The Mullen football team isn’t the first group to come back from Las Vegas with a better outlook on things.
Fresh off a victory over Nevada’s Shadow Ridge, the defending state champion Mustangs dominated the line of scrimmage Saturday and kept Montbello under wraps for a 27-13 Class 5A nonleague win.
The Mustangs, ranked No. 4 in The Denver Post/9News poll, backed up an impressive first-half offensive display with a swarming defense at All-City Stadium and improved to 2-1.
Playing without starting offensive lineman Chris Guarnero (one-game suspension) and running back Jarrett Hullum (ankle injury), the Mustangs turned two touchdown passes from quarterback Clint Brewster and a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown from standout Devin Aguilar into a 27-6 lead into halftime.
The Mustangs went to their bench throughout the second half, but the offense failed to pick up a first down.
“We’ve got a long ways to go,” Mullen coach Dave Logan said. “We’re a young, inexperienced bunch. We’ve improved a little bit every week in some areas.”
Brewster completed 10 passes for 126 yards, including a 50-yard strike to Aguilar on the game’s opening drive. Running back Phillip Morelli carried the ball 13 times for 127 yards – with 119 yards coming in the first half.
Montbello had plenty of chances to give the Mustangs a run, but penalties and sacks had the Warriors backpedaling.
“We’re close, but we’re not there yet,” Montbello coach Oliver Lucas said. “The great teams, again, are still distancing themselves from us.
“That’s the difference from them and us; we’ll make mistakes at crucial times.”
Quarterback Chris Smith completed 17 passes for 375 yards to lead the 10th-ranked Warriors, who dipped to 1-2. Andrew Davis had eight catches for 198 yards, including an 85-yard touchdown reception with 2:36 remaining.
Mullen’s defensive front kept the Warriors’ ground game in negative yardage overall despite 40 yards from running back Marquis Enoch.
“Basically, we wanted to make them a one-dimensional team,” Mullen senior linebacker Ricky Brewer said. “We wanted to force them to pass because our (defensive backs) can cover.”
Besides a muffed punt that set up a Montbello field goal in the first quarter, the Mustangs were nearly flawless. Mullen scored on its three first-half possessions, and Aguilar scored on his long kickoff return with 3:57 left in the first quarter to put the Mustangs ahead 14-3.
“He’s a talented kid, really,” Logan said of Aguilar. “I think he’s probably one of the top two or three receivers in the state.”
Mullen 14 13 0 0 – 27
Montbello 3 3 0 7 – 13
Mullen – Aguilar 50 pass from Brewster (Pavy kick). Montbello – Gorham FG 35. Mullen – Aguilar 97 kickoff return (Pavy kick). Montbello – Gorham FG 28. Mullen – Skene 11 pass from Brewster (kick blocked). Mullen – Morelli 4 run (Pavy kick). Montbello – Davis 85 pass from Smith (Gorham kick).
