Deary Gives Mullan Rest Of Game And Season Off

It took the Deary Mustangs just 17 minutes to romp past the Mullan Tigers 48-0 in a State A-4 eight-man football semifinal Saturday evening at the Kibbie Dome.

Before the fans could warm their seats, Deary was thinking about its third straight trip to the state championship game.

The Mustangs ran over, through and around Mullan. If it had been a regular-season game, the contest would have been called with 5 minutes left before halftime because of the 45-point mercy rule.

But all eight-man state playoff games can’t end until two quarters have been played.

Deary’s second-string offense fell a yard short of scoring one more TD when the horn sounded. It was Deary’s 10th victory in 10 tries - and none of the Mustangs’ games have gone four quarters.

The Mustangs will be at “home” Friday when they take on defending champion Carey (11-0) next Friday at the Kibbie Dome. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.

It’ll be the third straight year Deary and Carey meet in the state final. Deary won two years ago.

“I think that’s the toughest team we’ve played since I’ve been coaching,” said 30-year Mullan coach John Drager, whose team finished the season 8-2. “They just kicked our butts up and down the field. They’re a great football team and they’re well-coached. We tried to run, we tried to pass, we tried to do everything. What the heck.”

The domination started on the first play from scrimmage. Deary running back Aaron Workman bolted up the middle and dashed essentially untouched 65 yards for a touchdown.

He ran 77 yards for another TD and Deary led 20-0 after the first quarter.

The final score came when Galen Brown recovered a fumble and scored from 22 yards out. Drager can’t imagine there’s a better eight-man team in the state. “There’s not,” Drager said. “They’re just going to walk through state. Nobody’s going to come close to them.”

Deary 48, Mullan 0

Deary 20 28 x x - 48

Mullan 0 0 x x - 0

(Called due to 45-point mercy rule.)

D-A. Workman 65 run (pass failed)

D-J. Workman 16 pass from Holden (pass failed)

D-A. Workman 77 run (Henderson pass from Holden)

D-A. Workman 6 run (Workman run)

D-J. Workman 19 run (pass failed )

D-Henderson 69 pass from Holden (J. Workman run)

D-Brown 22 fumble return (run failed)

, DataTimes