Mules cruise to 61-16 win

MULESHOE - After getting a quick shot in the mouth on Friday night, the Muleshoe football team bounced back in dominating fashion.

Senior quarterback Zach Hasley threw for seven touchdowns - six in the first half - and the Mules stormed back to blow out Dalhart 61-16 in a District 2-3A Division I clash.

The game was for sole possession of second place in the five-team district, and the Mules (4-5, 2-1 district) left no doubt. They finished with 26 first downs and 558 yards of total offense en route to clinching the No. 2 playoff seed from the district.

Hasley, who completed 13-of-21 passes for 238 yards, surpassed his previous high of five TD tosses, set last year in a 51-40 loss to Seminole.

"We came into this game excited and confident about our matchups," he said. "I knew when the ball was in the air, my guys were going to go get it."

Junior wide receiver Irvin Torres led the team in receiving with six catches for 95 yards, including four scoring passes from Hasley - all of those coming in the first half when Muleshoe tallied on seven of eight possessions and opened a 47-9 cushion.

Richards was concerned how his team would play with a big lead. He added that the Wolves (2-7, 1-2), coming off a 73-9 thumping at the hands of district-leading Bushland, are better than their record.

"That's a good football team," he said. "They were down 32-7 at Littlefield and came back and won.

"I was probably more nervous starting the second half than I was starting the game. But I thought our kids handled it well."

Sophomore Daniel Sianez rushed 12 times for 103 yards and a touchdown - all in the first half. Another sophomore, Zach Radloff, took over in the second half and finished with 94 yards and a score on 20 carries.

Dalhart marched 75 yards following the opening kickoff behind senior QB Thomas Meyer, who went 4-for-4 on the drive and hit sophomore Corbin Carnesecca for an 18-yard TD. But the Mules outscored the Wolves 61-2 from there - all Dalhart had to show during that time was a 2-point defensive conversion off a blocked Mules PAT - until Meyer hit senior Skeet Wieck on an 8-yard scoring pass with just over five minutes left.

Part of the final stanza was played with a running clock after the Mules built their lead to more than 50 points.

"We came out slow when Dalhart had that first drive," senior tight end/linebacker Brennen Davis said. "But I have full confidence in what (defensive coordinator Darrell) Davis and (secondary coach Austin) Ross are doing for us."

Meyer threw for 183 yards and two scores, but he also suffered three interceptions.

The Mules were coming off a 42-38 road win over Amarillo River Road in their previous outing, and that boosted their confidence.

"River Road is a tough opponent," Davis said. "They're really good. We were able to make plays, and stop them a little more than they stopped us."

Knowing they'll be in the playoffs takes a little pressure off, but Hasley said the team has to remain focused.

"We need to take it one game at a time, and stay humble," he said. "We need to stay strong and try to win each quarter."

Now the Mules are getting ready for rival Littlefield (3-6, 0-3) in Friday's regular-season finale. They haven't beaten the Wildcats since 2015, and trail the all-time series 51-14.

"The Muleshoe-Littlefield game has nothing to do with records," Richards said. "They're a lot like us - they're young. We'll get Littlefield's best effort, no doubt."