In the mind of Cherry Creek receiver Terrance Walker and his Bruins teammates, the word "redemption" means more right now than "revenge."

Therefore, it's redemption the Cherry Creek football team seeks when the Bruins play Centennial League rival Mullen for the Class 5A state football championship at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Invesco Field at Mile High.

Mullen won the regular-season game between the perennial powers 21-7 in Week 7. The Mustangs also were victorious the two times the teams met in state championship games in 1998 and 2004.

"We're excited, and we can't wait to get on the field and play Mullen again to find some redemption," Walker said. "We didn't play as well as we could have and we certainly want a better outcome. It's not a revenge thing. They are a great team, but I think we are ready to play.

"Right now, the only thing I can say is that we are riding a wave."

And a big wave at that for the ride includes a 26-20 double-overtime victory against defending state champion Grandview in the quarterfinals and a 27-25 win against Columbine - the winning field goal came with 7 seconds left - Saturday in the semifinals.

Cherry Creek (11-2) also lost to Grandview during the regular season, a week after losing to Mullen, so it is halfway through its redemption tour.

"We know we have our hands full with Mullen," said Cherry Creek coach Mike Brookhart, who also doubles as the Bruins' boys basketball coach. "They beat us pretty good the first time and they have as good a program as there is in the state. We're excited. To play in a state championship game against a top rival is pretty special."

Mullen coach Dave Logan also cited the special nature of the rivalry as the Mustangs prepare for their third title trip to Invesco Field in four seasons. The Mustangs, too, have excelled since losing to Grandview.

"I would rather be in a situation that if you have to play a team twice, you don't like being the team that won the first game," Logan said. "I think psychologically there is an edge for the team that lost the first time. That said, you can't change it."

While Cherry Creek has had to rally in its past two playoff games, Mullen has cruised in beating Rocky Mountain (38-21) and Poudre (48-21).

"I think we have started to play our best football late in the season," Logan said. "I know Cherry Creek has. Our kids did a good job of regrouping after we lost to Grandview. We had the opportunity to start the playoffs the next week and define who we want to be and I'm proud of the way they have responded."

There is little doubt the Mullen running game has responded well throughout the season behind sophomore Adonis Ameen-Moore (1,267 rushing yards) and senior Josh Ford (1,193 rushing yards).

"Our running game has success because of the offensive line," Ford said. "Adonis and I both worked hard in the offseason and we both feed off one another as Thunder and Lighting. 'A.D.' is Thunder and I'm Lightning, but he likes to think he's lightning."

Yet Thunder aptly could describe Mullen's ace defender, Nduka Onyeali, who has 18 sacks this season and racked up three of those in the regular-season meeting.

Lightning also strikes from Cherry Creek quarterback Kain Colter, who completed 36-of-46 passes for 414 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions the past two games.

"This season has been amazing," said Colter, a junior who transferred from Boulder and has thrown for 1,525 yards and rushed for 824. "We have a balanced game with a great running back, DeVaughn Levy and receivers like T.J. Shantz and Charlie Zeller. It's going to be a great game Saturday."

Championship

Cherry Creek (11-2) vs. Mullen (11-2)

PLAYOFF ROAD

* First round: Cherry Creek 27, Ponderosa 6; Mullen 41, Fort Collins 6.

* Second round: Cherry Creek 42, Bear Creek 21; Mullen 38, Chaparral 17.

* Quarterfinals: Cherry Creek 26, Grandview 20, 2 OT; Mullen 38, Rocky Mountain 21.

* Semifinals: Cherry Creek 27, Columbine 25; Mullen 48, Poudre 21.

TROPHY CASE

* Cherry Creek: The Bruins are playing in their 15th state championship game and have won eight titles, including three in a row from 1994 to 1996.

* Mullen: The Mustangs have won five titles in seven appearances. They won three consecutive titles from 1978 to 1980.

NUMBERS GAME

* Cherry Creek: The Bruins and Mullen have met 36 times and nothing has been decided. The series is tied 18-18.

* Mullen: In playoff games, Mullen holds a edge 4-3. That includes championship wins against the Bruins in 1998 and 2004.

GAME PLAN

1 Both teams have explosive offensive attacks. The key will be which offense most effectively can control the tempo and keep the weapons of the other team on the sideline.

2 Neither quarterback turns over the ball. Cherry Creek's Kain Colter has thrown only two interceptions and Tim Tancik has only four for the Mustangs. A mistake here could be costly.

3 In the playoffs, Josh Ford and Adonis Ameen-Moore have rushed for 997 yards. They totaled 309 rushing yards in the regular-season meeting with the Bruins.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

CHERRY CREEK

RUSHING (Att.-Yds.-TDs): DeVaughn Levy 179-1,062-12; Kain Colter 169-824-13; T.J. Shantz 50-222-3.

PASSING (Com.-Att.-Yds.-TDs): Colter 117-186-1,525-34.

RECEIVING (Rec.-Yds.-TDs): Shantz 28-458-3; Austin Wilbers 23-239-4; Charlie Zeller 30-389-3; Terrance Walker 17-311-3; Kahler Billinghurst 9-86-1; Levy 8-73-0.

TACKLES: Luke Flanagan 108; Jack Heuer 98; Shantz 90; Zeller 77; Bryan Price 76; Shaun Robbins 71; Andrew Sachs 58.

SACKS: Trevor Brennan 3; Flanagan 2; Price 2; Robbins 2.

INTERCEPTIONS: Shantz 3; Zeller 2; Price 2; Robbins 2; Walker 2.

MULLEN

RUSHING (Att.-Yds.-TDs): Adonis Ameen-Moore 156-1,267-16; Josh Ford 164-1,193-16; Ryan Heagle 21-211-3; John Greer 14-176-1; Mike Harris 26-157-1.

PASSING (Com.-Att.-Yds.-TDs): Tim Tancik 77-115-1,034-8; Jonny Miller 23-53-329-4.

RECEIVING (Rec.-Yds.-TDs): Rayshon Williams 34-456-2; Ryan Hewitt 30-428-4; Brennan Belloni 25-381-3; Heagle 11-157-0.

TACKLES: Conor Healy 110; Leilon Willingham 108; Sammy Wood 102; Nduka Onyeali 100; Eric Smith 83; Mario Conte 81; James Whisenton 71; Beau Martin 71.

SACKS: Onyeali 18; Wood 11; Dalton Russell 7; Willingham 6.

INTERCEPTIONS: Smith 4; Belloni 2; Brady Daigh 2.

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