Marble Falls football refocuses on playoff picture against Leander Rouse

[box]GAMETIME
Marble Falls Mustangs vs. Leander Rouse Raiders
KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11
WHERE: Mustang Stadium, 2101 Mustang Drive in Marble Falls
TUNE IN: Listen to KBEY 103.9 FM or at KBEYFM.com or watch on Northland Channel 15 starting with a 6:30 p.m. pre-game show. Live broadcast starts at 7 p.m.[/box]

JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF

MARBLE FALLS — After a 51-34 loss to Class 4A Division II defending state champion Cedar Park on Oct. 4, Marble Falls High School head football coach Todd Dodge summed up the rest of the season.

“We need to be able to play four quarters like we played in two quarters (Oct. 4),” he said. “In (District 25-4A), we’re going against some good people. We need to come to expect to get in the hunt. This team is learning what we’re talking about.”

Marble Falls outscored Cedar Park 34-14 in the second half.

The Mustangs (2-3 overall, 0-1) get back to the playoff hunt against Leander Rouse at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11 at Mustang Stadium, 2101 Mustang Drive, for their homecoming game and district opener.

“We have a lot more momentum going into Week 2 of district than we did going into Week 1 of district,” Dodge said. “We have to use this momentum. I see looks of confidence and looks of hope and looks of expectation.”

The Raiders (5-1, 2-0) enter this contest on a five-game winning streak with a pair of victories against district foes Leander (24-13) and Dripping Springs (38-21.)

According to published reports, Rouse starting junior quarterback Billy McCrary will miss four weeks because of a thumb injury. Senior Wesley Geisler took over for McCrary during the 24-13 win against Leander on Oct. 4. Senior receiver Zach Ayers has nine receptions for 141 yards and four touchdowns. Junior running back A.J. Badour has 66 rushes for 349 yards and two touchdowns, and junior running back Andre Alger has 63 carries for 331 yards and four touchdowns.

“Alger is a good running back,” Dodge said. “They have two very efficient receivers and a big offensive line. We have to score and defend, and we have to use what happened (against Cedar Park) and start getting stops.”

And that means not spotting an opponent a 37-0 halftime advantage, he said.

Still, Dodge said he was pleased with how the Mustangs fought through the final two quarters against the Timberwolves.

Sophomore quarterback Brennen Wooten completed 29 of 44 passes for 372 yards and four touchdowns. Entering the game, Cedar Park had given up a total of five passing touchdowns all season. Senior running back Keith Jerome carried 23 times for 135 yards and a touchdown, and senior receiver Carson Bowen, who made his season debut after missing the past five weeks because of an injury, caught nine passes for 125 yards and a touchdown.

“There are no moral victories,” Dodge said. “It’s still an ‘L’ in the win-loss column, but I told our players it’s about the grind in district. We have to wrap ourselves in that and go get us some wins.”

Perhaps the biggest challenge this week is coming from the homecoming festivities. Dodge said it’s important his players remember their role in homecoming.

“It’s not for the football team,” he said. “It’s for everyone in school and the ones coming back. That’s why it’s called homecoming. We need to focus in and pay a bunch of attention. We need to do the best we can in the game.”

jfierro@thepicayune.com