Faith Academy football hosts pass-oriented St. Gerard for homecoming
Faith Academy freshman monster linebacker Dalton Mayberry wraps up Schertz John Paul II junior quarterback Jeffrey Bradley as Faith junior linebacker Daniel Penner prepares to help during the Flames' 28-21 win Sept. 27. Photo by Paloma Ortiz
[box]GAMETIME
Faith Academy Flames vs. San Antonio St. Gerard Royals
KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4
WHERE: Pony Stadium at Marble Falls Middle School, 1511 Pony Circle Drive[/box]
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
MARBLE FALLS — After surviving a Schertz John Paul II opponent that simply wouldn’t give up Sept. 27, the Faith Academy football team is refocused and ready for the challenges that come with homecoming week.
The Flames (5-0) welcome San Antonio St. Gerard at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4 to Pony Stadium on the Marble Falls Middle School campus, 1511 Pony Circle Drive.
Against John Paul II, Faith faced almost a mirror image of its offense. But St. Gerard (1-4) will bring a pass-oriented scheme into the contest, Flames head coach Russ Roberts said.
“We know they have great receivers,” he said. “If their quarterback has the skill level to get the ball to them, we’ll have to work harder.”
The Royals’ only win came against Brooks Academy, 44-32, on Sept. 13.
Junior quarterback Jubias Cloud has completed 10 of 17 passes for 253 yards and has 14 rushes for 123 yards and two touchdowns for St. Gerard, while senior running back Devonte Walker has 10 carries for 208 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore receiver Zeke Cardenas has caught four passes for 117 yards, and junior receiver Alex Mack has two receptions for 114 yards.
Faith enters the contest after a 28-21 win against John Paul II. The Flames scored all their points in the first half. Offensive penalties contributed to drives stalling out for Faith in the second half.
Meanwhile, the Guardians scored on their first offensive series of the third quarter. But they turned the ball over on downs when the Flames made defensive stands. During the final series, Faith senior lineman Mitch Earwood grabbed John Paul II junior quarterback Jeffrey Bradley for a sack on fourth down.
“We definitely saw some positives,” Roberts said. “We didn’t let them come back in the second half. We can see we grew up.”
He said he thought his players’ conditioning played a factor in the outcome, noting things went the Flames’ way on game-changing plays.
“I do think we’re in good shape,” Roberts said. “In the fourth quarter, I think our conditioning helped us. They lost two starters. We were more durable.”
jfierro@thepicayune.com