MyMullen

Trip to California remains golden

9/10/2022

By Neil H. Devlin, Mullen Sports Information Director

'Stangs lose to nationally ranked Santa Margarita 63-6, but experience overrides outcome.

MISSION VIEJO, Calif. – It rained on them, they were overmatched against a nationally ranked team, they were 1,025.1 miles from home and they lost by some 57 points.

But none of the above was the point.

No, the bonding, the adventure and the experience took precedence for Mullen over the scoreboard in a 63-6 loss to Santa Margarita Catholic on Friday night in the Trinity Classic played at Saddleback College.

A trip filled with growth and discovering perspective should have a lasting effect on the Mustangs in the middle of their nonleague schedule. Now 0-3, their outlook was philosophical as opposed to regretful.

“You know what,” Mustangs head coach Jeremy Bennett said, “I can say this – every one of our kids fought. You saw it on their faces, you saw the sweat, you saw the exhaustion … and they never gave up.

“I tell these kids all the time – if we just fight and stay together, things will happen.”

The host Eagles, who have seven Division I commitments as well as the promise of more, are 4-0 and ranked No. 44 in the U.S. by MaxPreps. They also are six spots ahead of the top Colorado team, three-time defending champion Cherry Creek.

And they were every bit the California team with plenty of size, speed, depth, experience and, obviously, resources.

It was what Bennett sought in that regard.

“These kids aren’t afraid to play anybody,” the coach said.

Offensive lineman Hayden Woodruff, who will play next season at the Colorado School of Mines, has no problem living with the outcome.

“That was the most fun game of the year,” he said. “But I’m proud of everyone here. (The Eagles) were really good. ”

Wide receiver Jordan Leslie, a junior and in his first season playing for the Mustangs, said “we lost, but we lost as a team. This will just make us better.”

And for senior quarterback Kaleb Valdez-Lemos, the Thursday-through-Saturday trip, that also included rare California rain, a glimpse of some of the state’s legendary traffic on freeways and in-your-face, draining humidity that doesn’t exist in the Rocky Mountains, was superseded by the bonding, togetherness, experiencing a different area, a visit to the beach and simply getting away for a few days.

“Playing a good team like Santa Margarita,” he said, “like I said earlier, is an opportunity. (The Eagles) were legit. It’s a fun trip. We’ve got Lakewood next week. It will help us get better.”

Concerning local ties, Santa Margarita had the offspring of four former Colorado athletes -- two from Mullen football, Chester Burnett and Emmett Mosley, Class of 1993; Sean Embree; and Ted Kritza.

Said Bennett, who also passed on the mercy rule in the third quarter before mandatory implementation over the final 12 minutes: “I’m not embarrassed. We came out healthy, our kids grew and we’ll be ready for next week.”

SANTA MARGARITA 63, MULLEN 6

Mullen 0 0 6 0 – 6

Santa Margarita Catholic 28 14 14 7 -- 6t3

First Quarter

SM – Jake Foye 17 run (Mason Schuster kick), 11:19.

SM – Jaxon Potter 1 run (Blake Wilson kick), 6:45.

SM – Emmett Mosley 9 pass from Jaxon Potter (Mason Schuster kick), 4:56.

SM – Kyle Brody 5 pass from Jaxon Potter (Mason Schuster kick), 2:00.

Second Quarter

SM – Bain Eiseman 8 pass from Jaxon Potter (Blake Wilson kick), 8:44.

SM – Taurian Nash 2 run (Blake Wilson kick), 2:37.

Third Quarter