Ralston Valley dominates Mullen

 

Where to begin?

For Mullen coach Stanley Richardson, it started with the opening whistle … and never got any better.

In front of lively homecoming festivities, a group of faithful alumni and a crowd that filled the home stands and braved colder temperatures once the sun set, the host Mustangs were simply pounded by Ralston Valley 58-17. In a Class 5A Metro West League matchup at Brother Bernard Kinneavy Field at De La Salle Stadium, Mullen was dominated, helped dig the hole it found itself in and dropped its fifth consecutive game.

Now 2-5 overall, 0-2 in league, Richardson was blunt afterward.

“It happened early, the part we were trying to avoid,” he said, mindful of multiple woes in early portions of games during this slide. “And it started on that first drive.”

He noted that failure to get the opening kickoff into the end zone gave Ralston Valley (7-0, 2-0) the chance to do something with it, and it did – it was returned to the Mullen 48-yard line and the onslaught began. Eight plays later, RV made it 7-0.

Three plays later, Mullen’s Kyle Remington was picked off on the flat and it was returned 34 yards for a touchdown. Suddenly, it was 14-0.

A Damien Cearns 49-yard rush on first down had a chance to spark some life, but Mullen ended up punting and RV went on its second scoring drive, this one 65 yards, for a 21-0 lead. Mullen’s answer on first-and-10 from its own 10 was a fumble that went into the end zone and RV
recovered for a 28-0 lead with 1:04 to play in the opening quarter.

“Not one single thing was the problem,” Richardson said. “It was everything.”

He was correct. Even though Mullen managed a couple of scores – one was a 69-yard touchdown reception by Ben Marcoux in the final minute of first quarter that also was the team’s first 6-pointer this season in three home games; the other a 10-yard scoring catch by Cearns in the final minute of the second quarter that made it 44-14 – neither was substantially important or made RV sweat.

Before RV employed the mercy rule – it led 58-14 -- with 6:12 to play in the third quarter, there was another turnover, a blocked punt, ineffective blocking and pass coverage, a handful of penalties
that hurt, and additional deflation on the Mullen sideline.

Marcoux turned in a couple of big catches and Cearns dazzled on a few runs, but they weren’t enough and there wasn’t any help against an RV team that has made it clear it is a contender.

Richardson was dumbfounded by his team’s showing.

“All facets of the game were poor,” he said. “It’s the worst football game I’ve been a part of since I’ve been coaching. I thought we would be very, very competitive and keep it close and have a chance to win it at the end. That’s what I thought.”

No excuses, Richardson said, and there’s only one thing to do.

“The bottom line is, this is on me,” he said. “A lack of discipline, just poor execution and it has to be on me, it starts with me. We’ve got to go back to film and try to finish strong the last three games.”

Awaiting in Week 8 is always good Pomona, now 4-3, 2-0, and winner of three consecutive games. Mullen will meet the Panthers on Friday, Oct. 18, at the NAAC in Arvada.

 

Ralston Valley – Chase Wilson 3 run (Zach Levy kick), 7:57.

Ralston Valley – Dario Greco 34 interception return (Levy kick), 7:02.

Ralston Valley – Devon McNearny 17 pass from Walker Brickle (Levy kick), 1:13.

Ralston Valley – Braden Siders fumble recovery in end zone (Levy kick), 1:04 to go.

Mullen – Ben Marcoux 69 pass from Kyle Remington (Wilson Yee kick), 0:54.

Ralston Valley – J.J. Galbreath 10 pass from Brickle (kick failed), 10:23.

Ralston Valley -- Wilson 2 run (Levy kick), 9:59.

Ralston Valley – FG Levy 49, 1:42.

Mullen – Damien Cearns 10 pass from Remington (Yee kick), 0:41.

Ralston Valley – Andrew Miles 24 return of blocked punt (Levy kick), 10:23.

Ralston Valley – Ben Takata 55 pass from Brickle (Levy kick), 6:12.

Mullen – FG Aidan Lehman 33, 4:08.