9-3 Roundup
Warren's big play helps football win; softball loses to Falcon; solid cross-country effort in Littleton; boys soccer moves to 4-0; volleyball wins in Day 1 in Glenwood tourney.
No, Connor Warren had never scored a touchdown as a defender.
But, yes, his first will remain memorable.
The active, stout linebacker grabbed a deflection off a bad snap on Friday night and returned it for the winning score as Mullen finally got past Legend 25-21 in Class 5A nonleague at Brother Bernard Kinneavy Field at De La Salle Stadium.
Both the Mustangs and Legend have leveled their records at 1-1.
Afterward, Warren seemed to float off the field while marveling at his good fortune.
“I was in a 2-point stance, so I could see it well,” he said of the play. “I just followed it and no one blocked me. I got a good bounce and just took it and ran.”
The Mustangs had gotten within 21-18 of the Titans on a 30-yard touchdown reception by Owen Hearty from Blake Palladino and the two hooked up again on the 2-point conversion with 8:35 to play.
However, the Titans were making another move and got inside Mullen territory. Warren said the Mustangs were expecting a bad snap or two as the Titans had moved some inside personnel up front;
And they got it at just the right time.
“That was a rough drive for us, exactly what we needed,” Warren said. “We couldn’t give up the lead.”
When the snap was bobbled and tipped into the air, Warren corralled it and scored untouched.
“I was more worried about being caught than anything,” he said. “I was terrified.”
Twice Mullen had short receptions turn into lost fumbles and both led directly to scores, one that was returned for a TD in the third quarter.
But Mullen scored the game’s final 18 points, including Bryce Sohayda’s 30-yard field goal.
Earlier, Kyle Krebs opened the Mustangs’ scoring with a wide-open, 52-yard catch-and-run from Palladino.
And late, after Mullen had earned a fumble recovery and a chance to run out the clock in the final minutes, the Mustangs inadvertently fumbled it back to the Titans a couple of plays later.
Michael Brouillette snared an overthrown Titans pass deep inside Mustangs territory with 1:10 remaining to seal it.
“Thank God,” Warren said.
MULLEN 25, LEGEND 21
Legend 7 7 7 0 – 21
Mullen 0 7 3 15 – 25
First Quarter
L – Bryce Vas 17 run (Caden Smith kick), 2:45.
Second Quarter
M – Kyle Krebs 52 pass from Blake Palladino (Bryce Sohayda kick), 9:34.
L – Brecken Reiser 51 pass from Colton Warner (Caden Smith kick), 4:35.
Third Quarter
L -- Logan Braegger 32 fumble return (Caden Smith kick), 6:57.
M -- FG Bryce Sohayda 30, 0:54.
Fourth Quarter
M – Owen Hearty 30 pass from Blake Palladino (Owen Hearty pass from Blake Palladino), 8:35.
M – Connor Warren 66 fumble return (Bryce Sohayda kick), 4:42.
Softball
The Mustangs lost 6-3 to Falcon at Santo “Doc” Scavuzzo Field in nonleague.
Mullen is 5-4.
Elizabeth Brady had two hits and drove home two runs for the Mustangs. Ona Medina had the other RBI. Morgan Stewart also hit twice safely. Bella Aragon, Romie Gutierrez and Avery Walters also had hits. Brady and Gutierrez had doubles.
The Mustangs stranded nine runners.
FALCON 6, MULLEN 3
Falcon 000 122 1 -- 6 9 2
Mullen 000 001 2 -- 3 7 1
Mullen – Aragon cf 4-0-1-0, Stewart c 4-1-2-0, Brady 2b 4-0-2-2, Medina ss 4-0-0-1, Walters lf 3-0-1-0, Margeson p 4-0-0-0, Hurtado 3b 2-0-0-0, Newman 1b 1-0-0-0, Gutierrez rf 3-0-1-0, Martinez cr 0-1-0-0, Linares cr 0-1-0-0. Totals 29-3-7-3.
E – Aragon. LOB – 8. BB – Brady 2, Aragon.
2B – Brady, Gutierrez.
Pitching – Margeson (L) 7 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 8 K’s.
WP – Margeson 5.
Cross country
Mullen boys and girls were each seventh in the Arapahoe Warrior Invitational in Littleton.
Jack Tolbert finished 11th in 16 minutes, 21.30 seconds. Next for the Mustangs were Jacob Sushinsky (24th, 17:02.80), Travis Hockin (39th, 17:34.20), Owen McCarter (62nd, 17:55.70) and Diego Taboada-Cross (91st, 18:30.00).
There were 28 teams and 196 runners.
For girls, Amy O’Connell also was 11thj, 19:04.40.. She was followed by Elisa Brear (24th, 19:34.90), Kiran Van der Steen (48th, 20:18.10), Julia Brown (56th, 20:33.50) and Octavia Gomez (95th, 21:57.00).
There were 25 teams and 188 entrants.
Here is a link for full results:
https://runsignup.com/Race/
Boys soccer
The Mustangs earned a 4-0 home victory over Jefferson County’s Ralston Valley.
Mullen improved to 4-0.
MULLEN 4, RALSTON VALLEY 0
Ralston Valley 0 0 -- 0
Mullen 2 2 -- 4
Mullen goals -- Jack Sargent, Nolan Cooper, Eli Kerschen, Andrew DeBerardinis.
Mullen assists -- Alex Evans, Jaycee Campos.
Mullen saves -- Andrew McGrath 2, Mitch Ringman 2.
Volleyball
The Mustangs downed Basalt 25-12, 25-20 in the Glenwood Springs Tournament.
Mullen is 4-0.
© 2020 Mullen High School. All Rights Reserved.