Marble Falls spring football game showcases new, familiar faces
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
MARBLE FALLS — Fans of the Marble Falls High School football team saw some familiar faces mixed in with some new ones during the Purple and Gold game May 23.Though the Gold team won 18-3, the real winners were those in attendance as they witnessed a stronger and faster group of players.
“I was really pleased with the way the kids competed,” head coach Todd Dodge said. “I think our strength program showed up in tackling. More guys will be physical. We’ve put the time in.”
Sophomore starting quarterback Brennen Wooten made his debut and promptly led the first-string Gold offense on an 11-play, 73-yard drive that took 4 minutes 38 seconds to complete.
“He’s only going to get better,” Dodge said. “We have high hopes for him.”
The drive ended when senior running Keith Jerome scored on a 25-yard scamper on fourth-and-1.
New kicker Alejandro Osornio added the extra point.
Those were the only points of the half until the final 40 seconds. Defenders Sean Paris and Chris Carter and a swarm of Mustangs recorded a safety, then Osornio added a 49-yard field as time expired to end the first half for a 12-0 lead.
In the second half, Osornio added a 34-yard field goal, while James Bryer intercepted a pass and ran it back about 25 yards for a touchdown. Tyler Lindholm and Bryce Fry each recorded interceptions to end the contest, and the Mustangs recovered a fumble.
Dodge credited the defense for the low scores.
“We had a lot of kids step up,” he said. “A lot of guys had to get better and have. Really pleased with the production.”
The coach said he was pleased to see Wooten involve so many receivers. Seniors Garrett Gray, Aidin Parnell and Carson Bowen each caught at least one pass during the Marble Falls spring game. New starting receiver Ty Coffey also caught a pass. And Jerome began the game with a screen pass that went for 10 yards. J.T. Watson, who lined up for the Purple team, caught two passes for 29 yards.
Gray caught a pass in the middle of the field that went for 29 yards and set up Osornio’s 49-yard field goal.
“Garrett and Brennan are starting to get a connection,” he said.
Coaches are still examining who will be Wooten’s backup. Ethan Leach, Ethan Reed and Wyatt Casey each took turns operating the offense.
New defensive coordinator Tony Salazar mixed up the defenses in order to keep the quarterbacks guessing. Dodge said he was happy the defense challenged the quarterbacks and the offensive linemen throughout the contest because they all know opponents will do everything they can to confuse them.
“There were a lot of blitzes coming at them,” Dodge said.
NOTES: As an incoming sophomore, Wooten is following in the footsteps of former Dodge standout Chase Daniel. Daniel was a three-year starter for Dodge when the two were at Southlake Carroll. Daniel, who was a Heisman Trophy finalist when he was at Missouri in 2008, is now a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. … A scout from the University of Oklahoma was in attendance for the game. He is the latest college scout to watch Gray. Other representatives have come from SMU, Oregon State and Minnesota, just to name a few.
jfierro@thepicayune.com
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Gold team running back Juan Rodriguez is in the open field. Staff photo by Daniel Clifton[/tab] [tab title=”PHOTO 2″]
Purple team member Jeff Ramey reaches up to make a one-handed grab. Staff photo by Daniel Clifton[/tab] [tab title=”PHOTO 3″]
Gold team member Jacob Vasquez leaps to make a catch. Staff photo by Daniel Clifton[/tab] [tab title=”PHOTO 4″]
Members of the Gold team defense huddle around defensive coordinator Tony Salazar. Staff photo by Daniel Clifton[/tab] [/tabs]