As a starting linebacker, Kyle Theret cites an extra incentive in helping Mullen High School’s defensive unit stay off the field as much as possible.
Said the senior, “As a defense, we just want to get to the sideline and watch those guys play.”
“Those guys” make up Colorado’s most interesting offensive skill corps of the era, perhaps the best in decades, with victories, league titles, an impressive postseason record and college opportunities providing credentials as proof.
Five players from the Mullen offense have made Division I-A commitments. Wide receiver-returner Devin Aguilar is headed to Washington and also plans to try to make the Huskies basketball team. Quarterback Clint Brewster, son of Broncos tight ends coach Tim Brewster, is pledged to Illinois. Center-guard Shawn Daniels will become a Colorado Buffalo. Running back Phil Morelli is bound for Colorado State. And tight end Steve Watson is headed to Michigan. Watson’s father, also named Steve Watson, is a former Broncos player and current Denver receivers coach.
This fantastic five is enough to make anyone stop and watch. They’ve led the charge to 513 points in 11 games, an average of seven touchdowns, and dropped more jaws than a boxer.
“In my 33 years (as a coach) this could be the best team I’ve seen,” Chaparral coach Ed Stevens said.
Chaparral will visit Mullen for a Class 5A quarterfinal game Saturday for first-hand experience against the top-seeded Mustangs (11-0), who are nationally ranked in assorted polls and flirting with in-state history.
All five committed players will sign in February, but not before they see where the ride takes them, hoping their 2006 season ends with a victory in the Class 5A championship game on Dec. 2 at Invesco Field at Mile High.
“It’s a bunch of Bronco kids and me. Unbelievable that we have this much talent,” said Daniels, whose brother Brian also played at Mullen, is an offensive lineman at Colorado and is expected to be an NFL draft pick in April.
Morelli almost has to pinch himself, saying, “It’s special playing with these guys, really seeing what we can do as an offensive group.”
And unusual. The normal Colorado team is proud to have one big-time signee, thrilled with two, bowled over with three and nearly out of their minds with the unlikely total of four or more. The statewide Division I-A output over the past 20 years has been about three dozen per year.
Over the past five decades, most Colorado programs have seen their top- flight college talent spread over multiple years. Notable examples are Boulder, Cherry Creek, Fairview and Overland in the Centennial League over the past 30 years. Mullen, which joined the Centennial in 1990, boasted the likes of Ryan Clement, Shane Fisher and Emmett Mosley. There has been an underrated yet steady flow of talent from the Denver Prep League throughout its history, and the great Jefferson County programs from the 1960s and 1970s reaped the early benefits of suburbia.
In the city, Thomas Jefferson had more than 20 I-A signees through the mid- to late 1990s, including a high of eight in 1998 – a class that included players on both sides of the ball on a team that fell short of the team accomplishments of Mullen’s current senior class.
The Mustangs have won four consecutive championships in the heralded Centennial League and were 27-1 in league play. In the state playoffs, they have finished – in order – in the semifinals, as state champions and as 2005 state runners-up. They are 11-2 in the playoffs.
It’s heady territory. Darnell McDonald-led Cherry Creek won big-school titles from 1994-96 and 12 consecutive playoff games. Columbine won titles in 1999, 2000 and 2002, the last when quarterback Tanner Rogers was at the front of a 14-0 season to cap a stretch of 13 victories in 14 postseason games.
“They’ve always had talent,” longtime Overland head coach and former Mullen assistant Tony Manfredi said. “And now they have this.”
Call it a cross between luck and design.
“It’s a talented group, but I think their work ethic is the thing that has impressed me as much as their talent,” Mullen coach Dave Logan said. “They’ve worked really hard in the offseason to become a football team, and it’s not just those kids.”
Mullen’s five major-college prospects are complemented by speed, quickness and experience throughout the roster. The team is in position to challenge the best stretch in school annals, which involved two lower-level titles outright and a tie for another from 1978-80.
The Mustangs’ top five range from can’t-miss college success to longer-term projects.
“The games are real fun, and you can’t concentrate on just one of us,” said Aguilar, who is 6-feet-2, 180 pounds and regarded as the best athlete in the state. His acrobatic receptions and consistent ability to get open and run away from pursuit are unmatched. All-Colorado by The Denver Post as a junior, Aguilar was most valuable player of the 2005-06 basketball tournament on the championship team, and has returned as a receiver-returner his senior season with 14 touchdowns and a 27-yard average per reception.
“It doesn’t even look like he’s running fast,” Manfredi said.
Morelli has drawn comparisons to Kevin McDougal, the former versatile back at Arvada West who starred at CSU and played in the NFL. Morelli averages more than 12 yards per rush or reception. And, like McDougal, CSU’s was his only offer.
Brewster is headed to Illinois, where his father played in the 1980s. He is the only one of the five who didn’t begin his freshman season the year Logan became Mullen’s coach. Brewster arrived two years later, as a junior, enrolling from out-of-state after his father became intrigued by Mullen when recruiting Bo Scaife in 1998 for the Texas Longhorns. Scaife now plays for the Tennessee Titans.
As the quarterback, Brewster appreciates holding the keys to this race car after moving here from San Diego.
“I think we only had one (Division I-A) player,” Brewster said of his old school. “So coming here with all these talented players was a big step. I had to step up my game as well.”
Through the first round of the playoffs, Brewster had thrown only three interceptioins. Into the quarterfinals he has 22 touchdown passes and completed 65 percent of his attempts for a 13-yard average.
Meanwhile, Daniels and Watson were opposites. Daniels is a bit of a Charles Atlas story. As a freshman, he was 5-8, 180.
“They told me I got the bad genes,” Daniels said.
Now, he’s 6-3, 260.
Conversely, Watson’s dimensions – 6-4, 240 – haven’t changed dramatically. A regular since his sophomore season and a solid blocker, Watson has refined his pass-catching abilities. He has scored four touchdowns among his 24 receptions.
“It’s exciting to be a part of this; we all get along so well,” Watson said.
In last weekend’s playoffs, when the Mustangs rolled Cherry Creek 49-21, Stevens and his staff were in the stands and “we’re commenting on how they hadn’t thrown to Watson,” he recalled. “So we looked at the stats and, just like that, they threw him one for a touchdown.”
Said Morelli, “If I don’t get (the ball), Devin gets it, or Clint throws it to Steve or keeps it.”
With these five players and other talented teammates, the ball moves around.
“They’re not me-me guys,” Logan said. “They don’t need to bring attention to what they’ve accomplished. You know what? For these kids, it’s not about stats. And that’s the nice thing about it.”
CLASS 5A | QUARTERFINALS
CHAPARRAL (8-3) AT MULLEN (11-0)
With six victories in succession and advancement to the classification’s great eight, it’s the best run in 5A for Chaparral since joining in 2002. So playing the best in the class shouldn’t be unexpected. Chaparral’s power is obvious, with a front line that is clicking behind Brandon Skinner (Missouri is interested). With the loss of Julian Johnson to injury, quarterback Kawika Searle, running back Danny Laskey, slot Wade Johnson and wide receiver T.J. Gallagher have been handling the offensive load. And the defense, which held Mountain Vista to a touchdown and has permitted a 5A-low 10 points in the playoffs, is coming off a shutout of Overland. All of the above will be needed against Mullen. Colorado’s most-talented skill unit in years has Clint Brewster at quarterback, Devin Aguilar at wide receiver, Phil Morelli at running back, Steve Watson at tight end and an average of 47 points on the scoreboard. Linebacker Kyle Theret and the secondary’s Nolan Brewster bring overall athleticism to the other side of the ball, where the Mustangs also excel. Chaparral hopes to power the ball against the lighter Mustangs and keep its offense on the field as long as possible. Mullen figures to be ready – beating up the Mustangs hasn’t happened that often. And their mix of quick or long strikes has been one of their trademarks in coach Dave Logan’s four years.
DOUGLAS COUNTY (10-1) AT MOUNTAIN VISTA (10-1)
Here’s an example of why at least some of the 12 league rematches from the regular season into the third round of the bracket can be loads of fun with feeling – the visiting Huskies, the defending state champions, remain convinced they played poorly in a 7-6 loss in the Continental League that ended their winning streak at 20 games; meanwhile, the Golden Eagles knew they could do it all along and are confident they’ll do it again. Douglas County, which leads 5A in defense (linebacker Luke Diehl), has had some lethargic moments in 2006, but outscored its last three foes 113-23 behind quarterback Kieffer Garton and running back Ryan Misare. The Huskies have won 23 of their past 24 games and are eager to revisit the buzz of 2005, when they won their first title. This matchup should make it official. Conversely, Mountain Vista’s first year in 5A has been uplifting, notably a 5A-high 103 points through two rounds. The Golden Eagles opened with a rout of Horizon, then a thrilling 46-43 shootout with Thomas Jefferson that proved they can play just about any kind of game. A week ago, quarterback Danny Beck and running back Eric Longoria accounted for 445 yards and six touchdowns. The teams tied for the league title, but a chance at the semifinals is better. Neighboring schools usually make for the best rematches.
FORT COLLINS (11-0) AT BEAR CREEK (8-3)
Potentially, it’s the best game on the board because of the opportunity for the most offsetting skill-personnel and line-corps matchups. Fort Collins began the season with a handful of front-liners hoping to be backed up by quality players willing to do the dirty work. It has proved successful. Quarterback Matt Yemm, two-way back Zach Donaldson and banger Dan Byers have been some of the team leaders as the Lambkins have grown throughout their lineup. They have fared well up front, on defense and at climactic times – their two-point victory over Legacy and three-point triumph against Poudre were full of contributions. Phil Welch’s kicking has been a plus. As usual, Bear Creek has been good and bad, up and down and capable of anything. Two of its losses were by more than two touchdowns and the Bears dropped their last two regular-season games, but have been thorough through two postseason games. Jake Spitzlberger has thrown for 485 yards and five touchdowns in the playoffs, sophomore Tommy Flanagan has been emerging as one of the state’s up-and-coming, do-it-all players and the Bears’ fronts are willing to go toe-to-toe with anyone. The inclination here is to pack a lunch and plan to stay for awhile in an over-under somewhere around 75. However, the overall athleticism on defense is good enough to ensure something significantly tighter, such as in the teens. Take your pick.
COLUMBINE (10-1) AT LAKEWOOD (7-4)
It was emotional the first time. Two former rivals were reunited in a new league. It was the season opener for both teams. Lakewood moved up from 4A for the first time in 17 years. It was Columbine coach Andy Lowry’s first game against his old team. The Lakewood coach, Mark Robinson, used to be mentored by Lowry. And Lakewood won a surprising 18-3 game, a rare no-touchdown output by the Rebels. Since then, Columbine has won 10 consecutive games and the league title, and revisited its rushing and defensive ways. C.J. Gillman has stabilized at quarterback, the Rebels’ running backs can turn to any of three capable producers and tackle Ryan Miller has generated the most buzz about an in-state lineman since Loveland’s Jeff Byers in 2003. Senior- dominated, the Rebels’ leadership questions have been answered. Columbine has jumped on the backs of its 12th-graders and don’t see the ride stopping. Stopping? Lakewood owns the best upset of the expanded big-school playoffs. The Tigers knocked off third-seeded Grandview in the quarterfinals on the road. They are a season-high three games above .500 and one of 5A’s top stories. Quarterback Lawrence Montoya, running back Jarrad McKay and receiver Donnie Reed can be as good as there is this side of Mullen. Defensively, the Tigers have been outmanned several times, yet somehow compete when it counts most.
