Muleshoe football set to leap forward in 2022
Muleshoe went 1-19 in the two years previous head coach Jason Richards’ arrival. He doubled that earn complete in his first season at 2-7 just before tripling that complete previous year with a history of 6-6.
The Mules enter Year 3 in Richards’ procedure with 9 returning starters on defense, seven coming back again on offense, and possibly the best expectations they’ve experienced considering that successful point out in 2008.
This year’s seniors had been sophomores when Richards and business took above, have been by means of all of the developing pains and are prepared to acquire the upcoming step.
“We’re fairly fortuitous that we have received a whole lot of a few-yr lettermen returning,” Richards claimed. “They have a great deal of genuine working experience underneath their belt, and we may have a person of the greatest group of ability youngsters that Muleshoe has had in a while. We’re really psyched about this group.”
It all begins on defense.
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While the Mules will have to exchange center linebacker Brennen Davis (now at Eastern New Mexico) and defensive Jacob Reyes (an all-district performer), everyone else from previous calendar year is again. That incorporates Davian McMullen, who will shift in excess of from weakside linebacker to just take about Davis’ location.
“He’s had a great offseason,” Richards stated. “He is likely 1 of the ideal leaders on our total soccer group.”
All those vital skill players Richards pointed out will fill out the secondary, whilst each and every defensive lineman, sans Reyes, will be back again as well. Richards says the Mules have far more top quality depth upfront than in both of his to start with two seasons.
Although Richards raved about the ability placement gamers returning on offense, it is really that aspect of the ball where by Muleshoe has the biggest question mark. It can be a two-horse race at quarterback between junior Sebastian Kirven and sophomore Nathan Mertens. Kirven was a second team all-district restricted stop as a sophomore, even though Mertens is a good quality athlete who performed basketball and ran the 300-meter hurdles.
When the work is up for grabs, Richards anticipates that both equally will see ample actively playing time in Week 1.
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No make a difference who ends up using the bulk of the snaps this 12 months, Richards says the starter will never have to place the environment on his shoulders thanks to the enable the Mules have at critical positions.
“With the good quality of receivers that we have, they can get some force off of our youth at quarterback so he doesn’t have to do too considerably,” he claimed. “Just get the ball to individuals fellas and fantastic points are heading to take place.”
The arrow is pointing up and you can find a lot to be excited about if you are a Muleshoe lover. With that getting said, will not assume it to be a wander in the park. In addition to locating a quarterback, the Mules also have to battle through a district with powerhouses Shallowater and Bushland, an strengthening River Highway and youthful but talented Dalhart crew.
Richards has assisted navigate the Mules through the ups and downs of the previous two many years, nevertheless, and you can find reason to believe that he’ll come across a way to do it yet again this season.
No matter what comes about, assume the Mules to give it their all match in and sport out.
“Since I have been below we have performed a genuinely very good job of scheduling a tough nondistrict football timetable to consider and put together for (district enjoy),” Richards claimed. “We’re heading to have to engage in great this calendar year. We can go 10-, -10, 2-8, or 8-2. That’s how competitive our agenda is. We’re likely to have to be at our very best each individual single week.”
Muleshoe Mules
Head coach — Jason Richards
2021 file — 6-6 general, 4-1 in district
Base offense — Distribute
Base protection — 4-2-5
Previous playoff appearance — 2021
Prime returners: Davian McMullen, Sebastian Kirven, Irvin Torres, Daniel Sianez, Nic Reyes, Judas Reyes, Eliaser Cisneros, Jonathan Salinas, Uriel Vasquez, Ramzee Martinez
2022 timetable
* — denotes District 2-3A Division I match
Aug. 26 — at Littlefield, 7 p.m.
Sep. 2 — at Lamesa, 7 p.m.
Sep. 9 — vs. Friona, 7 p.m.
Sep. 16 — at Tulia, 7 p.m.
Sep. 23 — vs. Abernathy, 7 p.m.
Sep. 30 — vs. Brownfield, 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 — at Bushland*, 7 p.m.
Oct. 21 — vs. River Road*, 7 p.m.
Oct. 28 — at Shallowater*, 7 p.m.
Nov. 4 — vs. Dalhart*, 7 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo World-Information: Muleshoe soccer aiming to take the subsequent leap ahead in 2022