MyMullen

Mullen doesn't keep up in opener

8/28/2021

By Neil H. Devlin, Mullen Sports Information Director

Mustangs show some mettle, but drops a 35-24 decision to host Cherokee Trail; big pass plays decide the 5A nonleaguer.

AURORA -- For openers, head coach Jeremy Bennett saw a lot to like about his Mullen Mustangs.

There just wasn’t enough of it to begin 2021 with a victory.

The Mustangs gave up too many big plays on Friday night to fall to Cherokee Trail 35-24 in Class 5A nonleague at a quite crowded Legacy Stadium.

Mullen was hit with five touchdown passes, only one shorter than 43 yards, and the long strikes decided the outcome.

“Yeah, they did,” Bennett said. “We were out of position. The coverage was the right coverage and the kids just wanted to be aggressive and come up when they should have stayed back, but (the Cougars are) a good football team and they made some good plays.”

Chances were there for the Mustangs, who couldn’t hold leads of 17-6 and 24-21.

“We’ve got to learn how to win, learn to finish, learn to push through,” Bennett said.

Mullen didn’t blink after giving up a 66-yard touchdown pass less than 2 minutes into it. While lightning periodically peppered nearby Aurora Reservoir on a relatively calm, pleasant evening, the Mustangs responded with a 12-yard Blake Palladino-to-Kyle Krebs scoring pass, a 2-yard scoring run by Krebs and a 30-yard field goal by Bryce Sohayda, who was impressive, notably on kickoffs.

However, the Cougars continued to strike regularly and from distance, turning shorter passes into long catch-and-runs. They took a 21-17 halftime lead, responded when Mullen led 24-21 and were good enough on defense to hang on down the stretch.

Overall, Bennett cited the running of Krebs and improved play from Palladino, a sophomore. Plus, the Mullen fronts fared well, there were assorted moments during returns, Michael Brouillette grabbed an interception, there appears to be talent and depth at running back and Jaxon Heil, on a third-quarter rush, rolled over a would-be tackler, never touched the ground after impact and intelligently kept running for a 43-yard TD. It accounted for Mullen’s final lead, 9:47 to go in the third quarter.

“That was great, a head’s-up play,” Bennett remarked.

No points over the final 21-plus minutes hurt, he knows, as 5A is a scorers’ classification.

“This one stings a bit,” Bennett said. “We know we’re better than 35-24. I’m not happy because we didn’t win, but, again, we saw some good things. We just made a few mistakes.”

They can address their miscues and early tinkering on familiar turf -- Mullen’s next eight games will be at home, Brother Bernard Kinneavy Field at De La Salle Stadium.

CHEROKEE TRAIL 35, MULLEN 24

Mullen 14 3 7 0 -- 24

Cherokee Trail 6 15 7 7 -- 35

First Quarter

CT – Jack Pierce 66 pass from Logan Brook (kick failed), 10:40.

M – Kyle Krebs 12 pass from Blake Palladino (Bryce Sohayda kick), 7:02.

M – Kyle Krebs 2 run (Bryce Sohayda kick), 1:10.

Second Quarter

M – FG Bryce Sohayda 30, 9:52.

CT – Kaelen Bing 17 pass from Logan Brook (Logan Brook run), 7:16.

CT – Gage Gordon 47 pass from Logan Brook (Nathan Gilmore kick), 4:16.

Third Quarter