Marble Falls football loses to the Taylor Ducks 42-26

CAPTION: The Marble Falls offense gathers during a timeout. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

Two second half touchdowns propelled the Taylor Ducks to a 42-26 win over the Marble Falls High School football team Oct. 21 that gave the Ducks their first District 13-4A Division I victory.

“Blocking and tackling — that’s the difference in the game tonight,” Mustangs head coach Brian Herman said. “We answered, we just didn’t tackle well.”

Trailing 28-19 at the half, the Mustangs (2-6, 0-3) received the opening kickoff and steadily moved down the field. The drive ended when junior quarterback Kody Smith scored on a seven-yard touchdown run when his teammates pushed him into the end zone from a yard out. The extra point was added to trim the deficit to 28-26 with 5 minutes 40 seconds left in the third period.

“We believe in them, and they responded,” Herman said. “But we needed to be consistent.”

But the Ducks (4-4, 1-2) scored the final two touchdowns starting with an immediate answer on their first drive of the second half.

By the end of the third stanza, the Ducks got the score back thanks to a passing touchdown. The key play was senior quarterback Ryan Valdez avoiding a sack on third and long. The Mustang put his arms around the Duck, but Valdez spun out of the grip and ran 20 yards for the first down that allowed the drive to continue.

Marble Falls, in an attempt to keep drives alive, had turnovers on downs and an interception in the fourth quarter. The Mustang defense didn’t allow another score until Valdez ran for a long touchdown in the final seconds for the final score.

“It’s not just one side of the ball,” Herman said. “We have to tackle better. We have to be clean on special teams.”

Valdez led the Ducks with 3 passing and 2 rushing touchdowns.

Herman noted a team meeting earlier in the week led to improved play by the Mustangs. Many sobbed and most were teary-eyed when they exited the field at Duck Stadium to return to the locker room. When the team gathered for their post-game huddle with the coach, he said he told his players that he loves them

“I love the kids’ work ethic and their fight,” he said. “I’m proud of the kids that keep fighting. We have to find a way to win, and it’s been awhile.”

FIRST HALF

The Taylor Ducks lead the Marble Falls High School football team 28-19 at halftime.

The first half featured six consecutive touchdown drives with neither offense willing to back down.

The Ducks began the scoring by marching 63 yards in eight plays capped by a 20-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Jarvis Anderson from senior quarterback Ryan Valdez for a 7-0 lead.

The Mustangs responded on their second possession, needing only four plays to tie the contest thanks to senior fullback Jasael Ruiz, who ran 18 yards to paydirt. The play finished a 78-yard drive with 4 minutes 25 seconds left in the first quarter.

Taylor regained the lead on its next drive that covered 62 yards in seven plays highlighted by a bubble screen pass to junior receiver Jacob Mikulencak that went 20 yards to the end zone for the 14-7 advantage after the first quarter.

Marble Falls answered with a 10-play, 85-yard drive that finished on a 43-yard pass to junior Jamie Castillo from junior quarterback Kody Smith. The extra point was missed so the Mustangs trailed 14-13 midway through the second quarter.

Taylor junior running Jackson Meller got the score back on a 44-yard run to cap a seven-play drive that covered 80 yards and the 21-13 lead with 5:29 left in the half.

But the Mustangs weren’t done. Smith scored the one-yard touchdown to cap an eight-play, 65-yard drive. The two-point run failed so Taylor led 21-19 with 2:05 remaining.

Anderson turned a short Valdez pass into a 67-yard touchdown for a 28-19 half-time lead.

Taylor had 296 yards of total offense to Marble Falls’ 217. Castillo had nine rushes for 61 yards and Ruiz had 12 carries for 57 yards and a touchdown.

Miller led the Ducks with five carries for 73 yards and a score. Valdez completed 4 of 9 passes for 118 yards and 3 touchdowns. Anderson caught 2 passes for 87 yards and 2 scores.

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