It took until Game 6, but the Knights' first-year coach finally tasted his first victory at Heights in a 48-0 pounding of woeful Killeen Shoemaker. Heights frustrated the Grey Wolves into minus-47 yards of total offense and ended the area's longest losing streak at 11, giving the Knights a glimmer of hope in the District 12-5A race.
"It feels great," said Mullins, who spent the past six seasons at Class 3A Cameron Yoe. "It was a great win. I know they are fighting with a short stick over there and you have to give Shoemaker a lot of credit for hanging in there like they did."
Heights (1-5 overall, 1-2 12-5A) also ended a 25-game losing streak against teams other than Belton dating to 2006.
The final statistics were a colossal mismatch. Heights had 21 first downs and 257 rushing yards to Shoemaker's one first down and minus-62 yards rushing. Twelve of the Grey Wolves' 27 rushing attempts went for negative yardage, mostly because of low center snaps. Shoemaker also gave up three safeties due to off-target snaps.
"Our defense played great and they kept us in some good situations and we didn't make many mistakes tonight," said Mullins, whose team had 18 turnovers through five games but committed just one Thursday.
Said Shoemaker coach Ken Gray: "I think our defense stepped up and played well. Our offense again didn't do what we've been known for in the past. Until we get our offense going we're going to have situations like that."
Heights' Kerry Sloan ran 23 times for 160 yards and the opening two scores. He also orchestrated the one-back "wildcat" attack six times, generating 31 yards. Brandon Bullock was 8-of-12 passing for 82 yards and three touchdowns and Deandre Jones ran for 50 yards and caught two TDs.
"We had a couple different formations that we thought we could get him (Sloan) the ball," Mullins said. "He ran hard and tough like he always does. Deandre did. Bullock managed our game real well."
Injury-riddled Shoemaker (0-6, 0-3) left Thursday even more banged-up and with an eight-game losing streak.
Starting quarterback Darrien Nicholas went down with a hip flexor with 9:22 left in the third quarter and didn't return. Defensive lineman and Houston commitment Eric Braswell left in the second quarter. Receiver Romael Willis, who missed two games earlier this season with a concussion, left in the second quarter after taking a vicious crack-back block. Defensive lineman Elliot Hilliard didn't suit up.
Others who missed the game included reigning 12-5A MVP and Texas A&M commitment Jameill Showers, the quarterback who hasn't played this year after suffering a preseason collarbone injury. He will be re-examined by doctors Wednesday to see if he will be cleared to play against College Station A&M Consolidated next Friday.
Running back James Williamson suffered a season-ending ankle injury last week and Jonathon Wilson suffered a broken arm in the season opener.
"It's been our story all year," Gray said. "Every week, game in game out, we've lost some people, but that's football. You've got to come back ready to play."
Heights scored on its second possession when Sloan went in untouched from the 2-yard line. He cruised in on a 23-yard scamper on the next possession for a 14-0 lead after the first.
Jones caught two touchdown passes from Bullock in the second, and Heights got a safety when Shoemaker's long snapper launched the ball over the punter's head for a 30-0 halftime lead.
When Mullins was asked the biggest positive Heights can take into its game next Friday at Temple, he replied: "Other than the positive emotions that we're feeling right now, I think a lot of people are still in this thing and that's what we have to convince them of."
cmeister@temple-telegram.com
