Fall '19 Preview: 'Stangs football poised for improvement

By Neil H. Devlin, Mullen Sports Information Director
New coach Richardson excited about opportunities, returning group.
(Seventh in a series of fall previews for 2019).

In the face of yet another transition for the Mullen football program, Stanley Richardson is standing tall.

The former assistant who suddenly and unexpectedly found himself in command in late May isn’t blinking.

Tom Thenell left the head-coaching position after the 2017 season. Vincent White vacated it after 2018.

Richardson is the leader in 2019 and he’s ready to rock.

“Quite frankly,” Richardson said, “we had a pretty awesome summer with OTAs, pretty intense workouts five days a week. We had about 75 kids putting in the work and it’s paying off. Guys are getting bigger, faster and stronger.”

Just 4-7 a year ago and a first-round loser in the Class 5A playoffs, the Mustangs are eager to turn it around and they have some returning experience to do it.

“We have a lot of players who saw time last year, a lot of sophomores who played,” Richardson said.

Five Mustangs return on offense and six on defense. Most important, Richardson hopes to keep a platoon system in place as players going both ways a year ago proved to be problems in multiple areas, particularly up front.

“This will give us a better chance,” Richardson said.

Of note, returning for the Mustangs is senior defensive lineman Aidan Keanaaina, a Notre Dame commit and nationally ranked prospect. He’s 6-feet, 300 pounds, and been all-league twice and All-Colorado a year ago.

“Aidan is looking forward to playing the kind of ball he can,” Richardson said.

There’s also senior running back Damien Cearns, who rushed for 688 yards and 10 touchdowns in missing three games with injury. He’s also a threat as a receiver out of the backfield.

At skill positions, there’s quarterback Kyle Remington, who saw limited time a year ago, and wide receiver Ben Marcoux.

Defensively, linebacker Ryan Hearty also will see time at fullback. The stout Trevor Kirking will handle a linebacker spot and Lorenzo Riley-Combs will play linebacker/safety. Silas Daffin is another outside linebacker. Matt Ells will see snaps at both tight end and defensive tackle.

Up front on offense, triplet transfers include Matthew, Micah and Michael Maiava, who Richardson said will handle the center and two of the guard and tackle slots, and will alternate as needed on either side of the line.

And kicking and punting will be performed between Aidan Lehman and Wilson Yee.

Richardson said he plans “a balanced attack and we’ll like to spread teams out and take what the defense gives us. If they load the box, we throw the ball. If they spread, we throw it.”

He added: “”A good first indicator for us has been that the kids are buying into what we’re doing. We’re excited.”

Mullen will open on Thursday, Aug. 29, on the road against the Far Northeast Warriors at Evie Dennis Stadium, 7 p.m. The Mustangs will follow with a road game in Week 2 at Doherty in Colorado Springs.

The home opener will be on Sept 13 against longtime-rival Cherry Creek, state runner-up in 2018.

A demanding stretch will be week 4-6, when there will be nonleague games against Regis Jesuit and Grandview before the Metro West League opener at home against Columbine on Oct. 4.

The regular-season finale will be Nov. 1 at home against Lakewood and the first round of the state playoffs Nov. 7-9.
Back