LAKEWOOD — Headlined by junior quarterback Alec Feland, Pomona used a balanced attack Friday night to erase an early deficit and cruise to a 34-12 victory over Cherry Creek.
It was the season opener for both teams, but Pomona looked in midseason form offensively at Jefferson County Stadium. Feland threw touchdown passes of 28 and 26 yards to Dominic Martinez and Mitch Colin, respectively, and Feland also scored on runs of 3 and 1 yard.
“Playing as a sophomore did wonders for him,” Pomona coach Jay Madden said of Feland, who started the final seven games in 2010. “Confidence-wise and his desire to be great really sets him apart.”
Feland finished with 296 total yards, including 244 passing on 17-of-23 accuracy.
“Always room for improvement,” Feland said. “We knew we just had to play our game.”
The Panthers, who trailed 6-0 early, led 21-6 at halftime and 34-6 early in the fourth quarter. Senior running back Dylan Carter led the ground attack with 149 yards on 24 carries.
Feland’s only mistake in the first half was a dump-off pass in the left flat early in the second quarter. Cherry Creek junior linebacker John Murphy leaped high for the interception to kill the Panthers’ drive at the Bruins’ 24-yard line.
But Creek couldn’t get much going offensively. And after a good punt that pinned Pomona at its 5-yard line, the Panthers drove the 95 yards to go ahead 21-6 with 21.8 seconds left in the half. Feland capped the drive with 3-yard TD run. Cherry Creek’s first score came on its opening drive, when the Bruins went 80 yards in nine plays. Darryl McNeil ended the drive with a 30-yard TD run.
Junior quarterback Luke Papilion amassed 44 yards on three carries in the Bruins’ opening possession but was mostly ineffective the rest of the way. He finished with 144 yards passing and 74 yards rushing.
“They’re a very mature team, and we only had one starter back on defense and it showed tonight,” Bruins coach Mike Brookhart.
Said Madden: “They’re a good team. We got them at the right time. I think late in the year they will be a team to be reckoned with.”
Cherry Creek 6 0 0 6 — 12Pomona 14 7 6 7 — 34CC — McNeil 30 run (kick failed). POM — Martinez 28 pass from Feland (Carter kick). POM — Colin 26 pass from Feland (Carter kick). POM — Feland 3 run (Carter kick). POM — Carter 8 run (kick failed). POM — Feland 1 run (Carter kick). CC — Pettis 4 run (kick failed).
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
