Mustangs fall in D-1 battle

Sutton, who entered the post-season for the 13th time out of the past 14 years found themselves in a battle with a team, the Arapahoe Warriors, that had made the postseason 20 of the past 22 seasons Thursday, Oct. 14. The 115mile trip down Highway 6 to Arapahoe High School would prove to live up to the two teams deep playoff tradition.

It looked early that the host Warriors were going to run all over the Mustangs, as two first-quarter rushing touchdowns set Arapahoe up with a 14-0 lead, with the first score coming at the 9:33 mark of the opening quarter, when the Warriors scored on a four-yard run, taking a 7-0 lead following an extra-point kick.

Sutton failed to convert on a fourth down and two play, at their own 28-yard line with 5:13 to play in the first, setting up Arapahoe’s second score of the quarter, as the Warriors claimed the 14-point lead on a 13-yard run into the end zone for the two score lead.

Sutton then settled in offensively and steadily marched the ball down the field during the remaining four minutes of the first quarter.

When the scoreboard turned over to the second quarter, the Mustangs faced a third and six situation at the Arapahoe 14, when at the 10:33 mark of the second, Wyatt Pollet posted the Mustangs’ first score of the game, covering the 14 yards to the end zone. With an added Pollet run for the two-point conversion, Sutton trailed 14-8 and shifted the momentum, despite the Warriors scoring one more time in the first half, gaining a seven-yard touchdown run with 3:20 left in the first half to lay claim to a 21-8 halftime lead.

In the second half, after both teams traded early possessions, the Mustangs struck big, as Pollet connected with Harrison Herndon at the 8:39 mark of the third stanza for a 57-yard touchdown pass. Weston Ohrt added the two bonus points to cut the Warrior lead to just five points.

Sutton’s defense held the stout Arapahoe rushing attack out of the end zone midway through the fourth quarter, stopping the Warriors on a fourth down and goal play at the Sutton one, to give the Mustangs new life.

Four minutes after the big defensive stand, the Warriors had a big defensive stand of their own, as the Mustangs faced a fourth down and five at their own 39, but the Warriors held strong and took over the possession.

Sutton’s defense then turned in perhaps their best defensive series, holding the Warriors to just three plays with 1:31 showing on the game clock.

Sutton, after an Arapahoe punt took over on their own 15 with just 1:23 left in the game.

The Mustangs moved the ball to the Warrior 20 thanks to the Pollet to Herndon connection through the air.

But Arapahoe held strong on defense after Sutton moved the ball to the Warrior 10 with just seven seconds left in the game, and facing a fourth down and 10, at the 10.

Arapahoe held strong and hung on to win the game after a pass play failed for the Mustangs to secure the 21-16 win and move on in the D-1 Playoffs, ending Sutton’s season at 5-4.

BY THE NUMBERS

Pollet had a big night offensively for Sutton, as he accounted for 225 of the Mustangs’ 335 yards of total offense.

Pollet completed eight of 12 passes for 110 yards, while running for another 115 yards on 20 carries.

Following Pollet on the ground was Griffin Bergen with 56 yards on 18 carries, while Ohrt gained 29 yards on three carries, and Jacob Huxoll gained 20 yards on six carries. Herndon toted the ball once for five yards, as Sutton gained 225 yards on 48 carries, while Arapahoe netted 246 yards on 49 carries.

Herndon hauled in four Pollet passes for 80 yards, while Gabe Gwennap and Ohrt caught two passes, with Gwennap totaling 20 yards, and Ohrt 10.

DEFENSE LEADERS

Huxoll was in beast mode against the Warriors defensively, as the junior made 23 tackles, including 11 solo stops and 12 assists, while adding two and a half tackles for loss.

Ohrt was in on 13 tackles, five of which were solo stops, while Aidan Jones made nine tackles.

Brayden Griess made nine tackles, with Gwennap charting six stops, while Connor Hinrichs and Herndon both were in on four tackles in the season-ending loss Score by Quarters

Sutton.................................. 0 8 8 0 -16 Arapahoe............................. 14 7 0 0 -21 Sutton Arapahoe

Rush Att-Yds................48-225 49-246 Pass Comp-Att-Yds.... 8-12-110 1-2-38 Total Offense................. 335 284