Mules senior wide receiver Trevor Lovelady goes up for a catch near the end zone as the first half winds down in their 52-30 victory over Laredo United. Photo by Marvin Pfeiffer

The Alamo Heights Mules returned to the friendly confines of Orem Stadium last week and it was just what the doctor ordered. After opening their season with two straight losses to Stony Point and Clark, they hoped their match-up against Laredo United would get them back on track.

It did.

Alamo Heights came with their “A” game and looked like the team that everyone knew … the blitzkrieg offense and the unrelenting defense that Mules fans have grown accustomed to. This was vintage Mules football, although there were a few scary points along the way.

The game began on a less than auspicious note. Alamo Heights fumbled the opening kickoff and the Longhorns were on the scoreboard with a 7-0 lead five plays later with less than a minute gone off the game clock.

On the Mules next possession, quarterback Drew Allen laid motionless after a hit at the Laredo goal line and the Alamo Heights season was in question with his possible injury. They were able to come away with a 19-yard field goal by Andrew Bailey, but the major concern was Allen.

Mules backup quarterback Cullen Mills came into the game in relief and the Longhorns were awarded a safety on Alamo Heights’ next possession, as Mills tried a desperation pass out of the Mules end zone with 1:47 left in the quarter, giving Laredo United a 9-3 lead.

The tone of the game changed dramatically after Mules linebacker and team captain Ryan Murphy pounced on a Laredo United fumble at the Mules 22-yard line.

“Everyone was just running to the ball and I was the first guy there,” Murphy said. “I jumped into the pile and was able to rip the ball away. That was a big game changer right there.”

The Mules were back in control and Allen was back at quarterback. He connected with his first of six touchdowns on the night with a 20-yard scoring pass to John Cabell just two plays later, and the Mules had turned the tide for good.

Alamo Heights ended up with a season-high 52 points, and while Laredo United put up 30 of their own. Alamo Heights held United to just seven first downs and four yards rushing for the game.

For Laredo United, 170 yards of their 290 passing on the night came on two plays, a 90-yard touchdown pass from Tony Salas to Rick Velasquez on the first play of the second half and an 80-yard touchdown pass from Salas to A.J Gomes midway through the third quarter.

The Mules defense recorded one interception and two fumble recoveries as they contained the Longhorns all night. Senior defensive back Terry Anderson notched the interception and pulled in one of the fumble recoveries. He also was instrumental on special teams with several kick returns.

“When you’re a big-time player, you’ve got to step up when the spotlights on,” said Anderson. “I just gave it all I had.”

On the other side of the ball, it was a night to remember for the Mules.

Drew Allen completed 23 of 32 passes to eight different receivers for 367 yards and six touchdowns. Tyler Marshall and Kyle Flores hauled in two each, while John Cabell and Andrew Richter pulled down the other two. Sergio Acosta rounded out the Mules scoring with a two-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

“It was a great game,” Allen said. “The receivers caught the ball really well, the offensive line pass blocked really well, and the defense really stepped up. Take away two big plays and we’ve got a major blowout.”

Head coach Don Byrd was elated with the victory.

“Our kids made a lot of plays when they needed to,” Byrd said. “We took a big step forward in our passing game, starting with protection, next with the spacing of the receivers and it let Drew sit back there and make some plays.”

The Mules now have an open date this week before starting district play in their homecoming game against Clemens Sept. 26 at Orem Stadium.