Marble Falls football continues high-energy practices after Midnight Madness

CAPTION: Marble Falls running back Gabriel Larranaga stays while protecting the ball as he goes under a hurdle during the Midnight Madness practice Aug. 5. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

After a midnight practice Aug. 5, the Marble Falls High School football players and coaches were back at it at sunrise Aug. 6 for the second day of training camp.

Head coach Keri Timmerman, who is in his first season with the Mustangs, noted that 140 players in grades 9-12 are in the program. He compared where the program is right now to a block of marble.

“You shave everything down and sharpen,” he said. “What can our kids handle? What are they good at? I think it’s going well. We’ve thrown a lot at the kids.”

Coaches are in the midst of evaluating the Mustangs to figure out their individual skills to put them in positions to succeed. It’s challenging because the players are learning Zimmerman’s offense, which is brand new to them. The offense is a version of the spread where multiple wide receivers line up from one sideline to the other with the quarterback in the pistol. From 2019-2023, the program utilized the slot-T offense, a run-based scheme that used misdirection to advance to the ball.

Timmerman noted the players are showing they understand where they need to be on each play. Now it’s a matter of executing it correctly.

“We’re moving fast and slowing down and moving fast when we need to,” he said. “Execution is what we’re working toward. We’re working with base stuff. We want them to be really confident in that.”

The Mustangs have about 10 quarterbacks playing high school football. Two players are vying for the varsity starting job: senior Colton Minor and junior Doak Timmerman, the coach’s son.

The head coach, who also serves as the program’s quarterback coach, noted both “are working hard.”

“We’re figuring out who’s the best kid to lead this program,” he said. “They have to put a lot on their shoulders. They’re learning. We’ve been real happy.”

The great news is that coaches will use both upperclassmen throughout the season in other positions, the elder Timmerman said. In short, the two are too good to not play, he added.

Of the 140 players in the program, 57 are freshmen and no more than 17 are seniors. Timmerman noted the fact that 57 freshmen are playing football foreshadows a goal.

“We want to get to the point where have 25-30 seniors,” he said.

He added “the freshmen have energy,” are eager to learn the playbook, and come to the field with the mindset of getting better.

“With freshmen it’s easier,” the coach said. “They kind of do what you tell them.”

And Timmerman sees those traits all over the field, no matter the age.

“I’ve seen a lot of growth,” the coach said. “They want to play fast and wide open football. Football is hard. You don’t take that many breaks. They have to feel like it’s worth it.”

As for the Midnight Madness gathering Aug. 5 that included the Marble Falls High School cheerleaders and Startlettes, the Marble Falls Athletic Booster Club, the Granite Shoals Police Department, and the Marble Falls Youth Football and Cheer, Timmerman said he’s received positive feedback. The program is looking to make it annual event, he added.

“People thought it went well,” he said. “I couldn’t tell you who was here. I heard there was good food. I didn’t feel like the kids were distracted.”

He was grateful to the adults who came, pointing out some showed up simply because they felt it was important to the players they be there.

“They look to love on kids and serve,” he said. “We had a bunch of people who showed up and wanted to be here for the kids.”

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CAPTION: Marble Falls linemen Elliot Rossbach and Thomas O’Leary work on a hand placement during a blocking drill. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro