Local News

September 6, 2007

The Ilwaco Fishermen claimed a 21-20 overtime non-league football win over the Wahkiakum Mules last Friday in the opening game of the fall season.
The Fishermen did something they hadn’t done consistently all night—stopped the running of Mule quarterback Joel Fudge.
After the fourth quarter ended in a 14-14 tie, Ilwaco scored first in overtime. A 24-yard pass play put the Fishermen on the one-yard line, and Eddie Knick scored on a one-yard run. Matt Kaino kicked the conversion for a 21-14 lead, and the Mules were penalized for roughing the holder. The five-yard penalty gave the Mules possession at the 30-yard line, and Fudge ran a sweep around left end for a touchdown to cut the margin to 21-20.
The Mules elected to go for two points and the win. Ilwaco Coach Kevin McNulty called three straight time-outs to adjust his team to the Mule formations. When the Mules finally got to run a play, Fudge again kept the ball and ran to the left; the Fishermen stopped him about six inches short of the endzone.

The wild finish capped a wild and woolly game in which both teams made plenty of first-game mistakes.
Ilwaco scored first after recovering a Mule fumble at midfield early in the second quarter. Kaino passed about 32 yards to Jake Nesbitt to give the Fishermen the ball at the Mule 6 yardline. Three plays later, Kaino connected with Nesbitt again for a touchdown, and they connected again for a two-point conversion and 8-0 lead.
At 6:25 of the second quarter, the Mules scored on a 35-yard run by Fudge. Michael Weiler kicked the conversion for a 8-7 margin.
Another Mule fumble—they had six in the game and lost three—set up Ilwaco’s second touchdown. This time the Fishermen used a little trickery with a hook and ladder pass play: Nesbitt caught Kaino’s pass and pitched to Jordan DeSimone who ran for the touchdown with 21 seconds left in the half. Weiler knocked down Kaino’s pass on the conversion play to keep the margin at 14-7.
The Mule defense kept Ilwaco under control throughout the second half. Late in the fourth quarter Fudge passed to fullback Ty Bain for a 14-yard score. Weiler’s kick tied the game at 14-14 with 1:56 to play, and the game went to overtime.

“It was a heck of a game,” remarked Mule Coach Eric Hansen. “We did some things well. We made a lot of mistakes, but we can work on them and correct them.
“Our youth showed.”
Fudge gained 107 net yards on 17 runs. Bain picked up 73 yards on 14 runs.
The Mules had nine first downs and ran for 222 yards. They had four penalties for 40 yards and punted five times, averaging 31 yards.
On defense, Alec Sealund and Joey Mitchell led the Mules in tackles with eight. Blake Anderson, Bobby Helms, and Matt Willette each had 10, and Weiler had eight.
Eddie Knick, a highly regarded runner, led Ilwaco with 64 yards on 24 carries. Kaino passed 19 times, completing nine for 146 yards and two touchdowns. The Fishermen had 93 yards rushing and five first downs. They punted eight times, averaging 28 yards.
The Mules open Central League play this Friday at Morton. The Huskies edge the North Beach Hyaks, now coached by former Mule Coach Vic Reykdal, 26-20 last week.