Marble Falls football getting stronger, faster through off-season program

CAPTION: Marble Falls football coach Keri Timmerman (left) is leading the Mustangs through another offseason program. Photo by Stennis Shotts

As the University Interscholastic League’s postseason played out in November and December, the Marble Falls High School Mustangs were preparing for 2025 as they began their offseason program.

Head coach Keri Timmerman said the Mustangs started shortly after the 2024 season ended Nov. 8 and enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday before resuming the program throughout the final month of the year.

And just like their counterparts in other sports that are in season, the Mustangs honored the five-day mandatory break set by the UIL.

On Dec. 26, strength and conditioning coordinator Karl Bielfeldt posted an invitation to the Mustangs to join him in the weight room for lifting sessions that began Dec. 30. Timmerman said the two are in lockstep on creating the offseason program to help the players obtain goals for the upcoming year.

“The weight room changes our players,” Timmerman said. “We can understand the impact of the weight room. We’re pretty sound on the ideas of what I want.”

That illustrates the commitment to getting stronger that Timmerman, who also serves as the Marble Falls Independent School District athletic director, wants to see throughout the program, an emphasis that some head coaches say is a big part of the conversations with him.

“Kids are doing a good job,” Timmerman said. “Kids are showing up early and staying late. Ninety-five percent are doing exactly what we want. We have to do a lot of development; we have to.”

The junior varsity and the freshmen (7-3 record) played well throughout the 2024 season. Timmerman said he saw players who were well coached. It crossed his mind to perhaps move some of the underclassmen up to the varsity roster, but he didn’t for one reason.

“We want those kids to develop,” he said. “They love football and did a good job.”

The program has 21 seniors who will graduate in the spring who played instrumental roles during the 2024 season. Finding who will take over those positions during the next several months is imperative.

And the results of the 2024 season, where the Mustangs lost three games by a total of 15 points and had a lead over Brownwood, show the program is closer to having the finishes the players wanted, the coach said.

“I think they’re really hungry,” he said. “Our varsity group was trying to figure out a lot of things. I think our kids withstood and figured it out. I felt like our kids did everything they could. We played really good and competitive football.”

CAPTION: Marble Falls strength and conditioning coordinator Karl “Beef” Bielfeldt is opening the high school weight room this week for sessions. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro