Football Week 3: Home vs. Cherry Creek

By Neil H. Devlin, Mullen Sports Information Director
Mustangs set for home opener against rival Bruins.
THIS WEEK IN MULLEN FOOTBALL

WEEK 3
: Vs. Cherry Creek Bruins

WHEN
: Friday, Sept. 13,  7 p.m.

WHERE
: Brother Bernard Kinneavy Field at De La Salle Stadium

Status:
Class 5A nonleague

Records
: Cherry Creek (2-0); Mullen (2-0)

Head coaches:
Dave Logan, 8th year with Cherry Creek; Stanley Richardson, 1st year with Mullen

History:
This used to be the premier big-school matchup dating back to the 1990s, full of Centennial League and playoff thrillers, and bursting with all-staters. Mullen has won 11 of the past 15 meetings, although the Bruins have taken the past three by an aggregate 107-31.
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Players to watch for Mullen:
7, Wilson Yee, Sr., K, 5-11, 175

10, Ben Marcoux, Sr., WR, 5-10, 175

20, Silas Daffin, LB, 6-1, 225

22, Damien Cearns, Sr., RB, 5-11, 184


53, Trevor Kirking, Sr., LB, 6-2, 240

74, Matthew Maiava, Jr., OL, 6-1, 265

75, Micah Maiava, Jr., OL, 6-0, 260

76, Michael Maiava, Jr., OL, 6-2, 250

92, Aidan Keanaaina, Sr., DL-OL, 6-3, 300

Notable
: This will be Mullen’s 861st game since first playing in 1936 in the old Parochial League. The Mustangs are 587-255-18 in their history. ...
Mullen is coming off a 44-17 pasting of Doherty. The Mustangs were so-so in the first half before erupting for a 22-point third quarter. … Cearns had a stellar game -- he turned simple short passes into 85- and 84-yard TDs, and rushed for scores on 79 and 3 yards. …

The Bruins, who lost to Valor Christian in the 2018 5A finale, hosted Santa Margarita, Calif., last week and rolled 35-10. … Cherry Creek’s QB is Julian Hammond III, grandson of the former ABA player for the Denver Rockets. ...

Mustangs senior QB Kyle Remington has 10 completions in two games (in 31 attempts) for 349 yards and three TDs. … Cearns has had consecutive 100-yard rushing games and his 325 yards puts him fifth in 5A. He also has put up 566 totals yards, 537 from scrimmage. … Yee’s three field goals
ties him for second. …

The Mullen defense was hit for 346 yards last week, but permitted only three points over the final two quarters. … Jaxon Heil was in on 13 tackles last week for Mullen, and Zaide Hoskins-Mitchell 10. Lorenzo Riley-Combs had two sacks among his three tackles for loss and the Notre Dame-bound Keanaaina, battling early season sickness, had hands in 13 stops, two for losses. …

The commitment to platooning, particularly across the fronts, has been beneficial for Mullen through two quarters. … 

Hammond has thrown for five TDs for the Bruins. Senior RB Jayle Stacks has 155 yards on the ground and James Walker 139. 

Next up for Mullen
: It will be at Regis Jesuit on Friday, Sept. 20, 7 p.m., renewing the parochial rivalry.

 
Coachspeak from Richardson

On seeing improvement from Week 1 to Week 2:

“Absolutely, we went from 17 penalties down to seven and that;s the first improvement. Then, offensively, our guys gelled a lot better. Defensively, we had some things to make adjustments on, but we got them together in the second half.”

On facing Cherry Creek, which is always powerful and a regular contender:

“From what we’ve seen, on film and in person, (the Bruins are) athletic, well-coached, they have some Division I players and that’s why they are very good. Overall, a good team and they should be one of the top teams to beat in the state.”

On the early season performance by Cearns:

“I’ve been coaching football for a long time and it’s not so often that you have guys who have special gifts. He’s one of those guys who have that knack. He’s a home-run hitter who can go the distance every time.”
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Week 3 Class 5A Schedule and Results

(Visiting teams listed first)

Thursday (all nonleague)
Castle View 27, Chaparral 20

Eaglecrest 27, Rocky Mountain 20

Cherokee Trail 21, Horizon 14

Fossil Ridge 27, Arvada West 13

Grandview 35, Mountain Vista 14

Lakewood 26, Legacy 23

Friday
Metro 10 League

Denver East vs. Adams City, 7 p.m.

Northglenn vs. Smoky Hill, 7 p.m.

Westminster vs. Prairie View,  7 p.m.

Nonleague
Fountain-Ft. Carson vs. Columbine, 4 p.m.

Poudre vs. Ralston Valley, 4 p.m.

Aurora Central vs. Overland, 7 p.m.

Boulder vs. Mountain Range, 7 p.m.

Cherry Creek vs.
Mullen, 7 p.m.

Denver South vs. Douglas County, 7 p.m.

Doherty vs. Pine Creek, 7 p.m.

Legend vs. Rock Canyon, 7 p.m.

Regis Jesuit vs. Highlands Ranch, 7 p.m.

ThunderRidge vs. Fairview, 7 p.m.

Valor Christian vs. Pomona, 7 p.m.

Saturday
Metro 10 league
Far Northeast vs. Rangeview, 2 p.m.



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