PARKER — What a difference a year can make. Ask Ponderosa about it.
A year ago, the Mustangs got whipped by Pueblo South 35-0 on the way to a 5-6 season in which it also faced perennial Class 4A power Pine Creek in the state preliminaries and were blitzed 42-0.
On a bright, sunny Saturday afternoon at Sports Authority Stadium, the Mustangs enjoyed a different opening with a 24-0 decision of mistake-prone Pueblo South in Class 4A nonleague and seems convinced it can provide additional changes.
“We’re a small senior class, 11 of them, but they’re ones who have played and worked,” Mustangs second-year coach Jaron Cohen said. “We may not have a lot of older kids, but we have experienced kids who work. A good group.”
Ponderosa controlled the lines, struck on defense when necessary and overcame its own lethargic moments. Junior Cole Hall capped two of the Mustangs’ scoring drives with short runs in which he said his lines “powered through. We feel good about it, especially from last year. We won our (4A Plains League), but this just seems to be a different level of football.”
With points in three of the four quarters, Ponderosa also had a field goal by Jaiden Muchuca and a touchdown pass on a catch-and-run from Nick Wilson to Ryder Ghidotti.
In between and from start to finish, Ponderosa’s defense came up with plays.
Four times the Colts, who entered as the No. 9 team in the Associated Press 4A media poll, were forced to give it over on downs. They also fumbled on their opening possession, suffered another lost fumble off a short pitch and had a pass intercepted near the Mustangs’ goal line.
“We were able to bring some different players and get our athletes to the ball,” Cohen said.
Pueblo South, which also had issues with penalties, remained within range in the first half in trailing by just 10-0, but never seriously threatened to score.
Cohen, who also spent time at Liberty and Hinkley, left pleased.
“You couldn’t ask for more in Week 1,” he said.
TOP SCORES
A look at how area football teams fared in
games played last week (ranked teams in
bold):
CLASS 5A
1. Pomona 28, Valor Christian 14
2. Cherry Creek 17, Regis Jesuit 3
3. Pomona 28, Valor Christian 14
4. Grandview 29, Chaparral 12
5. Cherry Creek 17, Regis Jesuit 3
(tie) Columbine 28, Overland 0
7. Fairview 21, Grand Junction 12
8. Ralston Valley 33, Eaglecrest 27
9. Lakewood 31, Fountain-Fort Carson 21
10. Cherokee Trail 22, ThunderRidge 15
CLASS 4A
1. Pine Creek 35, Falcon 13
2. Longmont did not play
3. Pine Creek 35, Falcon 13
4. Dakota Ridge 38, Monarch 9
5. Poudre 39, Fort Collins 20
6. Loveland 36, Denver South 18
7. Legacy 35, Broomfield 31
8. Windsor 25, Roosevelt 12
9. Ponderosa 24, Pueblo South 0
10. Vista Ridge 48, Northglenn 21
CLASS 3A
1. Pueblo East 49, Coronado 0
2. Fort Morgan 47, Brush 7
3. Lewis-Palmer 29, Evergreen 24
4. Holy Family 49, Mountain View 43
5. Silver Creek 39, Discovery Canyon 29
6. Rifle 41, Moffat County 0
7. Palisade 21, The Classical Academy 6
8. Windsor 25, Roosevelt 12
9. Gilpin County 52, Lutheran 6
10. Montrose 28, Delta 7
CLASS 2A
1. Fort Morgan 47, Brush 7
2. Kent Denver 41, Gunnison 13
3. Platte Valley 30, Strasburg 7
4. Platte Valley 30, Strasburg 7
5. Faith Christian 46, Manitou Springs 32
6. Kent Denver 41, Gunnison 13
7. Eaton 52, Bennett 13
8. Bayfield did not play
9. Burlington 21, Lamar 6
10. Harrison 21, Florence 12
CLASS 1A
1. Paonia 21, Monte Vista 7
2. Buena Vista 33, Alamosa 12
3. Resurrection Christian 33, Highland 0
4. Roaring Fork 16, Meeker 14
5. Rye 42, Rocky Ford 7
6. Platte Canyon 34, Ridge View Academy 15
7. Paonia 21, Monte Vista 7
8. Cedaredge 21, Basalt 6
9. Burlington 21, Lamar 6
10. Crowley County 33, John Mall 15
8-MAN
1. Kiowa 12, Caliche 6
2. Norwood 41, Dove Creek 12
3. Dayspring Christian 64, Custer County 6
4. Granada 20, Swink 12
5. Holyoke 29, Akron 21
6-MAN
1. Arickaree/Woodlin 58, Peetz 50
2. Eads 54, Manzanola 6
3. Fleming 68, North Park 25
4. Arickaree/Woodlin 58, Peetz 50
5. Kit Carson 52, Genoa-Hugo/Karval 24
