Featured Football High School 

Smoking For Jesus football’s defensive scheme showcases the Eagles’ natural speed

A mix-up in dates forced the Smoking For Jesus Ministry School football team to wait another week to scrimmage an opponent. The Eagles will get their opportunity when they face the Austin Royals and Not Your Ordinary School at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19, at 2001 N. Denney Fort Blvd. in Round Rock. “The boys are ready to hit someone other than themselves,” head coach Charles Frazier, Sr. said. “It gave us an extra week to get some plays down and know our assignments. The Austin Royals and Not Your…

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Featured Football High School 

Marble Falls Faith set to welcome Bulverde Bracken for a scrimmage

Many activities are happening at Faith Academy of Marble Falls on Friday, Aug. 12. The school is hosting its Back To School Blast that allows families to meet staff and faculty members and see class rooms. This year, the event ends with the Flames football team hosting a scrimmage at 7 p.m. at Britton Field, 3151 RR 1431 East in Marble Falls. The Flames will welcome Bulverde Bracken and perhaps another opponent. Faith head coach Stephen Shipley said he is most curious to see the defense. “We have to tackle,…

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Football High School Volleyball 

The Point After: Marble Falls fall sports want to earn respect

Spending a few hours at Marble Falls High School Aug. 1 allowed me to observe some of the athletes donning the purple and gold for the football and volleyball teams and talk to head coaches about their impressions of the first day. On the artificial turf at Mustang Stadium were other media members who are as curious about this year’s football team as me. After all, on paper it looks like a full-on rebuild with senior tailback Caleb Vidal being the only returning starter on offense, while a couple more,…

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Featured Football High School 

Marble Falls Mustangs exhibit the traits coaches want to see on first day of training camp

The Marble Falls High School football team was on the artificial turf at Mustang Stadium at 6 a.m. Monday, Aug. 1, to officially kick off the 2022 campaign on the first day of training camp. More than 70 players in grades 10-12 wore gold helmets and were in either a purple or yellow jersey. The morning session lasted a little more than two hours and head coach Brian Herman saved the best for last – a series of gassers that forces the players to run from one sideline to the…

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Featured Football High School 

Home visits give Burnet families insight into 2022 players’ goals

After the 2021 season concluded, Burnet High School head football coach Bryan Wood took stock and evaluated himself on what he can do better. Top of the list was to strengthen relationships with his players and their families. So he took what might be an unusual step for a high school coach. He offered to meet with his players’ families at their dwellings for home visits. “The comments I’ve gotten are that people are excited about them,” Wood said. “It helps our kids and the football team. I’ve had a…

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Ten Highland Lakes Sports Insights

Welcome to this weekly column where readers will find a summary of sports across the region and the impressions left on this writer. Here’s a truly scary thought from players who aren’t taking advantage of voluntary strength-and-conditioning programs — the belief they can get ready in August. My advice is not to wait. Get in weight rooms now, get on tracks and fields now because thinking there’s enough time to get prepared for a grueling season in less than 30 days is simply not thinking clearly. Few great athletes can…

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Featured Football High School 

Depth throughout the 2022 Llano football roster bodes well

The Llano High School football team has pieces in place that give coaches great optimism for the 2022 season. The Yellow Jackets are looking to win their third consecutive district title in the fall with more experience on the lines, at receiver, at running back and in the secondary. “We had a lot of big ball games the kids played in,” head coach Matt Green said. “The only starter we returned last year was (quarterback) Maddox (Green). Now we have the chance to be really, really good anytime you return…

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Featured Football High School 

Becker to swap MFalls purple & gold for HSU purple & yellow

After leading the Marble Falls High School football team to the 2020 and 2021 playoffs, senior quarterback Jake Becker will suit up for Hardin-Simmons University in fall 2022. Playing college football was a goal for the son of Krystal and Matt Becker, who was the Mustangs quarterback in the mid 1990s, and passed his love of the sport to his son. The younger Becker’s favorite part is the teamwork football requires. “I grew up playing it and loving it,” he said. “I genuinely enjoy being around everybody, the environment it…

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Featured Football High School 

Barnes to take talents to Texas Lutheran University

After helping the Marble Falls High School football team flip field position with his powerful punts and kickoffs, senior place kicker and punter Logan Barnes is aiming to do the same for Texas Lutheran University. Barnes committed to play for the Bulldogs as a punter and a shot and discus thrower for the track and field squad. “It felt like Marble Falls,” he said. “It feels like family where the players are going to be first. They were going to do the best for me if I did the best…

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Featured Football High School 

MFalls’ Bode retires to return to first love — ranching

Marble Falls High School defensive coordinator Zane Bode is retiring from teaching and coaching. His decision was recently announced, and Bode, who guided the second most-stingiest defense in Class 5A Division II in 2021, is looking forward to his next chapter and grateful for the past three decades. “I want to get back to being a rancher and playing cowboy,” he said. “I’m going back to feeding cows. I’m also going to build a lot of fence.” Bode grew up in a family of coaches that included his father, Charles,…

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