The Brock Eagles (13-0) powered through an experienced Muleshoe Mules (8-5) on Friday in Vernon to win 48-19 in the 3A Division I Region I Semifinals.

Muleshoe kept things close until midway through the third quarter when the Brock offense proved to be too much for the Mules to keep up with.

Brock’s offense was fast and ran the ball hard early, but Muleshoe came up with a stop on the Eagles’ opening possession.

Muleshoe couldn’t do anything with it and gave the ball back to Brock midway through the first quarter.

Brock worked the ball down field on the legs of Tyler Gray, but was stopped on third down.

The Eagles pulled off a fake punt and Toby Morrison narrowly got the first down for Brock.

Brock took advantage of the first down and scored on a 3-yard Tyler Gray scamper to go up 7-0 early.

Muleshoe’s defense continued to hold in the second quarter, and the Mules pieced together a 86-yard drive that ended in a 7-yard Dagen Dunham touchdown grab on fourth and seven to even the game at 7-7.

Brock’s offense came right back and started with solid field position after Muleshoe kicked it short.

The Eagles went back in front on a 16-yard Matthew Gray touchdown run, and Brock took a 14-7 advantage to halftime.

Muleshoe came out strong in the third quarter and scored a touchdown on its opening drive.

The Mules drove 71 yards and Dunham found the endzone for a second time on an 8-yard touchdown catch.

Muleshoe missed the extra point and Brock held a narrow 14-13 lead in the third quarter.

Brock scored on the next drive off of a 12-yard rushing touchdown by Toby Morrison.

The Eagles then attempted a two-point conversion, a shock to the crowd, and didn’t convert.

Brock’s lead halfway through the third quarter was 20-13, and the Eagles never looked back.

The Eagles’ defense focused in on Muleshoe’s offensive success and made small halftime adjustments that resulted in Brock shutting down the Mules in the last half of the game.

Brock’s offense also had more success finding space and was able to have plenty of second half success against the Mules’ defense.

“We adjusted a little bit. They were giving us a different look defensively than what we had practiced, and they were getting after it,” Brock head coach Chad Worrell said. “Coach Wood’s program over there, they have been around a long time and have tons of tradition. They were playing their tails off. We made some mistakes that killed some drives, and they had a few plays that killed some drives. We were just trying to settle them down and play Brock football.”

Brock scored two more times in the third quarter.

The Eagles scored on a 13-yard Pike Langford rushing touchdown and on a 43-yard Matthew Gray rushing touchdown.

Brock held a 34-13 lead after three quarters.

Brock senior defensive back Trent Patino intercepted Muleshoe to end the third quarter and the Eagles had the ball to start the final frame.

Patino seized an opportunity and capitalized on it to keep Brock’s momentum alive going into the fourth quarter.

“They singled me out because I’m a little bit shorter than other guys. On that pick, I knew we had time to go and they were going to throw it deep,” Patino said. “So, I jammed my guy, stayed on him and whenever I looked back the ball was there and figured, ‘why not try to go for it and make something happen.’ That’s what happened and I got lucky enough to stay in bounds with and turn it around.”

In the fourth, Muleshoe managed to score one more time.

The Mules scored on a 15-yard pass to Jason Florez.

Muleshoe attempted a fake field go on the PAT, but failed.

Trent Patino scored on the next drive for Brock on a 21-yard touchdown run to give the Eagles a 48-19 victory over the Mules.

Muleshoe was prepared for Brock, but the Eagles kept fighting until they managed to bowl over the Mules in the second half.

The Thanksgiving week changes the practice week, but provided the Eagles with the rest they needed to continue the grind.

“It’s fun being out of school, and it gives the kids a little bit of extra time just to get their legs under them,” Worrell said. “We set some goals when we came to Brock and started the program. We wanted to make the playoffs and win a district championship, number two. Number three, we wanted to play on Thanksgiving weekend. The last three years we have been fortunate enough to be able to do that. The kids really look forward to that, and it’s a special time.”

Brock’s 3A state championship defense continues next week against a familiar opponent in Wall.

“We are going to enjoy this one. We beat a good football team tonight and they are well coached and they play extremely hard,” Worrell said. “They have been around and we have a lot of respect for this program. We are going to enjoy this one for the weekend and then we are going to come in on Monday and get ready for Wall.”

Brock has now won 29 straight games.

The Eagles have faced Wall the last two seasons in the playoffs.

Brock defeated Wall 21-20 in 2014, and 45-14 in 2015.

The Eagles face Wall on Friday in the UIL 3A Div. I Region I Championship at 7:30 at Shotwell Stadium in Abilene.