GREENWOOD VILLAGE — The great Colorado rivalry was chosen as one of this weekend’s Great American Rivalry series on Saturday afternoon at the Stutler Bowl as television viewers were able to get a glimpse of what in-staters already knew.
Mullen is pretty darned good.
Even with a performance that was subpar in multiple areas, the Mustangs handled archrival Cherry Creek 37-15 in the Class 5A Centennial League.
Top-ranked in The Denver Post/9News 5A poll, Mullen improved to 7-0 overall, 6-0 in league. Over seven seasons, the Mustangs, the defending state champions, are 45-2 in the Centennial, which easily has produced the most Colorado winners and runners-up, and the two teams decided the 2008 title.
However, bouts of poor passing, penalties and assorted other breakdowns again pestered the Mustangs, who also weathered another determined effort by the Bruins (3-4, 2-3) they knew was coming.
“We’re happy to get a win but were sloppy, so we have to come back to work on Monday,” Mullen coach Dave Logan said. “(The Bruins) gave us a great effort. They play us too hard. I don’t care what the record is for either team, both are going to play hard. It’s just that we were sloppier than I’d like to see. It’s correctable, but that’s the fact.”
The Mustangs struggled early before backup quarterback Cyler Miles came on and sparked a 21-point binge. He was 5-for-5 with two touchdown passes. Starter Jonny Miller re-entered the game and promptly fired a 50-yarder to Josh Christen- sen for a touchdown, building a 24-0 halftime bulge.
Game MVP Rayshon Williams, a cousin of the Broncos’ Brandon Marshall, a frequent visitor to Mustangs games, had four receptions for 55 yards and scored on a 48-yard triple reverse. Adonis Ameen Moore added 146 yards rushing and a touchdown. The Mullen defense, despite permitting nearly as many points as it had the past six games (21), again was there when needed and left another impression.
“That front seven is as good as I’ve seen in a long time,” Bruins coach Mike Brookhart said. “That’s a really good football team on both sides of the ball. I’m proud of the way we competed, and we had some chances early, but you can’t give up any big plays or short fields to them.”
Mullen 3 21 0 13 — 37Cherry Creek0 0 8 7 — 15M — FG Laird 30. M — Hagen 14 pass from Miles (Laird kick). M — Whye 5 pass from Miles (Laird kick). M — Christensen 50 pass from Miller (Laird kick). CC — Colter 1 run (Colter run). M — Williams 48 run (Laird kick). CC — Bida 19 pass from Colter (Gauna kick). M — Ameen Moore 38 run (kick failed).
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
