Marble Falls football looks for leg-up in district opener

CAPTION: The Marble Falls Mustangs will rely on a sting defense committed to stop the run just like junior Thomas Valdez (left) and junior Noah Lyon. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

The Marble Falls High School football team welcomes Fischer Canyon Lake at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6, to Mustang Stadium for the District 13-4A Division I opener for both teams.

Mustangs head coach Brian Herman pointed out that studying the Hawks was like looking in a mirror.

“There’s a lot of similarities between us other than our offenses,” he said. “We both have the same record (1-4). We both played a tough non-district schedule. They look kind of beat up, and they seem to be thin like us, really on both sides of the ball. Defensively, they’ve given up a bunch of points. They’ve played bigger, better programs like we have.”

Both teams beat Fredericksburg for their only wins of the pre-district. Marble Falls won 14-9, while Canyon Lake was victorious 52-43.

Both squads have lost to state-ranked teams. Brownwood beat Marble Falls 63-7, while Wimberley defeated Canyon Lake 60-6. The Hawks have allowed a total of 253 points in five games, while the Mustangs have allowed 180.

The two also have one more important similarity, Herman said.

“We’re both undefeated in district,” he said.

That’s why he believes both squads will play their best when they meet each other, noting the Hawks are the defending district champions and had the district’s Most Valuable Player, Helijah Johnson, who graduated in 2023. He was one of several players who’s eligibility ended.

“They graduated a lot last year,” Herman said. “They’re a little bit different.”

Offensively, the Hawks utilize the Slot-T offense, just like the Mustangs, but has a tendency to throw a little more.

Junior running back Carter Williams leads Canyon Lake in rushing with 319 yards on 20 carries with four touchdowns. Senior Caden Rodriguez has 31 carries for 264 yards and two scores, while senior fullback Justin Abbott has 63 rushes for 285 yards and three touchdowns, and junior fullback James Garza has 21 carries for 120 yards and a score.

Senior quarterback Steven Crowder has completed 22 of 40 passes for 439 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions.

Junior receiver Harris Gilliam has 13 receptions for 236 yards and two touchdowns.

“They are aggressive upfront,” Herman said. “On the offensive side, they have some weapons. They (interchange) in that they jump in and out of a spread (offense). Traditionally Canyon Lake has always been a Slot-T team. They throw the ball more than a traditional Slot-T. They do it more out of a spread package. When they feel like they’re in trouble, they fall back into a Slot. “

Marble Falls will counter with seniors Austin Cutchin, Jaime Castillo, Isaac Larranaga and Dax Murphy, juniors Kole Becker and Noah Lyon, and sophomore C.J. Alexander.

In order to be utilized properly, Slot-T offensive units want to average three yards per play.

Herman believes this contest is so closely matched that errors might be huge. Therefore, he believes the squad that makes the fewest errors — and can better overcome them — will come out victorious.

“The team that wins this game will have a leg-up in the playoff chase,” he said. “We’ve been tested. We’ve played a lot of really good teams. We’re getting better each week. I think in our kids’ minds, they know they can do things. We have to do them consistently.”

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