Mustangs hold on against Lakewood

Over 10 weeks of the 2019 regular season, Mullen footballers have lived a virtual lifetime.

“We’ve been through it all,” senior wide receiver Ben Marcoux said.

Consider:

--- The Mustangs opened the season with a shutout and followed with a 27-point victory in Colorado Springs.

--- Then the bottom fell out – despite having a chance to win at parochial-rival and still-undefeated Regis Jesuit, they went on a six-game losing streak, their first in decades. Included were a shutout loss, an scoring average of just 10 points per game and falling under the 40-point mercy rule three times. The six foes, by the way, three of which are 10-0, completed the regular season an aggregate 52-8, and outscored the Mustangs by a combined 250-60.

--- However, Mullen came alive in Week 9 by shutting out winless Arvada West (by 47-0) and capped a wild season turnaround on Friday, when it outlasted Lakewood 27-21 in dramatic fashion in the Class 5A Metro West League despite having all of one day to practice with school being cancelled for three consecutive days because of the snow. The victory pushed the Mustangs to 4-6 overall, 2-3 in league, and probably will give them a home game next weekend at Brother Bernard Kinneavy Field at De La Salle Stadium.

But more on that later …

A combined effort came with a lot to talk about from a lot of people.

“It was playoff football,” head coach Stanley Richardson said. “Mission accomplished. We were fighting through adversity and I almost cried over there. I’m really happy for the guys who did a great job collectively, and that’s the way it should be.”

Said defensive lineman Aidan Keanaaina on the strange week leading up to the game: “I have no idea how we did it. We had three days off, no practice, no contact, but I knew everyone was rested and we were all energized. Everyone on Thursday was, like, ‘I feel amazing.’ And I usually don’t.”

Ryan Hearty, a fullback-linebacker who suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 3 and didn’t return until last week, said “it’s awesome, a great turnaround for the team. It’s huge.”

And junior running back C.J. Smith, who carried the rushing load, said of the very different week: “I took it positively.”

Mullen never trailed the Tigers (5-5, 1-4) in a sticky matchup that had ebb and flow, although they kept it interesting.

The Mustangs went right down the field on the opening drive for a 6-0 lead on C.J. Smith’s first of three rushing touchdowns and upped it to 9-0 four series later on a 20-yard field goal by Aidan Lehman. But Lakewood came right back with an impressive 99-yard kickoff return for a TD by Tyson Pallatt.

Smith’s second TD and Lehman’s second field goal preceded Lakewood’s only offensive score, 33 seconds before halftime as Mullen led 19-14. It increased to 27-14 on a 4-yard run in the third quarter by Smith, but Lakewood kept at it and turned a Mustangs passing attempt on fourth-and-1 into a 59-yard interception return to get within 27-21.

And when the Tigers drove late and got to first-and-goal at the Mullen 2, it looked bleak, particularly after Lakewood somehow converted on fourth-and-31.

But a penalty, a sack by Keanaaina and two incompletions gave it over on downs to the Mustangs at the 10 with 4:17 to play. A couple of first downs later and Mullen was in victory formation.

“Our defense stopped them,” Smith said. “And when we had to run the ball, we did.”

Statistically, Mullen totaled 406 yards of offense. Smith had 106 yards rushing. Quarterback Kyle Remington was a very efficient 12-of-16 for 228 yards and was able to overcome the interception. Damien Cearns had 44 yards rushing before turning an ankle. Hearty had 32 yards rushing and three receptions for 66 yards. Marcoux had another solid game with five catches for 96 yards. And Smith added two receptions for 51 yards. The defense also had five sacks and an interception *by Vollanueba) that led to Smith’s second score.

As well, Mullen overcame multiple penalties, several involving unsportsmanlike conduct.

“We’d go two steps forward, then turn around and shoot ourselves in the foot,” Richardson said.

Said linebacker Trevor Kirking: “It was just friendly banter.”

But all was forgiven for the night. The Mustangs entered the game 15^th in RPI qualifying and Lakewood 17^th. With the top eight seeds earning first-round byes, it appears the Mustangs will get a home game next weekend. It will be confirmed on Sunday, when the bracket will be released.

“It’s crazy,” Smith said of the team’s position.

Hearty said “we can definitely make a run in the playoffs.”

Keanaaina pointed to Mullen’s up-and-down stretches and said: “I can definitely say it’s different than the first eight weeks. We have the talent and potential to do something and we need to do our best. It’s awesome and I can’t wait.”

Mullen – C.J. Smith 3 run (run failed), 9:23.

Mullen – FG Aidan Lehman 20, 0:43.

Lakewood – Tyson Pallatt 99 kickoff return (Dylan Ladd kick), 0:30.

Mullen – Smith 4 run (Lehman kick), 11:21.

Mullen – FG Lehman 30, 3:00.

Lakewood – Keondre Beauty 13 pass from Jason Duong (Ladd kick), 0:33.

Mullen – Smith 4 run (Smith run), 4:36.

Lakewood – Addison Reddinger 59 interception return (Ladd kick), 10:54.

Total plays 44 74

Total yards 194 404

Passing yards 136 228

Rushing yards 58 180

First downs 14 20

3^rd-down eff. 2-8 25% 5-12 42%

4^th-down eff. 1-2 50% 0-1 0%

Turnovers 2 1

Fumbles lost 1 0

Interceptions thrown 1 1

Penalties-yds. 6-48 10-65

 

Rushing – Smith 20-106, 14 long, 3 TDs; Cearns 8-44, 34 long; Hearty 6-32, 10 long; Krebs 2-3, 5 long; Remington 5-minus-5, 4 long.

Passing – Remington 12-16, 228 yards, 50 long, 1 Int..

Receiving – Marcoux 5-96, 29 long; Hearty 3-66, 32 long; Smith 2-51, 50 long; Brouillette 2-15, 8 long.

Tackles (T-A-S-TFL) – Heil 6-5-0-0; Hoskins-Mitchell 5-1-2-2; Keanaaina 4-2-2-3; Difeo 3-5-1-1; Hearty 2-1-1-1; Villanueba 2-4-0-0; Daffin 1-2-1-1; Kirking 0-4-0-0; Riley-Combs 2-0-0-1; Ells 1-1-0-0; Aceves 0-2-0-; Marcoux 1-0-0-0; Mann 1-0-0-0; Warren 1-0-0-0; Martinez 0-1-0-0.

Interceptions – Villaneuba.

Kickoff returns – Cearns 1-25; Smith 1-16; Hoskins-Mitchell 1-13.

Punt returns – Marcoux 2-0.

Kicking – Lehman 1-1 PAT; 2-2 FGs; 7 points.

Punting – Lehman 2-37 avg., 38 long.