Mules Snap Losing Skid, Beat Wolves On Flora Homecoming

With their backs against the wall coming off three straight losses, Justin Townsend’s Fairfield Mules took a step in the right direction Friday night, spoiling the Flora Wolves’ homecoming game with a 28-14 win.

The Mules improved to 2-4 on the year as they try to string together four straight wins to close out the season to get playoff eligible. The Wolves came into the game with a 3-2 record, with the loss evening their record.

The Mules scored the first three touchdowns of the game and the Wolves never got closer than two scores in the second half. The defense led the way, holding Flora to 174 total yards, including just 16 yards rushing.

While the defense was grinding the Wolves’ ground game to a halt, the Mules’ offense finally got their own rushing attack going, running for 265 yards, a new season high and just the second time they have had more than 155 in a game this year.

Mason Runs For 152

Trey Mason ran for a season-high 152 yards on 25 carriers, scoring once to lead the attack. That workload started early for the senior back. He had six carries on the opening drive alone, including the score from six yards out as the Mules established the run early. Mason’s previous season high yards in a game was 67 yards.

That would be the only score of the first quarter, with Flora getting just one first down in their first three possessions, punting each time. The Mules had an empty trip into the red zone early in the second quarter, with Flora coming up with a sack on a fourth-and-6 from the 20.

Fairfield’s second score came late in the second quarter freshman quarter Jaylen Maners hit senior running back Jay Snyder for a 43-yard touchdown play through the air with 1:21 to play in the half.

Pick At Buzzer

That short clock still provided the Wolves plenty of time to scare the Mules, however, taking advantage of a kickoff out of bounds and then going to the air often with sophomore quarterback Parker Helm. He went 6-of-10 on the drive, moving the ball all the way to the Mules’ seven before Cale Milner picked off a pass into the endzone at the buzzer. Milner returned the ball 69 yards before getting tackled to prevent a defensive score.

On Flora’s first possession of the second half, they lost 40 yards in two plays, with two straight bad snaps, the second on a punt attempt that sailed over the punter’s head. Fairfield capitalized, scoring on the very next play when Maners hit senior tight end Landon Harrelson for an 18-yard touchdown. That put the Mules up 20-0 with 6:39 to play in the third quarter.

Flora’s first score of the game was set up by a Fairfield turnover, when Logan Tullis fumbled away a punt return attempt, giving the Wolves the ball on the one-yard line. Helm snuck in the scoring run from there.

Fairfield missed an opportunity to extend their lead on their next possession when they drove the ball all the way to the one-yard line before getting called for a personal foul and having to attempt a fourth-down pass from the 16. Flora got the sack on that play.

Final Score

The Mules did get a final score late in the fourth quarter, going to the ground game exclusively on the drive. They ran the ball 13 straight times, the final six yards on a touchdown run by Snyder for his second score of the game.

Flora’s second and final score came with 1:38 to play, with Helm hitting Garret Patridge on a four-yard scoring pass to pull the Wolves back within 14. They attempted an onside kick, but the Mules were able to cover it and get one first down to set up kneel outs to end the game.

Fairfield finished with 339 total yards, 265 on the ground and 74 through the air. Flora did most of their damage in the air, throwing for 159 yards.

Miller Simpson led the defense with six tackles, including three tackles for loss. The defensive line duo of Trenton Mason and Bronson Rilea was disruptive all night as well, combining eight solo tackles and two assists. Rilea had a sack and forced fumble waved off late in the game for “hitting too hard” when he came free for a blindside blast on Helm.

The Mules (2-4) will host CZR Saturday for Fairfield’s Homecoming. The Bearcats are 0-6 on the year.

Week 6 BDC Scores

Johnston City 58, Hamilton Co. 16

Carmi 52, CZR 14

Sesser-Valier 56, Edwards Co. 7

Trenton Wesclin 21, Eldorado 6

BDC Records

Johnston City 6-0

Sesser-Valier 6-0

Carmi  5-1

Flora   3-3

Hamilton Co.      3-3

Fairfield              2-4

Eldorado            1-5

Edwards Co.       1-5

CZR     0-6

Week 7 Games

CZR at Fairfield

Eldorado at Sesser-Valier

Flora at Hamilton Co.

Edwards Co. at Carmi

Johnston City receives forfeit