Mullen shows balance in win over Lakewood

LAKEWOOD — Mullen spread the wealth late Friday afternoon at Jeffco Stadium.

The Mustangs grabbed a 41-6 road victory over Lakewood where Mullen had five players find the end zone in the non-league victory. Brennan Weaver, Monterey Lewis Jr., Jordan Leslie, Sonny Donati and Mason Bonner all got into the end zone to give the Mustangs a 2-game winning streak.

“We are so darn young,” Mullen coach Jeremy Bennett said. “Our key is don’t just get it to (Leslie). Try to spread it around a little bit and we did that tonight.”

Mullen started the season 0-2 with losses to Columbine and Erie. Bennett’s Mustangs have great test next Friday night at the Mustangs’ home field. Pine Creek — No. 5 in the CHSAANow.com Selection & Seeding index — take on Mullen next week.

“They (Pine Creek) is big and nasty,” Bennett said. 

Mullen had a solid first half against Lakewood getting out to a 20-0 lead at halftime.

Mullen (2-2 record) began the first-half scoring with a 49-yard touchdown pass from freshman Koa Dietrich to Weaver late in the first quarter. The Mustangs extended their lead to 14-0 early in the second quarter on a 5-yard touchdown run by Lewis. 

Dietrich hooked up with Leslie who worked his way into the end zone on a 28-yard touchdown catch to give Mullen a 20-0 lead at halftime. The senior broke a pair of tackles on the slant route and also lost his left shoe on the play.

“I’m going to have to spatter those shoes or tighten those laces,” Leslie joked about losing his shoe on the his fourth touchdown catch of the season. 

Leslie led the Mustangs in receiving last year with 25 catches for 677 yards and five touchdowns. He has almost already hit his touchdown mark from last year four games into the season even with a freshman starting at quarterback for Mullen.

“We have a lot of confidence in Koa,” Leslie said. “If we didn’t have confidence in him he wouldn’t be back there. Him and I have a good relationship.”

Mullen started the second half with a bang. Donati returned the opening kickoff 90 yards to the house to put the Mustangs up 27-0 19 seconds into the third quarter.

“It’s a team game,” Leslie said. “I’ll get mine, but it’s a team game. I want my receivers to eat.”

Leslie gave Mullen its first defensive touchdown when the senior intercepted Lakewood junior quarterback Juan Ruiz-Yazza Jr. late in the third quarter. Leslie made a leaping pick and sprinted 43 yards to the end zone to give the Mustangs a 34-0 lead with under a minute to play in the fourth quarter.

Lakewood, who were celebrating homecoming, did prevent a shutout when junior Isaiah Gray scored on a short touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter. Mullen did put in a last touchdown catch by Bonner, a sophomore.

“I like where we are at. We are just super young,” Bennett said. “When you start two freshmen on the offensive line — even if they are really good — that’s tough.”

Lakewood (0-4) will be on the road against undefeated Eaglecrest (4-0) on Thursday, Sept. 21. The Tigers will attempt to end their 20-game losing streak that dates back to the 2021 season.