Faith Academy opens football season with new defensive scheme, ‘hungry’ seniors
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
MARBLE FALLS — The Faith Academy football team’s greatest challenge going into the 2013 season is to keep a desire for success in the 11-man ranks.
Last season was the Flames’ first in playing 11-man football after being a six-man team since they started playing football more than a decade ago. They went 11-1 with a Division III, District 3 championship and a playoff win.
But now, staying healthy takes priority, head coach Russ Roberts said.[box]GAMETIME
Faith Academy Flames vs. Austin St. Dominic Savio Eagles
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 30
WHERE: Round Rock Westwood field, 12400 Mellow Meadow Drive in Austin[/box]
“Like a lot of teams right now, we’ve got an extremely high number of injuries for early in the season,” he said. “We haven’t played a game yet, and you’re already banged up.”
Because of privacy issues, Roberts can’t elaborate.
Here comes the start of the regular season, and the Flames travel to face Austin St. Dominic Savio at Round Rock Westwood field, 12400 Mellow Meadow Drive in Austin.
The Eagles went 0-10 last season, which didn’t include their 4-0 scrimmage loss to the Flames.
“I thought, at that time, they had some guys miss that scrimmage, and I attributed a lot of our success to that fact, that they didn’t have a full house,” Roberts said. “The coach (Louie Becerra) over there has put in a little of a new philosophy toward rebuilding that program. He’s … brought in some huge kids. They’ll have a few kids out there that will be the biggest we’ll see all season. They’re really, really big, and they’ve got some kids that’ll look great in their pads.”
Eagles offensive tackles Noah Crawford is 6-feet-4 while Chizitam Ibezim is 6-3 and 290 pounds. Tight end Josh MacKay is 6-2 and 185 pounds.
The Flames will counter with junior Hanner Shipley at 6-6 and 265 pounds.
One factor that might work to Faith’s advantage is limiting the number of players who will play both offense and defense. St. Dominic Savio has eight athletes playing on both sides of the ball, Roberts said.
Fatigue could play a factor, and, if it does, Roberts said he feels good about the Flames’ chances because Faith’s scrimmages have been longer and his athletes are in good physical condition.
As for their thirst for success this season, he said he feels very good about that, too, looking back at the last scrimmage against Austin St. Stephens.
Roberts used one word to describe the first part of the Aug. 24 scrimmage.
“Horror,” he said. “They pretty much slapped us around, treated us like a stepchild. But as the scrimmage progressed, our kids came back really well. I thought it was a real step toward maturity.”
Faith outscored St. Stephens 2-1 after the Flames defense gave up three scoring plays out of the first four the opposing offense tried.
But Roberts wasn’t totally shocked. Faith has changed defensive schemes, and he knew players would need time to learn the new scheme.
“We’re force feeding it,” he said. “You have to go through all the growing pains. You have to be willing to look really bad early, and we certainly qualify there. But we are coming along.”
He credits his seniors for stepping up and leading when the scrimmage was very difficult. He believes that will carry over into the season.
“They’re pretty hungry,” he said. “The rest of the team hasn’t quite pulled in yet. But I think when you put on the game uniforms, turn on the lights and you play on turf, which we will Friday night, that helps. It helps a lot.”
jfierro@thepicayune.com