2022 Season Preview: Marble Falls Faith Academy Flames
CAPTION: The 2022 Faith Academy of Marble Falls football team is manager Noah Frederick (front row, left), Kade Shaw, Carter Fromberg, Karter Van Gundy, Jadon Tarver, Andrew Houy, Beau Steele, Nathen Tarver, Sawyer Jones; assistant coach Jay Silvers (back row, left), Cross Sanchez, Clayton Garganus, Dillon Norton, Elijah Blackington, Will Lewis, Jaydon Jones, Ian Smiles, Joey Riccio, David Tatum, Zane Lewis, head coach Stephen Shipley. Courtesy photo
The Faith Academy of Marble Falls football team is reloading after a march through the playoffs of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools in 2021.
Fans can get their first look at the Flames when they welcome Austin St. Stephens in the season opener at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, at Britton Field, 3151 RR 1431 East in Marble Falls.
The Flames played for a state title a year ago with a senior class that left its mark on the school by winning district titles in football, basketball, baseball and track and field.
That class graduated in May, and head football coach Stephen Shipley is the first to say that Faith’s tradition of winning never crosses the stage and leaves with graduates.
That’s been apparent by the way the Flames have played throughout their training camp and in scrimmages where they have scored multiple times with different impactful offensive players and have crushed their opponents thanks to the ballhawks in Faith red and black.
Shipley, who serves as the offensive coordinator and play caller, was especially curious about the defense, which answered most of his questions during their final scrimmage of training camp Aug. 19 against Austin Veritas. The Flames didn’t give up a first down during the controlled portion of the scrimmage and only two scores in the live quarter.
The Flames will lean heavily on seniors Elijah Blackington, Jadon Jones, a cornerback, and Jordan Tarver, who Shipley called “the mainstay,” and junior pass rusher Kade Shaw, whose natural speed makes him ideal to fill this role. Shaw also must be in tip-top shape in order to run from sideline to sideline. Blackington can be found upfront and uses his strength and speed to zero in on the ball.
Senior Will Lewis, who is a power forward for the basketball team, is playing football for the Flames for the first time. Shipley said Lewis’ height and natural instincts as an athlete have paid dividends on the gridiron and has given coaches more options on how best to use him to cause havoc for opponents.
“He’s getting better every day,” Shipley said.
As for the offense, the players’ natural abilities will be on full display led by junior Cross Sanchez and sophomore Carter Fromberg throwing the ball, Shaw as the big-play receiver, Jones as the every-down receiver, and Blackington and Tarver as the “backs to run power.” Junior Ian Smiles and sophomore Karter Van Gundy have been splitting time at center.
Look for freshman Michael Houy to play on both sides of the ball depending on the situation and what the Flames need from him.
Shipley noted the Flames have depth, so the rotation of players will be crucial as Faith prepares for a tough pre-district schedule that includes Smoking For Jesus Ministry School, which won two state titles as members of the Texas Christian Athletic League, San Antonio Feast and Austin Veritas. The district and playoffs don’t get easier, Shipley noted, because of realignment.
The Flames will still play Round Rock Concordia, Round Rock Christian and Temple Holy Trinity in district play. But the newcomer to the district, Waco Live Oak, beat Faith for the state title in 2021.
Add in that San Marcos Academy and Fort Worth Classical, which also played for state titles last year, are now in the same region as the Flames, and Shipley believes this TAPPS division is stacked.
“Our division by far is going to be the toughest division,” he said. “Conroe Covenant, who we beat in the state semifinals the last two years, are also in the division. “
