Marble Falls football team starts district with defending state champion Cedar Park

[box]GAMETIME
Marble Falls Mustangs at Cedar Park Timberwolves
KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4
WHERE: John Gupton Stadium, located at South Vista Ridge Boulevard and East Park Street in Cedar Park
TUNE IN: Listen to KBEY 103.9 FM, online at KBEYFM.com or on Northland Channel 15 starting with a 6:30 p.m. pre-game show.[/box]

JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF

MARBLE FALLS — The Marble Falls High School football team didn’t play last week, but the coaches were at a few games.

Head coach Todd Dodge divided his coaching staff into scouting teams to attend all three District 25-4A contests Sept. 27, the night of his squad’s bye.

Now, the Mustangs (2-2) focus on the final six weeks of the season with the aim of competing for the district crown and qualifying for the playoffs.

And it starts Oct. 4 against Cedar Park High, the Class 4A Division II defending state champion.

“Over the next six weeks, we have to keep improving and go try to whittle us out three wins in six weeks,” Dodge said. “Four would be better. That’s what it’s going to take to get a seat at the table.”

The Timberwolves (4-1, 1-0) enter the contest with a 30-17 overtime victory against Leander last week.

They are led by senior quarterback Nate Grimm, the district’s most valuable player last season. He leads a potent rushing attack that has 2,075 yards on the ground this season.

Grimm has 76 rushes for 442 yards and five touchdowns and has completed 44 of 93 passes for 755 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions.

Junior running back Joey Carter has 54 carries for 321 yards and a touchdown, while senior receiver Bill Estevanott has 19 catches for 232 yards and two touchdowns for the Timberwolves.

Cedar Park scores an average of 36 points a contest but gives up 18 points. The Timberwolves’ only loss was to Abilene Cooper, 24-21, on Sept. 6. The Cougars connected on a field goal as time expired.

“I think Cedar Park is better at this point than last year,” Dodge said.

On Sept. 29, Marble Falls coaches dissected their notes about each of the district opponents. Dodge said he already exchanged video with Cedar Park on Sept. 25, so players have had their scouting reports on the Timberwolves for a couple of days.

“You get a chance to challenge yourself against top competition,” Dodge said. “What I want for this program is for the lifeline of this team to last as long as it can. We’ve had a three-and-a-half-month  window (with spring football, 7-on-7 football, summer strength and conditioning and fall training camp). Now, we’re down to about a six-week window. Let’s rededicate ourselves.”

The Mustangs travel to Cedar Park’s John Gupton Stadium, located at South Vista Ridge Boulevard and East Park Street in Cedar Park, for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Oct. 4.

jfierro@thepicayune.com