AURORA — “Zero” was the operative word Saturday night at Legacy Stadium.
“Nobody in the world likes Zero Week games,” Mullen coach Dave Logan said. “(Eaglecrest coach) Tom (Doherty) did us a favor by playing Week Zero. I know his preference and my preference would have been not to play.”
But the defending Class 5A champions had no other choice after a scheduling snafu launched Centennial League football in August. It could have waited.
The Mustangs sputtered early, leaned on their defense and erupted in the third quarter for a 39-7 victory over the Raptors, who were without their projected starting quarterback after a paperwork problem.
Mullen starting quarterback Jonny Miller threw for 143 yards and two touchdowns, and running back Adonis Ameen-Moore ran for 73 yards and two scores.
There were glimpses of good plays and good intentions on both sides, but the rust was thick. The teams combined for nine punts, one fumble, one muffed field-goal attempt and one muffed punt return — all before halftime.
The Mustangs started eight drives inside Raptor territory.
The Raptors’ defense was their only highlight. Aaron Swift and others blitzed effectively, and the secondary flew in hard to assist against the run. The Raptors twice kept the Mustangs out of the end zone in the first quarter, and forced them to punt four times in the first half.
“Our defense was awesome,” Doherty said. “I mean, our offense couldn’t have been any worse.”
Things got much better in the second half, at least for the Mustangs.
Two interceptions by Erik Smith set up two short scoring runs by Ameen-Moore. Cole Gilmore was the first player in a swarm of Mustangs to wrap up C.J. Morgan in the end zone for a safety. The Mustangs used the short field for a five-play scoring drive capped by a 13-yard pass from Miller to tight end Jordan Hagen.
The Mustangs led 33-0 in the third quarter and took out many of their defensive starters, which allowed the Raptors to mount their only scoring drive. The Raptors marched 80 yards in seven plays, with Demaje Roper scoring on a 1-yard dive.
Mullen 3 7 23 6 — 39
Eaglecrest 0 0 7 0 — 7
M — FG Laird 25. M — Williams 12 pass from Miller (Laird kick). M — Ameen-Moore 8 run (Laird kick). M — Safety, Morgan tackled in end zone by Gilmore. M — Hagen 13 pass from Miller (Laird kick). M — Ameen-Moore 1 run (Roberts kick). E — Roper 1 run (Casillas kick). M — Beekman 12 pass from Miles (kick blocked).
