In a game that may have decided
the Centennial League title, Mullen pulled ahead of Cherry Creek in the second
half with a combination of aggressive defense and a strong run game to get a
28-14 win.
After a scoreless first quarter
for both squads, Jack Elway was able to find receiver Thomas McCauley for a
fourteen-yard touchdown strike.
This second quarter score would be the only points of the first half
giving the Bruins a 7-0 intermission lead.
Wanting to even things up early
in the second half, Mullen coach Dave Logan dialed up a big play and first time
starting QB Tim Tancik hit Brannon Belloni for a seventy yard score to tie
things up. Soon after, Cherry Creek
took the lead when on a run play, Mullen running back Jonathan Gaye coughed up
the ball for no apparent reason.
Creek defender Thomas Papilion was in the right place, at the right time
and scooped the ball up for a forty-five yard fumble recovery score. Creek up 14-7.
As they did last week, in the win
against Grandview, the Mullen offensive line took it upon their big shoulders to
go get the win. Soon, freshman
Mustang runner Adonis Ameen Moore was crossing the goal line from four yards out
to tie things up. 14 to 14. At this
point the Mustangs would not look back as they scored again. This time, the Mustangs marched eighty
yards on fifteen plays and once Moore scored. With seven yard scoring run Mullen
went up 21-7.
Late in the fourth, Jack Elway
attempted to get the Bruins back in the game, but he was stripped of the ball
and Mullen recovered. This
eventually led to Moore’s final score and run of the night and brought about a
final of 28-14.
Bottom Line:
I know this is common sense and
that I’m repeating myself, but play in the trenches wins football games. For the second week in a row and with a
different running back carrying the mail, Mullen posted three second half scores
to win a big ball game. The fifteen
play eighty yard drive took any bite that was left out of the Bruins. Also, speaking of the trenches, the
Cherry Creek offensive line was unable to protect Elway who was harassed,
hurried and hit all night by the aggressive Mullen defense. For the night, Elway was sacked seven
times.
Game Ball:
I don’t know about you, but when
I was a freshman I had a hard time getting my pads on right much less taking big
carries in a big game and scoring three times while rushing for nearly 150
yards. Keep an eye on and remember
the name Adonis Ameen Moore. The
Mullen runner showed his guts running with authority in the second half after
fumbling the ball twice in the first half.
Also giving a gutsy performance was first time starter Tim Tancik. Tancik threw for just over 200 yards and
his big pass at the start of the second half got Mullen back in the game.