Panthers off to strong start in defense of title
ARVADA» As a march to the 5A state title defense embarks with a throng of new faces, Pomona’s 2018 offensive identity might have been manifesting for the better part of the past decade.
Panthers quarterback Colten Muller and allstate receiver Billy Pospisil played throwandcatch on Thursday at the North Area Athletic Complex, as Pomona ran away to a 496 win over Bear Creek — just as the tandem has been doing since pairing together as fifth graders in the Arvada Midget Football Association.
“He’s a great receiver. It’s pretty easy to throw to him and he’s open most of the time too,” Muller said of Pospisil, a Washington State commit.
That tandem, along with receiver David Ross and running back Theorius Robison, comprised an offensive attack that suggests Pomona’s statetitle unit is making a seamless transition after graduating quarterback Ryan Marquez (who is now at Wyoming) and Max Borghi (Washington State), both threeyear starters.
“It’s more about what I didn’t like,” Pomona coach Jay Madden said. “I didn’t like the fact that we had 380 yards in the first half and only 28 points to show for it. If you get 380 yards in the first half, you’ve got to score 40 points. We just kept shooting ourselves in the foot.”
Yet Pomona did show versatility, as Muller, Robison and Pospisil each scored touchdowns as part of a night that the Panthers tallied more than 500 yards.
Madden believes that behind Muller, generously listed at 6foot behind a burly offensive line with starters that are each at least four inches taller, can effectively employ a runpass option offense. Mueller’s speed allows the Panthers (20) to run an optionfirst attack, but that the explosive personnel around the senior quarterback, who made four starts last year as Marquez recovered from a broken arm, should allow him to spread the ball.