For the record, Mullen’s considerable defensive streak lasted over two calendar years, six football games and covered 3 hours, 22 minutes, 8 seconds of actual game time.
Bear Creek halted it on a 58-yard touchdown pass midway through the first quarter on Friday night, so forget about those ridiculous ideas of a big-school team actually repeating what happened for Englewood in 1937.
But that wasn’t what The Denver Post game of the week was about for the two top-ranked teams in Class 5A.
Actually, it was about the host Mustangs, who earned a 34-14 decision in front of an estimated 7,000 fans at Brother Bernard Kinneavy de La Salle Stadium, running their record to 5-0 in 2010 and withstanding another difficult foe in their Big 6 League opener.
And for the Bears, it was about their first time on Colorado’s big stage and learning firsthand that no matter how talented and skilled they are, they can’t make crucial mistakes against top-flight teams.
As it was, Mullen, top-ranked in The Denver Post/9News 5A poll, ran its winning streak to 24 games. The two-time defending state champion had a lot of its stars come out, but coach Dave Logan saw room for improvement.
“It was a tough, close game,” Logan said. “We knew they would have success; they’re well-schooled, and they attacked us differently than any of the previous four.”
True. No. 2 Bear Creek threw it 39 times and made the Mustangs chase them all over the field on a pleasant early fall evening.
But no matter what the Bears tried, they still had to deal with Mullen’s top-shelf skill and athleticism.
The Mustangs were big. Wide receiver Rayshon Williams struck first on a superior jump-and-catch that he turned into a 61-yard touchdown.
Even when Nathan Burns snatched a high one out of the air and sprinted 58 yards for a touchdown to tie it, Mullen came right back as Williams displayed his considerable versatility on a 20-yard end-around to give the Mustangs the lead for good.
Bear Creek’s first big miscue was next as a wide-open Burns in the middle dropped what would have been a sure touchdown that could have tied it.
From there, Adonis Ameen-Moore rumbled like the big back he is, going on to 201 yards and two TDs.
However, Bear Creek stayed around just enough to keep the Mustangs uncomfortable.
“Any time we get together, there are no easy games,” Logan said. Including at two other schools, Logan and the Bears’ Tom Thenell have been going at it for nearly two decades.
As for his team giving up its first points of the season, Logan said, “We knew that was going to happen.”
Realistically, senior linebacker Connor Healy said, “we expect to have a shutout every week, but we understood. We knew Bear Creek was a very good offensive team. We knew their receivers were great and quarterback was great. We knew they were going to get their plays.”
The Bears climbed to within 24-14 in the third quarter, but two interceptions, one at the their 10-yard line (by Malik McKinney) that led to a 21-7 deficit and another in the end zone (by Andrew Donahue) early in the fourth quarter, proved decisive.
Bear Creek 7 0 7 0 — 14
Mullen 14 7 6 7 — 34
M — Williams 61 pass from Miles (Baker kick). BC — Burns 58 pass from Flanagan (Dalton kick). M — Williams 20 run (Laird kick). M — Ameen-Moore 4 run (Baker kick). M — FG Laird 27. BC — Burns 53 pass from Flanagan (Dalton kick). M — FG Baker 38. M — Ameen-Moore 40 run (Laird kick).
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
