Faith Academy football loses to Bulverde Gloria Deo
CAPTION: Faith Academy’s Carter Fromberg (12) grasps Bulverde Gloria Deo playmaker Nolan Chandler as teammate Karter Van Gundy prepares to finish the play. Photo by Stennis Shotts
The Faith Academy of Marble Falls football team lost to Bulverde Gloria Deo 34-24 in the season opener Aug. 25.
“I think we were a little indecisive,” head coach John Hallam said. “It took us awhile to get into it. The guys played well.”
The Lions led 13-12 after the opening stanza and 20-12 at the intermission. Each team scored a touchdown in the third and fourth quarter.
“Gloria Deo is a solid team,” Hallam said. “They had a couple of who had their way with us. They were defensive ends (Matthew Martin and Caleb Ross). They really whipped us physically. That happens. They were pretty impressive.”
Junior Nolan Chandler led the Lions offensively with 13 carries for 144 yards and 2 touchdowns. Junior quarterback Caleb Ross completed 9 of 18 passes for 63 yards and a touchdown and caught 2 passes for 5 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Hallam noted the Faith defense played well enough to give the team a chance at a win.
“My message to the team is I’m proud of the effort,” he said. “Defensively, we’re on a good path. It’s about details we’re not good at yet. It was the first game, and I’m happy with where we’re at defensively. I was proud of the defense. I wish I’d done some things differently and prepared things differently.”
The Flames scored on a couple of sweeps and senior Ian Smiles picked up a fumble and returned it for a touchdown. Carter Fromberg and Cross Sanchez scored touchdowns. Andrew Houy had a passing touchdown.
“The loss on any one thing was due to my decisions on offense,” Hallam said. “We’re working on making changes offensively so our playmakers can make plays.”
Hallam has maintained his goal is to empower the players to make decisions on plays based on what they see. But their uncertainty on where to go showed against the Lions. So Hallam must now put the Flames in better position to be successful, he said.
“We’re trying to build into the offense,” he said. “It takes time. I need to install things the guys are comfortable with and more familiar with.”
He emphasized the Flames are grasping his offense, so it’s not about retention. It’s about knowing what to do on each play that’s called.
“It’s just not what we’re really good at,” the coach said. “That’s what we’re trying to fix. It’s a matter of doing it fast enough.”
The Flames will focus on a road trip to Waco Texas Wind at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1.
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