Marble Falls sixth-graders repeat as league champs

CAPTION: Marble Falls quarterback Charles Wood weaves his way to the end the zone for the Mustangs’ final score of 2024. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

The Marble Falls Youth Football and Cheer’s sixth-graders defeated Burnet White 22-16 Nov. 16 to win back-to-back Hill Country Youth Football League titles.

“That’s what a rivalry game is supposed to be,” head coach Nicholas Wood said. “Those (Burnet) boys fought hard. It’s what you hope a championship would be. Those boys are super athletic. They play hard. Those coaches coach them well.”

Marble Falls got the scoring going in the first half thanks to quarterback Charles Wood hitting Elijah Sanchez for a seven-yard touchdown.

“All of our receivers put in a ton of work this season,” Charles Wood said. “They don’t get a ton of balls. They work hard in the offseason.”

The Mustangs’ next touchdown came on a play that looked like the first score. But instead they faked the throw and Wood ran about five yards up the middle to pay dirt for the 14-0 half-time lead.

The Bulldogs scored early in the fourth quarter to trim the deficit to 14-8 then successfully recovered an onside kick.

But the Mustangs forced a turnover on downs with 5 minutes and 55 seconds remaining in the contest.

Charles Wood called his number on back-to-back runs that covered about 55 yards for the 22-8 lead with 3:03 left in the game.

The Bulldogs scored a second touchdown on a slant pass to cut the deficit to 22-16.

They attempted an onside kick, but it bounced off a Mustang and into Wood’s hands with 2:29 remaining.

“I got called out to the right side on the onside kick,” Wood said. “I ended up switching sides. I was lucky I was able to fall on it.”

But Burnet forced Marble Falls to give the ball back.

Christopher Daniel sealed the outcome when he sacked the quarterback from behind and forced a fumble that Wood recovered with a minute left. Daniel was named the team’s Punisher of the Week.

“Chris did an amazing hit on the quarterback,” Charles Wood said. “I saw the ball and jumped on it.”

Charles Wood credited the linemen for the outcome, especially the team’s only score of the second half.

“I feel like our offensive line and defensive line held it down for us,” he said. “The offensive line has great leaders. I gathered everybody on the sideline and told them we’re going to have to drive down the field. The offensive line allowed us to do that.”

One key point coaches emphasized throughout the season is that just because the Mustangs won the championship a year ago, nothing is guaranteed this season.

And they knew the Bulldogs would play well in their final youth football game, too.

“You’re entitled to nothing,” coach Wood said. “Burnet isn’t going to lay over and let you have it.”

The elder Wood noted the players on both teams have friendships and are known to sit together while watching their siblings play in other sports. That illustrates the respect the players have for one another.

Marble Falls lost only once in 2024. But Nicholas Wood pointed out one big key this season was the result of winning the championship in 2023.

“Kids and parents are on the fence,” he said. “Everyone likes to be a winner. We had 17 kids last year. We had 27 kids this year. We had depth other teams didn’t. We were fresh. There’s complacency that sets in. You don’t know how good you’re going to be. The one game we lost was to a team that played for the sixth-grade A championship. Last year we didn’t have adversity. This year we had adversity, and we got going.”

CAPTION: Marble Falls Mustang Luke Cox (4) refuses to let go of the Bulldog as he teammates help finish the tackle. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro