Marble Falls, Burnet sixth-graders play for league title

CAPTION: Marble Falls defenders Austin Miller (left), Reese Butler, Tristan Moseley, Colton Thornberry and Lucas Francois celebrate after earning the first safety of the season. Butler and Francois made the tackle. Courtesy photo

The Marble Falls Youth Football and Cheer’s sixth-grade team welcomes Burnet White to Mustang Stadium to play for the Division I championship of the Hill Country Youth Football League.

The game is at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at Mustang Stadium.

Marble Falls is looking to repeat as the league champion.

Burnet advanced to the title game by beating Liberty Hill Legacy Ranch 36-0 Nov. 9 after eliminating Liberty Hill 30-9 in the first round Nov. 2.

Marble Falls beat Copperas Cove 40-8 Nov. 9 after taking care of Lampasas 44-0 Nov. 2.

The Mustangs got their running game going against Copperas Cove thanks to quarterback Charles Wood and running back Quincy Rodriguez.

“A lot of people had great runs,” head coach Nicholas Wood said.

The Mustangs did well to execute the game plan and take the lead quickly. And the coach was pleased that his athletes continued to play at a high level, which allowed coaches to give playing time to others.

“We got our backups in,” he said. “Copperas Cove is a good team.”

The Mustangs made it look easy against Copperas Cove as they steadily built the lead throughout the contest.

“Our passing game was a little off, but we could run the ball and score,” left tackle Jackson Walne said. “It’s more fun blocking. We get to go downfield and hit people.”

Right guard Luke Cox agreed.

“We get to run and hit people,” he said. “Depending on where we’re at, you can hit people as hard as you want.”

Part of what makes the line so great is how the linemen look out for each other, right tackle Cooper Laird said. They’re committed to making sure the defense doesn’t get a clean shot at the quarterback or running backs, he said.

“(Cox) helps me with so much,” he said. “We held off their (Copperas Cove’s defensive pressure) for days.”

Bottom line, they all said, the success of the unit comes down to one word.

“You have to trust them,” Cox said.

“Trust your teammates to carry you through,” Walne said.

Equally impressive was the Mustangs’ defensive unit, which has allowed only eight points in two playoff games. And against Cove, the unit contributed to the scoreboard. Outside linebacker Reese Butler and cornerback Lucas Francois recoded a safety.

Butler said being quick to where the ball is leads to success.

“You can watch the play and be fast and get to the outside,” he said. “We work as a team and we each do our jobs. Teamwork is the most important. Our work ethic is also very important.”

Francois said the key to his position is “outside containment.”

“I can’t let anything past me,” he said. “I work too hard. We’re all friends. We’re all good at keeping our eyes on the ball and getting to where we need to be.”

CAPTION: After a quick toss, running back Ayden Alexander is fast to hit the hole created the offensive line and Quincy Rodriguez (6). Courtesy photo