Mules rally for win over Hornets

MULESHOE — Muleshoe sophomore Daniel Sianez had himself quite a night on Friday.

Sianez returned a kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown, starting a Mules comeback, then scored what turned out to be the deciding touchdown on a 13-yard run late in the third quarter in a 35-31 victory over previously unbeaten Tulia.

Muleshoe (2-2) held on during a scoreless final stanza. Sophomores Zeke Kasel and Zach Radloff led a 260-yard ground attack, rushing for 112 and 100 yards, respectively, while senior quarterback Zach Hasley threw for 155 yards.

Muleshoe (2-2) owned a 415-324 advantage overall in total yardage.

After putting up a goalline stand with the game tied early in the second quarter, the Hornets (3-1) promptly opened a 21-7 lead with a 97-yard touchdown pass and a punt return for a score. But Sianez returned the ensuing kickoff for a TD to cut the margin in half.

Radloff caught a 12-yard scoring pass from senior Zach Hasley to put the Mules in front 28-21 at halftime. Tulia promptly regained the lead with a short field goal and a 3-yard TD pass in the third period.

Hasley and Kasel also had rushing touchdowns for Muleshoe.

Ramah 64, Elida 19 — The host Tigers put up a pretty good battle against Ramah (4-0) until the middle of the third period, when Mustangs junior Bowdy Evans returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown and senior Whelan Clawson scored on a 38-yard run to make it 42-19.

Eighth-grader Chase Aguirre scored on a 38-yard fun for Elida (2-3) to cut Ramah’s lead to one point early in the second stanza. Then junior Levi Victor recovered a Ramah fumble on the ensuing kickoff, and eventually scored on a 3-yard run to put the Tigers in front 19-14.

Clawson’s 25-yard run a couple of minutes later gave Ramah the lead for good, and he went in from a yard out in the final minute of the half. Clawson scored all four Mustangs TDs in the opening half, and finished the night with five.

Meantime, Evans had four tallies, including another interception return of 32 yards, a 37-yard run and a 5-yard pass from McKay Evans.

In another contest on Friday night, Bovina (1-3) ran into a buzzsaw at New Deal and was handed a 70-0 loss by the Lions (4-0).