MFYFC teams win, advance to league championship

The Marble Falls Youth Football and Cheer’s varsity (fifth- and sixth-graders) will play for the Hill Country Youth Football League championship thanks to beating Canyon Lake 31-6 Oct. 15 to remain undefeated on the season.

The Mustangs (8-0) will face Boerne in the championship at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at Lago Vista High School Stadium, 5185 Lohman Ford Road.

The Hawks, however, wouldn’t simply let their season end. They turned a Marble Falls turnover into a touchdown then recovered the ensuing onside kick. But the Mustangs held, forcing a turnover on downs.

From there, Marble Falls was unstoppable.

Fullback Dwayne Molina, a sixth-grader, ran 55 yards up the middle to paydirt for the Mustangs’ first score Then he added his second touchdown from three yards out after a 12-yard catch for a 14-6 lead.

Halfback and linebacker Diego Aguilar, a sixth-grader, scored the third touchdown on about a 20-yard run. The Mustangs added the two-point conversion for the 22-6 advantage in the third quarter.

Molina scored once more from the 16-yard line for the 28-6 lead. Marble Falls added a field goal in the fourth quarter for the win.

Center Timothy Salinas, who’s in the sixth grade, noted the line had to step up to ensure the slot-T offense operated on all cylinders.

“It was fast,” he said. “We had to get our blocks in. We actually started blocking guys instead of letting them through the line.”

Molina, who scored three touchdowns, credited the Mustangs upfront for the success.

“Our line blocked for us,” he said. “I thank God we won. We started rolling. All the offensive line blocked pretty good.”

Fullback Quincy Rodriguez, a fourth-grader, said he likes his position for the obvious reason, adding the offensive line does a great job.

“You get to run the ball,” he said. “They block and how hard they work.”

Aguilar said it wasn’t a good feeling when Canyon Lake scored.

“I was pretty mad,” he said. “But they told us to put our heads up. And we started doing good.”

He enjoys playing both positions but prefers halfback because “I get to run with the ball.”

As for the championship, Aguilar summed it up for the team.

“It would be pretty good to be able to win it,” he said.

Marble Falls freshman (first- and second-graders) 34, New Braunfels 20

Quarterback Hollis Henderson, a second-grader, scored three touchdowns and completed a two-point pass to give the Mustangs their second win of the season.

Coach Joshua Henderson said the contest illustrated one important trait throughout the season.

“From where they started to where they are now is a complete turnaround,” he said. “Some of the kids you thought were going to quit made a turnaround and are the best ones. It’s one of the reasons why we wanted to play in this game.”

Henderson said the team had athletes who played tag football, played in their backyards and some who had never played organized football before. So he was most happy to see the joy on their faces following the contest.

He chucked at the notion his players were more interested in what happens after a game than the scoreboard, adding they understand and enjoy the feeling of success.

“All they’ll talk about is the W today,” the coach said. “There’s been growth.”

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