First half leads to outcome in Marble Falls, Lampasas football game

CAPTION: Marble Falls senior running back Jaime Castillo went past the 1,000-yard marker during the loss to Lampasas Oct. 27. Photo by Christopher Miles/Christopher Miles Photograpy

The Marble Falls High School football team lost to Lampasas 42-7 Oct. 27.

Marble Falls senior Jaime Castillo earned 1,000 rushing yards on the season during the contest. He finished with 15 rushes for 79 yards against the Badgers, all unofficial. What’s even more impressive is that he hit the mark while playing in his eighth game. He didn’t suit up for Brownwood Sept. 1.

“It takes a team, not just one,” he said.

He noted it’s a source of pride for the offensive linemen to help him gain that many yards this season.

Castillo has played every skill position on offense during the last two years. That illustrates his intelligence, memory and how physically gifted he is. But he pointed out his most valuable trait can be observed.

“The heart,” he said. “It’s all in the heart. Being able to run out there, I’m running for the community, I’m running with heart. I love playing with these guys.”

The win means the Badgers (7-2, 3-1) are in a three-way tie for first in District 13-4A Division I play with San Antonio Davenport and Burnet with one game remaining in the regular season. The Mustangs (1-8, 0-4) welcome Davenport Friday, Nov. 3.

“I knew they were really good, and they showed us,” Marble Falls head coach Brian Herman said. “We got manhandled on both sides. They did what they wanted. It was a matter of being manhandled.”

Lampasas won the coin toss and elected to receive. The Badgers scored on the game’s first offensive possession, driving 66 yards in 11 plays capped by a two-yard run by sophomore running back Jett Walker for the 7-0 lead with 7 minutes and 16 seconds left in the opening period.

After a Marble Falls punt, the Badgers needed eight plays to find the end zone on their second possession. This time freshman receiver Ty Johnson finished the drive with a five-yard scoring pass from junior quarterback Reed Jerome for the 14-0 advantage with 2:06 left to play in the first quarter. The drive covered 72 yards in eight plays.

Lampasas forced another Mustangs punt and added another touchdown. Walker finished the five-play, 71-yard drive with a nine-yard run to paydirt for the 21-0 advantage with 8:25 left in the half.

The Badgers added touchdown No. 4 by completing a 41-yard scoring drive in three plays thanks to a 28-yard pass to Johnson from Jerome for the 28-0 lead with 4:51 remaining in the second quarter.

After both teams exchanged punts, the Mustangs called for a throwing play where the intended receiver dropped the ball and didn’t fall on it. But the Badgers did. Officials ruled it a lateral pass, which meant it was a live ball, and awarded possession to Lampasas.

Jerome called his own number and ran 14 yards to paydirt for the 35-0 lead at the intermission.

The Mustangs’ lone scoring drive chewed up 6:15 and took the last bit of the third quarter and 49 seconds of the fourth period. Marble Falls went 80 yards in 14 plays that ended when Castillo scored on a five-yard run with 11:11 left in the contest.

Lampasas answered on the very next drive, covering 44 yards in eight plays thanks to a five-yard run by junior J.T. Posten with 7:30 remaining in the game for the 42-7 final.

The Badgers had 381 yards of total offense with 197 coming from their ground game and 184 from their passing game. Jerome completed 11 of 15 passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns, all unofficial. Walker had eight rushes for 70 yards and two scores, and Johnson had four catches for 52 yards and two touchdowns.

Herman said his message to his players was to “fight for their brothers.”

“I thought we played better in the second down,” he said. “They’re playing for their brothers, their families and themselves.”

He pointed out a play that exemplified that.

On a punt by senior Isaac Larranaga, the ball wnnt over the returner’s head. He turned to retrieve it and was immediately tackled by sophomore Joaquin Aguilar as he picked it up and turned to see where to run.

“That’s the perfect scenario,” the coach said. “You want your guys to flip the field.”

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CAPTION: Marble Falls sophomore Joaquin Aguilar tackles Lampasas sophomore running back Jett Walker. Photo by Christopher Miles/Christopher Miles Photography