A rare Saturday night game at Mullen’s Brother Bernard Kinneavy de La Salle Stadium and an even more unusual Centennial League game to open the season provided some answers for the host Mustangs as well as Class 5A newbie Cherokee Trail.
Mullen’s 29-7 victory underlined its overall athleticism, skill and returning talent and made it clear the Mustangs, who overcame a rash of mistakes, have the goods to defend their five-time hold on the league crown.
And Cherokee Trail, a 4A semifinalist in 2007 making its debut against a big-school program, has the speed and size to compete in the state’s toughest league even if it didn’t come close to scoring after its second possession.
“They’ve got ability and good athleticism, and (the Cougars) are well-coached,” Mullen coach Dave Logan said. “They’re going to be a good representative of this league, I can tell you that.
“For us, way too many mistakes early and we’ve got some inexperience at certain positions, but I thought they came out and, frankly, played harder than us. We’ll address that stuff and come out next week.”
Cherokee Trail took a 7-0 lead after one of Mullen’s early mistakes, a fumble after a reception, on a methodical 80-yard drive late in the first quarter.
However, while the Cougars had some eye-catching moments, they gradually wore down on defense and never managed to generate any other significant offensive moves.
Logan’s team began what figures to be one of those years — he rotated quarterbacks, substituted with fresh running backs, spread the ball to multiple receivers and probably found a nice surprise in place-kicker Dalton Lane, who converted three field goals.
“Until midseason, we’re going to have guys in and out because I think you give them a chance when the lights are on,” Logan said.
Mullen sophomore Adonis Ameen Moore led the way with 106 yards rushing and a touchdown behind a younger offensive line that accounted for about half of the team’s 15 penalties.
“It was the first game,” Ameen Moore said. “You’re going to have (missed assignments). I want to get them out of the way now.”
Conversely, one thing the Cougars are missing is depth.
“It’s difficult to play so many guys both ways,” Cherokee Trail coach Monte Thelen said. “It showed tonight. But we’re positive here. It’s not the ending we wanted, but we showed a lot of fight.”
Top-flight players such as Diamond Gillis, Josh Martin, Kendall Gregory-McGhee and Michael Tasker will have to do it again next weekend — the Cougars take on neighboring Grandview, the 2007 5A champion.
Cherokee Trail 7 0 0 0 — 7
Mullen 7 3 6 13 — 29
CT — Gillis 9 run (Rogers kick). M — Ameen Moore 11 pass from Tancik (Lane kick). M — FG Lane 24. M — Ford 7 run (kick blocked). M — FG Lane 32. M — FG Lane 38. M — Ford 25 run (Lane kick).
