and 12^th in receiving yards.  Brendon McClinton is tied for 8^th in receptions and Caleb Williams is ranked 14^th in receptions.  Mules quarterback Jack Woodland is ranked 14^th in passing.

“His Inside Voice”

A Weekly Conversation with Coach Mike Norment 

Mule Fan: You always talk about having your guys not focusing too much on the other team but more on Alamo Heights, which is especially important in games such as the Memorial game.  So in addition to the win, what did you get done on Friday against Memorial?

Coach Norment: Well we got a lot of players in which is always good.  We were able to look at some things and overall we did a pretty good job.  There were some things that we didn’t do that are correctable.  We want to get everybody in but we want to do everything correctly.  It doesn’t matter what the other team does.  We want to run the defense right, run the correct plays and do all those things right.  We’re getting to the point in the season where we have to be getting better every week.  I was pleased overall.  It’s really easy to come out, after we had the successful first half with a big lead, to do what a lot of times teams do and that is have a complete letdown in the second half. The guys who were in the game in the second half kept on playing hard. That’s what I was really pleased with.

Mule Fan: The starters, at least the offensive starters, weren’t in the game long at all. In fact it seemed they were out even quicker than they were in the Kennedy game. With the off week approaching, were you thinking you could get them even more rest?

Coach Norment: That was definitely one of the things, you know to get them some rest and make sure nobody gets hurt. But also we wanted to get the rest of the kids some reps because at some point in the rest of the season, if a “one” goes down, we want to get the ”two’s” some reps that we have not been able to get them so far in the year since we’ve had so many close games.  This gets them more prepared so that if they go into a game, they’ll be ready.

Mule Fan: As we said, you’re in the off week. You gave the kids Saturday, Monday and Wednesday off. What else have you done differently during the off week?

Coach Norment: We’re still lifting weights. We practice during fourth period just like we always do. The only difference we’re not practicing Monday through Thursday like we would a regular week. We’ll just practice two times.  Just a little bit less pounding on each other.  We’ll use this week to try and get people healthy, get the bumps and bruises healed up a little.  But at the same time, I told the kids this is not just a “take off” week, this is a “get better” week. So when we’re out there we are working with high intensity and getting after it.

Mule Fan: Will every coach be out this week looking at a game?

Coach Norment:  Pretty much. We have two games left on our schedule so we’ll go hit two of those games involving those teams and see what’s going on.

Mule Fan: What’s on your mind as you look at the schedule for this week and the remaining games?

Coach Norment:  Well the big thing is that we control our own destiny so we’re worrying about Floresville and that’s all we can think about right now because we have to win that game so we’ll be at that game against Memorial. They’ve been struggling a little bit this year (Floresville), but their game with us will be their last game and their playoff game. Because their bye week is week #10.  We’re playing there. It was a close game last year. In some ways they feel they could’ve beaten us last year. I guarantee you they’re going to be up for us and getting after it so we have to worry about those guys. Then we’ll look to Kerrville. Then hopefully if we get those two taken care of and we’ll be in the playoffs.

Mule Fan: Floresville faces Memorial this week. They had a close one against Seguin last week, which they lost. They had three winning seasons coming into this year but have managed only one win so far. What’s changed over there?

Coach Norment:  You really don’t know. We just started watching a little film on them.  There could be a number of reasons like injuries.  As we know with injuries, a couple of injuries at key positions, we can’t go recruit like the colleges, and a couple of key positions on offense or defense can really affect you especially if your defensive scheme or offensive schemes are revolving around those players. That throws a huge wrench into the system.  Just looking at it so far, I can’t really tell. I have watched and they get after it.  We’ll break down the film we just received a little more. And we have to realize that we have a tough district. When you’re playing Kerrville Tivy and Boerne Champion, they’re pretty good teams. They are struggling but at the same time, teams that are struggling are dangerous and we can’t take them lightly.

Cliché Corner-Cuz Chix Dig Dudes hu no Football Frazis

Name the football cliché.

A.     Load the box

B.     Loaded diaper

C.     Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

A. Load the box – to put most of the defensive players inside to protect against the run

Mules Dine Out Day

This week, you can dine out at the new BurgerFi near the H-E-B at Oak Park behind Thundercloud Subs at Nacogdoches and Rockhill on Friday, October 23.  Mules Football gets 20% of sales between 5pm-9pm as long as you put your receipt the Mules Football bucket.

Mules on Twitter

There’s a lot to be said about these Mules and another way to follow Alamo Heights Football is on Twitter @ahmulesfootball.  Don’t forget to follow.

Floresville Preview Ahead-Check Back Next Week

The miserly management buffoons that run this rag put a clause in our contract that the only time off we get during the off week is for lunch.  So we wrote the regular version this week and will provide a preview on Floresville and updates to standings and other items next week. So check back for some more information during the prep week for Floresville. We’ll have ticket information at that time as well.  In the meantime, management has demanded that we cover the shrimp boat races near the Bolivar Peninsula this week.  Enjoy your Friday night off this week Mule Nation.

Off Week Update

October 23 Results

Floresville 43, Memorial 0

Kerrville Tivy 52, Seguin 18

Boerne Champion 47, Lockhart 26

Kennedy 6, San Marcos 48

Alamo Heights idle

Standings after October 23

Kerrville Tivy 6-0

Boerne Champion 5-1

Lockhart 5-2

Alamo Heights 4-2

San Marcos 4-2

Seguin 2-4

Floresville 2-5

Kennedy 0-6

Memorial 0-6

October 30 Schedule

Alamo Heights @ Floresville

Seguin @ Kennedy

Memorial @ Kerrville Tivy

San Marcos @ Boerne Champion

Lockhart idle

Floresville Preview

Alamo Heights travels to Floresville to take on the Tigers on Friday October 29 at 7:30pm.  It is an important district game for the Mules who are chasing a playoff berth and resume action after a bye night on October 23.  Floresville won on the road last week against Memorial 43-0 raising their season record to 2-8 and 2-5 in district play. Their other win was against Kennedy.   The Tigers are suffering through their first losing season since 2011. In 2014 Floresville finished 6-4 overall and 4-4 in district play. The Tigers are 0-3 all time vs. Alamo Heights having faced the Mules in 2014, 205 and 2004. They average 28.5 points per game and allow 43.2 ppg.  The Mules won in 2014 in an offensive showdown 47-43.  Floresville returns 10 starters from last year’s team, six from the offense and four defensive. They are led by two three-year starters, quarterback Koby Wilkerson and running back Alex Mermea both of whom were all district first team selections in 2014.  Mermea rushed for over 1,200 yards last season.

Follow the Mules on Radio

When you can’t be at the game, follow along on KRDY 1160AM with Dave Parker and Albert Gonzales providing lead vocals and harmony.  You can also listen online at www.tsrnsports.com and on the TSRN mobile app. It's the same guys doing it just out of a different device.  Please patronize the sponsors and thank them for making it possible for the Mules to hit the airwaves.

Alamo Heights 42, Seguin 7 October 9, 2015

Mules Convincing in Important District Road Win at Seguin

-Defense Sticks its Chest Out to Help Preserve Win

By Bob Cohen, Senior Editor, Sayer of Things

            (Seguin)—One of our jobs here at the Mule Fan is to articulate what is likely in the minds of Mule Nation.  So here is this week’s blinding glimpse of the obvious.  With that unexpected wet burp the Mules suffered against Lockhart, every game carries a lot more weight now.  And with that in mind, the Mules (4-3, 3-2) have paired together a couple of needed wins including Friday’s win on the road against the Seguin Matadors, which they won convincingly 42-7. 

            One nice new wrinkle was that in this game, it was the defense that put its collective hoof on the neck of the Matadors right out of the chute.  The intensity has been there on that side of the ball for weeks but the football gods have been frowning and dropping one in the Mules mess kit at seemingly each and every opportunity.  Not Friday as the Mules nearly pitched a shutout.  Alamo Heights got the ball first against the Matadors and confidently pushed the ball to the deepest edge of Matador territory but Seguin managed to say “we don’t want any” and kept the Mules out of the end zone when it appeared it was going to be an automatic six points.  So a fired up Seguin offense took the ball back deep in their own territory relieved to be still tied.  With that opportunity, the Matadors were on the receiving end of three defensive highlights for the Mules.  The first was slobber-spraying sideline pasting from freshman linebacker Maki Carabin on a scrambling quarterback Marc Garcia. That was followed by a high snap over a wildcat set, retrieved by running back Dora who was tracked down by Trem Carr as he desperately sought the line of scrimmage.  With fourth down and 10 from their own 23, Seguin attempted the rugby punt.  Junior defensive lineman Brandon Peterson blew through protection to get both mitts on the punt attempt, which was snatched from the air by Holden Daum followed by Seguin alertly punching it out of Daum’s control and fallen on by Gabriel Cervantes in the end zone.  So the combination defensive/special team effort got the Mules on the board first. 

            On the next series, the Mules defense responded again with defensive lineman Joey Gonzalez breaking through to sack quarterback Garcia followed by another by Gabriel Cervantes dropping Garcia 15 yards deeper and putting Seguin on its own one yard line.  Seguin was forced to punt from within an inch of the end line in their own end zone and launched one that, including roll, traveled about 88 real yards and eventually into the arms of Mules uber-returner Nik Proctor. After calmly collecting the ball, Proctor manufactured a 34 yard sawblade return, helped by a sinus clearing block from Riley Carew on a Matador in pursuit, to get the Mules back into Matador territory.  After one false start, Mule QB Jack Woodland spotted Antoine Cole, who had put 4 yards between himself and the defender, down the left hash hitting him in stride with a beautifully delivered 41-yard hoist. It took two Tucker Azar thrusts into the line to get the ball into the end zone to stretch the Mules lead to 14-0 after the PAT.

            Before the half, with Mules backup quarterback Will Chaney getting his first action since being sidelined by a concussion a few weeks earlier, the Mules got two touchdown passes into the hands of Antoine Cole, one from 13 out and one from 15. The second one came after the Mules defense came up with another turnover on Holden Daum’s interception of a Marc Garcia pass.  The Mules went to the break up 28-0.

            Alamo Heights kept the pressure on in the second half with two fourth quarter touchdowns, one in response to Seguin’s lone touchdown of the night.  The Mules answered with a pass into the flat from Chaney to running back Deryl Reynolds who scampered 48 yards for a score.  Azar tacked on another short touchdown plunge to cap the scoring for the night.  Alamo Heights put up 312 yards in the air.  Chaney made up for lost time with 16 completions on 22 attempts for 225 yards and three touchdowns.  Cole scored twice and nearly hit triple digits again in receiving yards with 97 on six catches.  Brendon McClinton yanked down five for 63 before going out at the half with an injury. 

            A strong night in all phases of the game and a needed shot in the arm for the defense and the Mules have two wins in a row as they look to Memorial this weekend for Homecoming.

           

District 27-5A Results

Kerrville Tivy 52, Lockhart 17

Boerne Champion 63, Kennedy 0

Floresville 14, San Marcos 34

Memorial idle

Next Week’s Schedule

Seguin at Floresville

San Marcos at Kerrville Tivy

Lockhart at Kennedy

Memorial at Alamo Heights

Boerne Champion idle

District 27-5A Standings

Kerrville Tivy 4-0

Boerne Champion 4-1

Lockhart 4-1

San Marcos 3-1

Alamo Heights 3-2

Seguin 1-3

Floresville 1-4

Kennedy 0-4

Memorial 0-4

“His Inside Voice”

A Weekly Conversation with Coach Mike Norment  

Mule Fan:  How did the Seguin game shape up in your eyes in terms of execution in the three phases of the game?

Coach Norment: Defense played much better.  The players have now had two weeks to play after having moved some people around and have had the players now playing the positions for a couple of weeks. They’re starting to learn it so they get much better.  Special teams had some huge plays.  A blocked punt for a touchdown and some good returns.  Offense struggled at times and then clicked at times.  Like I told the kids, we haven’t played a complete game yet and one of these days hopefully soon we get a complete game and we’re going to need to in these next few weeks of the season.

Mule Fan: It seemed that the defense got the game THEY had been wanting for several weeks.  They got the interception. You talked about special teams getting the block. There were timely sacks on Friday and a lot of pressure. What did they do well specifically to get the kind of performance they had against Seguin?

Coach Norment:  The more reps you get the better and they’ve gotten more in the last couple of weeks in new positions. We’re starting to get a few people back off of injuries. We had a player come back and as we continue to get more of them and they keep playing hard some things will go well for us.  When things are going well, they feed off each other and it’s just a better complete game.

Mule Fan: And it’s not just the games is it?  They get the reps in practice at new positions and the coaches can concentrate on helping them learn their positions right?

Coach Norment: Yes that’s correct. And when you’re struggling you lose some of your confidence and I think they’re getting their confidence back.

Mule Fan: You had Seguin on their heels early. Offense got in a position to knock on the door and Seguin holds.  After they held, then the defense got a sack, a punt block, hustle to the loose ball and points.  How big was that sequence?

Coach Norment: It was huge. It set the tone for the defense and the defense played great. At the same time, it showed the offense that if they’re clicking, they can move the ball down the field. We made some mistakes down there in the red zone that we’re going to have to correct. But the whole thing of how we scored with special teams and defense really fired them up and it showed the offense that when we’re clicking we can move the ball also.

Mule Fan: The offense was clicking but it seemed at times that one could tell you were really trying to get the tempo up from where it was but things were getting in the way.  I’m sure you would have like to step up the pace some.  What was preventing that?

Coach Norment:  There were a couple of things.  Sometimes referee crews use different mechanics. Our kids weren’t used to not getting the ball back (quickly). If the ball went outside they were switching balls out which slows things down and it is something that we as a team and coaches have to recognize. And there were quite a few injuries on Friday, which slows the tempo on both sides. We had some penalties, more than we’ve had for a while. And all that gets you out of rhythm and we’re a tempo and rhythm team.

Mule Fan:  On the other hand, with the exception of the first drive, when you needed to score you were able to get the ball downfield and score even though it might not have been the pace you wanted. Where did you feel you had the biggest edge offensively on Friday?

Coach Norment:  We had a good scheme. They were going to outnumber us in the box and almost force us to throw the ball. We did a good job hitting the underneath stuff and throw deep in a timely way. We were able to throw deep a couple of times. That really helped us out.

Mule Fan: Speaking of throwing deep in a timely way, we’d like to talk about Antoine Cole.  It seems like when you need a deep ball, Antoine seems to get his hands on it a lot.  Almost every game he’s been at or near triple digits in receiving yards.  Antoine is a quiet guy. Did you see this coming with Antoine? What has he done to improve his game?

Coach Norment: Right now we’re fortunate to have four good receivers. It’s hard for them to put two guys on Antoine because of the other three. But he had a great spring. He’s worked hard and it’s showed. He’s been able to blossom a little bit this year as opposed to being a backup last year.

Mule Fan: It’s Memorial this week and a chance to build on a win streak but as we’ve said, they’re all huge now. What do you think you really need to keep that intensity level up as you get ready to try and build on that streak and look ahead to the off week?

Coach Norment: This is going to be a tough week because it’s Homecoming week and we have a holiday and PSAT testing so there will be a lot of distractions.  We addressed it on Saturday morning. There are a lot of ways to make excuses if we don’t have a good practice. I challenged the kids to be smart. Let’s not sleep until 1:00pm on Monday and throw their bodies out of whack and not have a good practice on Monday afternoon. Let’s get up a little earlier and get moving around so we can get up here and have a good practice.  Same thing on Wednesday.  It’ll be really easy for the seniors not to get up early because they don’t have to be in school until 12:55.  Unlike the teachers who have to be up here at the regular time. So we have to just challenge them to not let the distractions get in the way.  Like I tell them every week, it’s not about the other team.  It’s about Alamo Heights. We have to get better to continue building on what we’ve got.

Mule Fan: But you’ve got to get in their heads because this week because these are the kinds of games where you could have a letdown if you don’t keep them completely focused.  What does each coach have to do this week?

Coach Norment:  Well we’re going to have to stay on them.  It starts right away. I’ll be able to tell you from the first 10 minutes of practice on Monday afternoon. These are the weeks that if we’re not having a good practice we’ll have to get their attention some way.

Area Leaders

Alamo Heights moved up one spot to sixth from seventh in the Express News Sub 6A area rankings. Kerrville Tivy and Boerne Champion are still 1-2.  Kerrville is ranked seventh in the state.  Jack Woodland is seventh in total offense and ninth in passing. Antoine Cole is 13^th in receiving yards and tied for third in total receptions. Brendon McClinton is tied for fifth in receptions and Caleb Williams is at nine in receptions.

Next Up-Memorial Minutemen Happy Homecoming

The Mules take on Memorial High School Friday at 7:30 at Harry B. Orem Stadium. The Minutemen have suffered through years of losing but picked up their first win since 2013 in this year’s opener against Carrizo Springs.  In all, Memorial has won eight games in 12 years. In 2014 they were winless at 0-10 and 0-8 in district. They are 1-5 this season and 0-4 in district play. Losses have come at the hands of Seguin, Boerne Champion, San Marcos, Lockhart and Pearsall.  The Minutemen average 15.2 points per game and allow 47.5.   Alamo Heights averages 46.0 points per game and are giving up 30.9 points per game.  The Mules blanked the Minutemen in 2014 at Edgewood Stadium 45-0.

Cliché Corner-Cuz speekin clerly abowt football reelie empressiz the wimin.

Name the football cliché.

A.     Behind the sticks

B.     The River Styx

C.     Sticks and Stone

Answer: A. Behind the sticks – being more than 10 yards away from a first down and being behind the 10 yard chain.

Homecoming Festivities

There are heaps of Homecoming activities this week including Howdy Night on Wednesday from 4:30pm-6:30pm at the high school, one of the biggest social events of the season followed by a pep rally at the stadium and a fiery display of our logo.  A Homecoming king and queen and duchess, dukes, jesters and squires will be named at halftime of the game. A few classes will have reunions this weekend including the reunion of the senior class of your editor.  Not that anyone really cares but my Alamo Heights education helps me figure out that the number is divisible by 10, 4, 2, 20, 1 and 40 to name a few.  As mentioned a few weeks ago, this class started at AHHS when Richard Nixon was still in office.  In the editor’s senior year, the Mules were 4-6 with wins against McCollum, Marshall, Edison and Holmes.  The head coach was Harry McBain.  The biggest guys on the team weighed about 60 pounds and were five feet tall. (I jest). There was no Mule Fan blog of course.  There was a Hoofprint and the North San Antonio Times to go along with three daily newspapers. We live in different times.  We take all this stuff a little more seriously now of course, the community is more involved and we have traditions that are solid blue and gold.  I wouldn’t trade this time and the way this community and school are now for those by any means. This is waaaay better. But that was the way things were. It is fun to be nostalgic. We had fun on Friday nights and made lifelong friends.  FYI, lucky for the Mules, your editor was not a football player at that point but rather a baseball guy with root beer league abilities, a 57 mph “fastball”, a curveball that broke a knee-buckling 4.75 inches from high atop a mound that sits about where Pei Wei’s restrooms are now at Lincoln Heights, and a promising grasp of how to keep a pristine scorebook. During football games, the Mule Fan senior editor sat perched in a small press box radio booth about where Rick Shaw sits now squeaking out something resembling play-by-play at an embarrassing octave into a 3M tape recorder borrowed from the Spanish department and called in game reports to local radio stations including one I later operated for many years. The “broadcast crew” consisted of your editor and your current Texas Speaker of the House. Your editor and the Honorable Joe would each take a half of play-by-play and the other would provide witty and stunningly cogent color commentary for young men of such limited experience and perception.  Your editor went on to start a career yammering into a microphone in college and pro sports and eventually moved on to other media posts but definitely highlighted by a soon-to-expire editorial role with the Mule Fan.  The other announcer now swings a mean gavel in Austin and has about 50 microphones shoved in front of him every time he turns up somewhere as he serves the people of the Great State of Texas.  Those tapes exist and are around somewhere deep in a box in a garage well guarded by some of San Antonio’s largest roaches.  One doubts they are in any kind of shape that they could be heard even if you could find a reel-to-reel tape recorder to play them.  The concept is frightening. 

Speaking of Radio…

Whereas your editor and his partner once may have confidently considered themselves the “(very high) Voices of the Mules,” the real title is arguably split between the legendary voices of Rick Shaw for stadium throating and Dave Parker on radio today.   When you can’t be at the game, follow along on KRDY 1160AM with Dave Parker and Albert Gonzales providing expert commentary.  You can also listen online at www.tsrnsports.com and on the TSRN mobile app.  Please patronize the sponsors and thank them for making it possible for the Mules to hit the airwaves.

Mules on Twitter

There’s a lot to be said about these Mules and another way to follow Alamo Heights Football is on Twitter @ahmulesfootball.  Don’t forget to follow.

Another Dine Out Day

Eat a yummy dinner on Thursday October 15 at Freddy’s at the Quarry from 5pm-9pm, drop your receipt in the football bucket prominently displayed and the football program gets 20% of sales.

Food Drive at the Stadium – Please Help

The Alamo Heights Theatre Arts department is sponsoring a food drive on Friday night to benefit the San Antonio Food Bank.  Please bring canned goods to the stadium.  Don’t dig in on the way to the game. They won’t be able to take the food item if it is partially eaten.  Please donate!

Fenley Trophy Golf Tourney

Mark your calendars for the 12^th Annual Fenley Trophy Golf Tournament on Wednesday October 21 at 1:00pm at the Quarry Golf Club.

This tournament is in honor of the late Gaylard Fenley who served, taught and mentored our students and staff as our Athletic Director1983-2002• All tournament proceeds benefit Basketball, Cheerleading, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Lacrosse, JROTC, Soccer, Special Olympics, Tennis, Track, Volleyball.  It is not true that it helps support the Mule Fan blog.  For more information, contact bill.dehlinger@worthaminsurance.com. He’ll get you a brochure and make sure you have all the info you need to make an informed decision.

Canned Ham

Plenty of pork to go around to defenders this week.  The Mule Fan recognizes the Mules defense with strong performances from Maki Carabin, Trem Carr, Gabriel Cervantes, Holden Daum, Joey Gonzalez and Justin Barsalou to name a few.  Happy chomping.

Speaking of the Canned Ham award, the Mule Fan received a “nasty gram” from the Pork Board.  We don’t shy away from these things as you know so we publish the letter below in its entirety.

Dear Mr. Fan,

We’ve written before to express our displeasure with your approach to our product and its use as an award for the efforts of football players.  While we like the publicity, we detect a level of sarcasm, which has convinced us that, at its roots, your portrayal of our product is laced with disrespect. 

Your consistent referral to our product as a canned meat product is confusing to consumers who may believe you are referring to deviled ham, which as you know is also delivered in a can.  That product is dramatically different from a canned ham.  As you know, a deviled ham comes encased in a can and a white paper wrapper.  Our cans stand on their own two split feet within a container that can be opened by a key. How many other products can you identify that take security so seriously?  

And please refrain from your slang-like reference to our product as a “pink chunk.” This misleading reference to our “cut” of meat indicates no planning or thought was put into the shaping, carving and careful selection from the hog as if we grabbed a handful of meat and ripped it from the skeletal frame of any swine with our bare hands and plopped it down into some can we found at the city dump.  While this may have been the case in the past, is is now believed that we have the problem relatively under control. 

Would you consider taking on rabbit as the meat for your reward next year?  If you don’t change your ways, we must squeal. 

Sincerely,

Sammy McSwine

         

Our response…

Dear Mr. McSwine,

Thank you for your constructive suggestion, about going with rabbit as our reward meat for the future. Our management will take it under consideration but we must tell you that the Gerbil Council recently made a very compelling case for their representation in our blog. 

Until then, think pink.

Warm regards,

The Mule Fan

Sorry for the Late Post

Mule Nation, we are posting the Mule Fan later than normal this week.  Two reasons. One, since Monday was a holiday, our management cut it a little short on the ink barrel order expecting that we’d have some on Monday.  We didn’t get our shipment until Tuesday at lunch.  And two, it was mentioned above that it is a reunion week for your editor and we were busy dying my hairs.

GO MULES!!! Beat the Minutemen!!  Happy Homecoming!!