DENVER | The Regis Jesuit football team posted a remarkable win over Cherry Creek in its season opener, but followed that up with a remarkable defeat to another rival.
The Raiders failed to put up a point Friday night against Mullen in a showdown between the parochial school powerhouses, getting held off the scoreboard for the first time in a span of 83 games, and falling 17-0 in the A-Town Game of the Week in front of a charged up crowd at Brother Bernard Kinneavy de La Salle Stadium.
Regis Jesuit had managed at least a field goal in every game dating back to a shutout loss to Overland on Sept. 4, 2009, but never got remotely near scoring against a suffocating Mustangs defense that held defending Class 5A state champion Valor Christian to just 10 points the previous week.
Coach Danny Filleman’s Raiders generated just 120 yards of total offense and only crossed midfield three times on its 10 possession in falling to 1-1.
Regis Jesuit fell behind by eight points less than two minutes into the game against the Mustangs in large part because of two bad snaps — one that went through quarterback Justin Lamb’s hands and forced a punt from its own end zone and the other a snap that punter Jarred Worrick couldn’t handle that resulted in a safety.
Mullen (2-1) tacked on another score when workhorse running back Shammond Hamilton scored from 5 yards out following the Mustangs’ recovery of a muffed punt inside the Raiders’ 10 yard-line.
Harried all night by Mullen’s active defensive front, Lamb completed just 10 of his 22 passes for 73 yards, while a ground game that was so effective the previous week finished in negative yardage. Junior Aubrey Manchel-Parker finished with 38 yards receiving and senior Quentin Birch added 37 for the Raiders.
Junior defensive back Patrick Roe picked off two passes from Mullen quarterback Dominick Depizzol and the Regis Jesuit defense hung tough in the face of a relentless running attack that saw Hamilton carry the ball 33 times for 127 yards. Depizzol hit A’Jon Vivens with a 41-yard touchdown pass on the Mustangs’ first play from scrimmage, but finished with just 81 yards passing.
Regis Jesuit returns for another A-Town Game of the Week against Rangeview at 7 p.m. Sept. 16 at Aurora Public Schools Stadium. The two Aurora programs featuring the Raiders mascot met in last season’s 5A state playoffs, with Regis Jesuit prevailing.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
MULLEN 17, REGIS JESUIT 0
Score by quarters:
Regis Jesuit 0 0 0 0 — 0
Mullen 14 0 0 3 — 17
Regis Jesuit highlights: Patrick Roe 2 interceptions; Justin Lamb 73 yards passing; Aubrey Marschel-Parker 38 yards receiving; Quentin Birch 37 yards receiving