'Stangs can't dance with Wolves

 

AURORA -- “It’s a little frustrating right now.”

Stanley Richardson wasn’t looking for an argument and he didn’t get one.

There was nothing to debate -- Mullen’s 42-12 loss against undefeated Grandview on Friday night certainly was effective in the frustration department and added entries in the maddening and redundant areas. As the Mustangs wrapped up their nonleague slate and reached midseason with their third consecutive loss after starting 2019 2-0, the faithful who braved Legacy Stadium’s ubiquitous winds off the Aurora Reservoir as well as the first real cool conditions of the early fall viewed some change, voluntary and otherwise, and some of the same-old.

For instance, the Mustangs head coach started freshman quarterback Kaleb Valdez-Lemos, who received on-the-job training against an always good, always pressuring Wolves defense that had him running for his health most of the evening. It didn’t help that junior center Matt Maiava went down with a knee injury on the first series.

Plus, the Mullen defense turned in a big effort for much of the game and the offense continued to struggle. This is a recording. After opening the season with 34- and 44-point efforts against lesser programs, the Mustangs have followed with 0, 21 and 12 against three of Class 5A’s undefeated teams entering Week 5. And everyone knows 5A is a scorers’ class.

Friday’s turning point was obvious. After senior lineman Aidan Keanaaina, who had another big game, recovered a fumble that led to a 25-yard Wilson Yee field goal to cut the Mullen deficit to 21-10 early in the third quarter, Grandview (5-0) had difficulty with Yee’s kickoff and had to settle for possession at its 6-yard line.

However, instead of being able to hold the Wolves on a short field and force a punt to try and climb even closer, Grandview running back Noah Schmidt, who was a riddle Mullen couldn’t solve, somehow eluded the packed-in Mullen defense, broke right and outran pursuit for a 94-yard touchdown run that was as unlikely as it was effective.

“Right there, that was the worst play on defense all night,” Richardson said. “The defense had played pretty well all night. I was proud of the defense, it hung in there and gave us opportunities and we got turnovers this week. One play did kind of do us in, though.”

It seemed to let the air out of the Mustangs.

Earlier, Jonah Villaneuba recorded an interception and the Mustangs defense forced Grandview to give it over on downs on its first possession.

Offensively, it was another story. The Mustangs front didn’t handle the Wolves’ usual rounds of pressure and stunting that were evident throughout, giving Valdez-Lemos a baptism of sorts he appreciated.

“Really,” he said, “it was very exciting (to start) and it was fast. I knew (the rush) was coming. I had to move constantly to try to make plays and keep our line confident and stay on my feet.”

Said Richardson on giving Valdez-Lemos his first start: “We were just trying to make a change to get some continuity and try to build on a different chemistry and try to get better … he had some decent plays.”

One was a pass over the middle that resulted in yet another nice catch by senior Ben Marcoux, who turned it into a 34-yard TD inside the final minute of the first half that gave the Mustangs their first real life on offense.

While it carried over briefly to the third quarter, it fizzled quickly after Schmidt’s long run. Mullen would only answer with a safety in the final seconds of the game.

The second half of the season for the Mustangs means a jump into the Metro West League as well as a more-familiar setting – while four of the team’s first five games were on the road, all nonleague, four of the five league games will be at Brother Bernard Kinneavy De La Salle Stadium.

Richardson said he and the Mustangs are looking forward to it.

“It’s to our advantage and we’re excited about playing at home with the home crowd and guys playing hard at home,” he said.

 

Grandview – Jordan Smith 35 pass from Jacob Burr (Ben Beckman kick), 4:02.

Grandview – Noah Schmidt 1 run (Beckman kick), 8:17.

Grandview – Schmidt 1 run (Beckman kick), 2:22.

Mullen – Ben Marcoux 34 pass from Kaleb Valdez-Lemos (Wilson Yee kick), 0:43.

Mullen – FG Yee 25, 9:24.

Grandview – Schmidt 94 run (Beckman kick), 9:01.

Grandview – Garrett Lippold 7 run (Beckman kick), 9:26.

Grandview – Cade Bruckman 24 interception return (Beckman kick), 2:54.

Mullen – Safety, Grandview runner tackled in end zone, 0:52.