Marble Falls football shows offensive consistency against Leander

CAPTION: Marble Falls sophomore Joaquin Aguilar runs through the hole created by the offensive line during the scrimmage against Leander Aug. 18. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

The Marble Falls High School football team completed its 2023 pre-season schedule in a final scrimmage against Leander High Aug. 18.

Next up is the season opener against Pflugerville Connally at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25, at Mustang Stadium.

During the scrimmage, the Lions scored twice in the controlled portion of the scrimmage and twice more in the two live quarters.

Marble Falls senior Cameron Graham scored on about a 60-yard run in the final live quarter.

The Mustangs defense forced Leander to turn the ball over. Austin Cutchin and Damon Murphy each caught interceptions during the controlled scrimmage and Marble Falls forced the Lions to turn the ball over on downs during the third quarter.

Mustangs head coach Brian Herman saw plenty of positives. Top of the list is the Mustangs were able to move the offensively and had few plays that resulted in negative yards. And second, the defense was rarely fooled and located the ball carrier quickly. The Mustangs were in the right spot to make the play.

And, Herman noted, the coaches saw areas of improvement.

First, Herman wants more discipline offensively when it comes to false starts and two players in motion. Second, the Mustangs must tackle better, he said. And finally, the Mustangs must be aligned correctly.

“We have to quit getting stupid penalties,” he said. “We didn’t finish drives because we had stupid penalties.”

Offensively, the Mustangs looked solid. Senior backs Jaime Castillo and Dominic Fierro and sophomore back Joaquin Aguilar all had more positive plays than negative ones. When the Lions made a defensive adjustment to clog one of them, the other two responded on the next play and ran for positive yards to keep Marble Falls on schedule. But in an offense that must average 3.3 yards a play, a false start or a motion penalty moves the unit behind the chains and makes it more difficult to get first downs.

That was the case against the Lions. When Marble Falls earned positive yards on each play, the Leander defense was on its heels in trying to contain the Mustangs. But on downs closer to 10 yards than five yards, the Lions attacked the line of scrimmage more and were better able to get to the backfield.

Marble Falls also called for a couple of passing plays. They connected on one, missed on others.

Herman had a script of plays coaches wanted to see during the controlled portion of the scrimmage and put it away for the live quarters.

“We have to make up a lot in the next five or six days,” he said. “We have to be better. We’re capable. We have to grow up mentally. Getting three or four yards has to be continuous. We have to line up better.”

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