AURORA — Harrison Chisum knows how to give a halftime speech when necessary. Just ask his Fort Morgan Mustangs.
“He definitely let us know that he wasn’t happy and we had to step it up,” junior Tate Kembel said Saturday.
And step it up they did — a 35-point second half fueled a 49-14 victory over host Vista PEAK at Aurora Public Schools Stadium to take command of the Colorado 7 League. Ranked No. 2 in the Class 3A Associated Press media poll, the Mustangs are 7-0 overall, 4-0 in league.
“This was good and kind of what we needed,” Chisum said.
The Mustangs owned the line of scrimmage and piled up 437 yards of offense, including 412 yards rushing. Kembel, who ran for 234 yards, scored four TDs.
Colorado State-bound Toby McBride and sophomore Trey McBride headed the rugged play. “I’m happy with how we did, and Vista PEAK played well,” Chisum said.
The newer Bison did for a bit, but coach John Sullivan was hoping for more late. “(The Mustangs) are a physical team. This was one of the first times our kids have been in a position to have a really meaningful game, and they wore us down,” he said. “They’re the No. 2 team in the state for a reason.”
Vista PEAK (4-3, 3-1) managed 267 yards, 183 passing by sophomore quarterback Derrick Smashum, but the Bison couldn’t keep up. Their first possession ended on downs in its own territory, leading to Fort Morgan’s first score.
Now up a game on the rest of the Colorado 7 field, with three to play, the Mustangs appear primed to make another run — they were semifinalists in 2014.
“But we can’t overlook anybody,” Kembel said.
