Football Week 8: Away at Pomona

By Neil H. Devlin, Mullen Sports Information Director
At the NAAC, Mustangs try to halt a 5-game skid.

THIS WEEK IN MULLEN FOOTBALL

WEEK 8: Vs. Pomona Panthers

WHEN: Friday, Oct. 18,  7:30 p.m.

WHERE: North Area Athletic Conference, 19550 W. 64th Parkway, Arvada

Status: Class 5A Metro West League

Records: Pomona (4-3, 2-0); Mullen (2-5, 0-2)

Head coaches: Jay Madden, 15th year with Pomona; Stanley Richardson, 1st year with Mullen

History: Since 2004, Pomona has won five of the past seven meetings, including six-of-seven, mostly recently last year’s 48-20 blowout at Mullen. Included was a 27-24 victory by the Mustangs in the 2009 5A title game, the middle of three consecutive state titles. Pomona also beat the Mustangs 23-22 in the 2011 quarterfinals.
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Players to watch for Mullen:
 
7, Wilson Yee, Sr., K-P, 5-11, 175

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

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

42, Jaxon Heil, So., DB, 5-8, 165

44, Luke Malone, Sr., TE-DL, 6-1, 230

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

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

Notable: This will be Mullen’s 866th game since first playing in 1936 in the old Parochial League. The Mustangs are 587-260-18 in their history. ...

Mullen is coming off a 58-17 home loss against Jefferson County’s Ralston Valley, one of five big schools heading into Week 8 undefeated. … Mullen was hit for only 38 yards rushing, but gave up 288 through the air, including for three touchdowns. …

The Mustangs also were hit for an interception return for a touchdown, a fumble recovery in the end zone for a TD and had three turnovers in the game, plus a blocked punt. … Marcoux grabbed a 69-yarder for a TD and Cearns added a 10-yarder for a score. … 

Despite their five-game losing streak, the Mustangs stand 15th in RPI playoff qualifying. Twenty-four will advance to the postseason as the top eight will earn first-round byes and Nos. 9-16 will host preliminaries. A year ago, Mullen, 4-6 in the regular season, hosted Broomfield’s Legacy in a first-rounder. Pomona is a spot ahead at 14th. …

Historically, the Panthers have been based on rushing, but in the last decade or so of the Madden era they have added balance. It’s evident this year -- Pomona has rushed for 1,232 yards and thrown for 868. …

Junior Brady Ritzmann returned for the Panthers last week after missing two games and has thrown for 793 yards and eight TDs along with five interceptions. Junior Ian Dexter rushed for 111 yards and two TDs in last week’s 51-7 trouncing of Arvada West and sophomore Dominick Nichols added 100 and a TD.  

Next up for Mullen: It will host Arvada West on Friday, Oct. 25, 7 p.m., in the Metro West at Brother Bernard Kinneavy Field at De La Salle Stadium..

Coachspeak from Richardson

On keeping his team up when dealing with a five-game losing streak:  “We’ve had our best-ever week of practice, a really good week, even though we were short some kids.” 

On taking on Pomona, which is always good and a little different this season::“(The Panthers) are probably one of the best teams we’ll play this year. They’re tough, athletic and really play well together. We’ve watched them play all of the tough teams this year (so far) -- Valor, Creek and Regis, and they know how to play in a tough environment.”

On his team’s adjustments: “We’re making some and our focal point is getting our lines playing tight, and we have some challenges there. We’re trying to get more violent at the point of attack.”
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Week 7 Class 5A Schedule and Results

Thursday’s results

Front Range League

Fairview 40, Fossil Ridge 8

Rocky Mountain 56, Legacy 31

Metro East League

Cherokee Trail 30, Overland 20

Metro South League

ThunderRidge 30, Rock Canyon 6

Valor Christian 41, Mountain Vista 6

Metro West League

Lakewood 49, Arvada West 14

Metro 10 League

Prairie View 28, Mountain Range 0

Friday’s Schedule

Front Range League

Poudre vs. Horizon, 7 p.m.

Metro East League
 
Arapahoe vs. Grandview, 7 p.m.

Eaglecrest vs. Cherry Creek, 7 p.m.

Metro South League

Castle View vs. Highlands Ranch, 7 p.m.

Metro West League

Mullen vs. Pomona, 7 p.m.

Ralston Valley vs. Columbine, 7 p.m.

South League
 
Doherty vs. Regis Jesuit, 7 p.m.

Fountain-Fort Carson vs. Chaparral, 7 p.m.

Legend vs. Douglas County, 7 p.m.

Metro 10 League

Far Northeast vs. Denver East, 4 p.m.

Rangeview vs. Boulder, 7 p.m.

Smoky Hill vs. Adams City,  7 p.m.

Westminster vs. Northglenn, 7 p.m.



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