Marble Falls football emphasizing 3 keys as it welcomes Fredericksburg
CAPTION: The Marble Falls defense is facing another two-quarterback offense for the second week, which is a challenge the Mustangs may find themselves doing at least once more during District 13-4A Division I play. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro
The Marble Falls High School football team welcomes Fredericksburg at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22, to Mustang Stadium in its final tune-up before starting District 13-4A Division I play.
The Mustangs (0-4) and the Billies (0-4) are each seeking their first victory of the season. Fredericksburg has lost to Salado 45-35, Fischer Canyon Lake 52-43, Kerrville Tivy 28-12 and Wimberley 48-10.
“We’ve both played tough schedules,” Marble Falls head coach Brian Herman said. “We’re both hungry for a win.”
Fredericksburg uses two quarterbacks to run its offense. Through two games, senior Reed Spies has completed 33 of 61 passes for 544 yards, eight touchdowns and an interception and has 30 carries for 193 yards, while junior Brooks Immel has completed 26 of 52 passes for 360 yards, two scores and four interceptions and has six carries for 10 yards.
“They remind me a lot of (Kerrville) Tivy,” Herman said of the Billies. “Their offenses are very similar in scheme. Tivy used two quarterbacks. It’s two weeks of preparing against similar offenses.”
Sophomore running back Aaron Cantu has 63 rushes for 242 yards and two touchdowns and seven receptions for 122 yards and two touchdowns and junior Luke Harkleroad has 23 carries for 101 yards and a score.
Senior receiver Weston Herber has 28 receptions for 376 yards and three touchdowns.
The Fredericksburg defense is led by junior Kadin Kunz, who has 27 total tackles, junior linebacker Elijah Quay and sophomore defensive end Yair Hernandez who each have 20 tackles.
Marble Falls will counter with senior Jaime Castillo, who has 55 carries for 356 yards and two touchdowns through three games this season, sophomore Joaquin Aguilar, who has more than 30 carries for more than 230 yards and three scores, and junior quarterback Noah Luckie.
Though Tivy beat Marble Falls 34-0, the Antlers led 14-0 at the half by scoring both touchdowns with under seven minutes remaining in the second quarter.
“I praised the defense at halftime,” Herman said. “We had four giveaways and one ball break on a questionable deep ball out of bounds. It’s a catch we can’t do anything about.”
The Mustangs want to ensure Fredericksburg doesn’t start the third quarter the way Tivy did with a 15-play drive that ended in a touchdown.
“That was a blow to us,” Herman said.
One play Herman was pleased with was the fake punt to extend a drive, though the drive eventually stalled.
“It was time to get that on film,” he said. “It was executed well, it came off smoothly. It was one tackle away from being a touchdown.”
The coach said he and his staff have been emphasizing three components and how they’re intermixed to the players: belief, execution and personnel.
“They have to believe in themselves, ow you prepare in practice and mentally prepare to perform under pressure,” Herman said. “If there are people making the same mistakes for weeks, we’re going to have to make some shakeups. You’ve had four games and two scrimmages to show us what you can do. We’re looking for answers. Did you execute it the way you were coached to? Do we have the right personnel? It’s on coaches to look at execution and personnel. I keep telling (the players) how good they are. They need to go out and show it.”
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