Faith Academy players will ensure a great season

CAPTION: Faith Academy of Marble Falls senior Cross Sanchez is one of many playmakers returning for the 2023 season. Photo by Stennis Shotts

There isn’t a reason to believe the Faith Academy of Marble Falls football won’t continue to be great in 2023 because the most important element to the program remains.

The players themselves.

Last week, athletic director Zakk Revelle announced that John Hallam is taking over as football head coach and that Stephen Shipley was moving from football head coach to football advisor.

Assistant coach Jay Silvers, who serves as the football team’s defensive coordinator and was on Shipley’s staff last season, remains. Silvers, who has been in charge of the program’s summer strength and conditioning, said he has been especially happy with what is he is seeing from those athletes, noting they are working on passing routes, coverages and “getting the basics down.”

The program is drawing athletes from each grade, and the younger ones are mixing in well with the veterans, especially on the field.

“We want them to be more prepared to handle the load,” he said.

The team is projecting to have about a dozen returners in 2023 and about four freshmen who can contribute, the coach said.

“We’ve had a move-in and a couple of other athletes who’ve been playing baseball,” he said. “We’re hoping to get around 20. That would allow us to have a junior varsity team to work with.”

Among the returners is Cross Sanchez, a speed specialist who stretches defenses and can chase down ball carriers.

“He’s a versatile rusher, and he can score,” Silvers said. “He’s going to be the core of what I hope everyone follows.”

He is hoping Drew Houy will apply what he learned as a freshman for a better second season.

“He’s just an athlete,” Silvers said. “He knows where to go, he does a good job, he knows where the ball is at. He works hard. He’ll get back up and keep going. He wants to understand what’s going on. It may take him two or three tries, but he’s in it.”

The team also will rely on Carter Fromberg and Karter Van Gundy to have huge seasons.

“They love to hit people, and we need them to do that,” the coordinator said. “Van Gundy likes to stick his nose in there and nail people. Those two work together, and they want to create chaos.”

Silvers called newcomer Nash Renfro “the wild card.”

“What is he going to bring to the table?” he said. “He’s a middle linebacker, who can rush the ball. He’s got a lot of athletic talent. It’ll be fun to see what he does.”

Every defensive coordinator wants his players to make the opponent uncomfortable, and Silvers is no different.

“I want them to create chaos,” he said. “I want them to keep the heat on, I want them to be making the decisions, not the offense. As long as they know their jobs and they do what they need to do. They can’t leave one person open, who could go to the house. We want to make sure we keep everything in front of us.”

He is equally fired up about the other side of the ball.

“I think this will be quite a team of playmakers on the offensive side,” he said. “We still have all the talent on offense. We want to implement more explosiveness. We move side to side really well.”

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