PARKER — The Mustangs ran wild.
In a 4A Metro League game against Gateway at EchoPark Stadium, No. 6 Ponderosa racked up more than 300 rushing yards in its dominant 57-19 victory. The win improves the Mustangs to 5-2 on the season, 2-0 in league play.
Leading the way for Ponderosa was senior running back Koby Kercher, who covered 131 yards and had three touchdowns on 19 carries to front the rushing attack. Senior Ethan Waite complimented at fullback, grinding out two touchdowns of his own and 52 yards on nine attempts.
The Mustangs also had a strong performance from sophomore quarterback Jack Hanenburg, who posed a threat both on the ground and through the air.
He scored his team's first touchdown on a 1-yard punch-in from the goal line in the first quarter, and added a 19-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Kolton Miller in the third.
Gateway (1-6, 1-1 ML) was actually first to score on Thursday night.
The Olympians weren't able to do anything with the game's opening drive, but their defense came through on the first play from the other side of the ball.
Junior cornerback Lanier Deruso snagged an interception near midfield and returned it 43 yards to the end zone for a pick-six that put Gateway out to a 7-0 lead.
Ponderosa claimed the next 21 points before the Olympians struck again, via a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by senior wide receiver Elijah Williams.
The Mustangs' lead proved to be too much, though, and a late 10-yard touchdown run from senior running back Alex Martinez in the fourth quarter secured their victory.
Ponderosa will next play at Aurora Central (1-5, 0-1 ML) at 6:30 p.m. next Thursday, while Gateway will travel to No. 3 Montrose (6-0, 1-0 ML) at 7 p.m. next Friday.
