There are not many names in Douglas County lore that evoke much fear.
But for the past decade the name Diehl has brought new life to the Huskies’ football program. On Saturday the latest of the Diehl brothers, Luke, was a part of something his brothers Adam and Ross could only dream about. A state championship.
“Back then, when they played, they just decided that they just weren’t going to stand for it anymore,” Luke Diehl said of his brothers approach to turning around what was a dismal football program. “It’s all about having the right attitude, and we got it done today.”
Ross, who was a Denver Post All-Colorado selection last season, also at linebacker, is at Kansas State and was unable to attend.
Adam, a starting linebacker for Joe Glenn at Wyoming, was on hand Saturday at Invesco Field to root on his brother.
“They are just big, physical, tough guys that have a great work ethic,” said Douglas County defensive coordinator R.L. Brodey, who went to Castle Rock with head coach Jeff Ketron seven years ago and has coached all three Diehls.
“They are in the weight room all the time, and it shows on the field.”
Luke made the first of many big fourth-quarter plays on defense for Douglas County. With Mullen threatening to trim the lead to one score early in the quarter, the Mustangs faced fourth-and- goal on the 14-yard line.
After the previous play, a touchdown pass to Devin Aguilar, was wiped away by a penalty, the Huskies secondary did its job and allowed the linebackers to get pressure on quarterback Clint Brewster.
After Ryan Misare slowed Brewster down, Diehl finished the deal, sacking Brewster at the 25-yard line.
“All year long, Coach has been talking about being mentally tough, and that is where it came into play,” said Luke Diehl, who finished with 5.5 tackles, including two sacks. “We just had to suck it up and do what we had to do. It was our time.”
The bend-but-not-break mentality of the Huskies’ defensive core came to life again on Mullen’s next drive as well.
The Huskies’ “team defense” came up with an interception, again in the red zone, when Ryan Groat reeled in a pass that went off the fingertips of Steve Watson.
“When a team pushes us and gets us cornered,” Brodey said, “we just come out punching.”
MVP
Senior running back Andy Muns ran for 239 yards and scored two touchdowns Saturday as Douglas County won its first
football championship with a 35-13 victory over Mullen at Invesco Field at Mile High. On the season, Muns distinguished himself as Colorado’s premier rushing force 2,848 yards and 38 touchdowns.
