Marble Falls football performs well in 1st scrimmage

CAPTION: Marble Falls senior receiver Parker Phillips runs for a first down during the scrimmage against Lago Vista Aug. 15. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

Fans got their first look at the Marble Falls High School football team during a scrimmage against Lago Vista Aug. 15.

What they saw was a group of athletes who continue to play hard and give their best effort as they learn a new offense and get used to having multiple options on the field.

After the controlled portion of the scrimmage concluded, where the offenses were guaranteed multiple plays in a row, the two teams lined up for a live quarter. The varsity scrimmage wrapped up in 90 minutes.

Head coach Keri Timmerman huddled with his players before they got ready to return to Marble Falls and told them he was proud of them.

“Where we go from here is all about us,” he told them. “I saw good things.”

The coach was more specific after the huddle broke. He pointed out Mustangs played with great effort, exhibited an understanding of each play and their roles, and did all they could to extend offensive drives and limit the Vikings offense.

“I think they were flying around,” he said.

Offensively, the Mustangs aimed to be balanced, combining the power run and the passing attack. Quarterbacks are encountering something they didn’t see during 7 on 7 during the summer — a pass rush. Some plays called for them to stay in the pocket and look for an open receiver. Other plays included a rollout where the quarterback looked downfield to make a pass and could tuck and go if no one was open. Then there were run plays for running backs and quarterbacks.

“We threw the ball well at times and threw the ball away at times,” the coach said. “We have to make sure our calls are correct.”

Defensively, the Mustangs faced an opponent that uses the triple option scheme where the quarterbacks had run-pass options and were able to complete short dinks, midrange throws and long bombs. They mixed in the run, too.

The Vikings, who went 7-5 last year and won two playoff games after finishing third in District 13-4A Division II, have a history of playing for district titles and winning multiple postseason contests, Timmerman said.

“That’s a good team,” he said. “They go two or three rounds deep every year. They run the triple option. That’s a good offense to run.”

Timmerman pointed out the scrimmage is being used as an evaluation piece to determine which Mustangs will move up to the varsity, where they can best help the program, and where they can each thrive.

The evaluation is an important piece, Timmerman noted, because it paves the way for success. That evaluation is a benefit to the players because it reveals their ability to excel in a certain position. Therefore, it can’t be rushed.

“It’s about getting kids in and getting them on film,” he said. “Who are our ones and twos? We’re working off the evaluations to get the best pieces of where people fit.”

Marble Falls welcomes Gatesville Thursday, Aug. 22, to Mustang Stadium. The subvarsities play at 5 p.m. with the varsity at 6:30 p.m.

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CAPTION: Marble Falls defenders Brody Graham (8), Raul Moran and Greg Lemon swarm to the Lago Vista Viking. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro