Mules spank Roughnecks in opener

MULESHOE — Muleshoe coach Jason Richards believes his squad will be better than the 2-7 contingent from last year.

On Friday night, the Mules gave the first indication of that with a 33-14 spanking of Sundown in the season opener for both teams.

Junior linebacker Davian McMullen returned a fumble for a first-quarter touchdown and sophomore running back Jaxher Lopez added a pair of TD runs as the Mules turned the tables on the Roughnecks, who beat them 6-0 in last season’s opener.

Senior quarterback Zach Hasley threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Eliasar Cisneros to stake the Mules to a 13-0 halftime advantage. Sophomore Zeke Kasel added a 7-yard TD run in the third stanza.

Meantime, the Mules’ defense blanked Sundown until the final quarter, limiting the Roughnecks to 165 total yards.

Muleshoe’s next outing is on Friday at Lamesa.

Farwell 42, Ralls 21 — At Farwell, sophomore Corey Stancell rushed for 225 yards and four touchdowns and the Steers pulled away late against the Jackrabbits.

Stancell scored on runs of 8, 15, 2 and 13 yards for Farwell, which added three fourth-quarter TDs after Ralls cut a 21-0 first-half deficit to eight points.

“Ralls is a good football team,” Farwell coach Darren Kelley said. “They have 10 or 12 seniors back and they’re picked to win their district.

“It was just fun beating a good football team to start the year out. We’re going to get better as the year goes on.”

Senior Carlos Castillo scored on two short runs for Farwell, while sophomore Jackson Wilbourn was a perfect 6-for-6 on PAT kicks.

Bovina 29, Boys Ranch 14 — The host Mustangs got two early long TD runs from junior Darian DeLaRosa and handed the improved Indians their 45th consecutive loss.

DeLaRosa scored on runs of 87 yards late in the first period and 42 yards early in the second to stake Bovina to a 14-0 advantage. Sophomore quarterback Daniel Herrara added a 68-yard TD strike to senior wide receiver Israel Granados, while the Mustangs added a second-quarter safety when junior Damian Rodriguez caught Jackrabbits QB Isaiah Brown in the end zone.

Brown accounted for the Indians’ points with a 1-yard scoring run and 2-point conversion and a 15-yard scoring pass to Jayden Slater, making it 23-14. Herrera added his TD run in the final minute.

The Mustangs host Farwell on Friday night.

Elida 39, Carrizozo 6 — In a game moved from Elida on Friday night to Carrizozo on Thursday, the Tigers got a 70-yard touchdown return from junior Mason Pritchett on the opening kickoff and never looked back.

Senior Jesse Woodruff tallied on a 17-yard pass from junior QB Levi Victor and on a 1-yard run. Victor added an 11-yard TD run, with that score set up by a 45-yard fumble return deep into Grizzlies territory by junior Dalyn Taylor.

Junior Dalyn scored twice, one coming on a pass from Victor, and also had a pass interception and a 56 yard fumble return that thwarted a Grizzlies scoring bid.

Overall, it was a good effort, Tigers coach Jereme Woodruff said.

“We played better in the first half than the second,” he said. “The thing in the second half was we just didn’t execute as well.”

Carrizozo (0-2), which trailed 33-6 at halftime, got its only touchdown on an 8-yard run by junior running back Deven Zamora.

Elida is slated to begin 6-man District 2 action on Friday at home against Gateway Christian (2-0).