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Marble Falls football must beat Leander to make playoffs

Marble Falls High School senior running back Keith Jerome (center) uses a stiff arm to get away from a Dripping Springs defender during the Mustangs' 56-38 win Nov. 1. The Mustangs must beat Leander on Nov. 8 to secure a playoff berth. Photo by Diana Cox

[box]GAMETIME
Marble Falls Mustangs vs. Leander Lions
KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8
WHERE: Mustang Stadium, 2101 Mustang Drive in Marble Falls
TUNE IN: Listen to KBEY 103.9 FM, at KBEYFM.com or on Northland Channel 15 starting with a pre-game show at 6:30 p.m.[/box]

JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF

MARBLE FALLS — The Marble Falls High School football team’s season comes down to four words: Win or stay home.

The Mustangs (4-5, 2-3 in District 25-4A) helped their playoff chances with a 56-38 victory against Dripping Springs on Nov. 1.

But the victory means nothing if they don’t beat Leander (4-5, 2-3) at Mustang Stadium, 2101 Mustang Drive, on Nov. 8. Both squads need this win to earn the final playoff spot in the district.

Senior cornerback Aidin Parnell said the Mustangs have played in elimination games before such as in 2008 against Burnet and in 2010 against Leander Vandegrift. But both times, those contests had been road games.

So is Mustang Stadium an advantage for this year’s team?

“Yes it is,” Parnell said. “Especially since the last two games, we’ve had really good turnouts. And we have a really good chance to make the playoffs.”

Senior running back Keith Jerome said he and his teammates have focused on one opponent at a time for the past several weeks.

Starting Nov. 2, they put their full attention on the Lions.

Leander’s offense features junior quarterback Brandon Hopp, who has completed 140 passes for 1,916 yards with 16 touchdowns and five interceptions and rushed 45 times for 241 yards and four touchdowns.

“Their junior quarterback is a good passer,” Parnell said. “They’re putting it all together.”

Junior running back Darion McClatcher has 145 rushes for 638 yards and six touchdowns, while senior receiver Chris Levy has caught 37 passes for 640 yards and seven touchdowns for Leander.

“From watching film of them against other teams, they seem to be pretty balanced,” Marble Falls senior safety Steven Petrosky said. “We’re just going to have to prepare even more this week.”

Marble Falls will enter this game with confidence, especially after they way the Mustangs defeated Dripping Springs. All three seniors acknowledged the defense struggled during the first half against the Tigers. Dripping Springs led by as many as 14 points after returning an interception for a touchdown and recovering a fumble on a punt it turned into a touchdown. The Tigers led 38-35 at the half.

The Marble Falls seniors credited defensive coordinator Tony Salazar for his honesty and his encouragement, which led to the defense shutting down Dripping Springs in the second half.

After the Mustangs recovered an onside kick on the first play of the third quarter, Jerome finished off the drive by scoring a 26-yard touchdown run for a 42-38 advantage.

Then, Petrosky intercepted a pass to give the ball back to the Marble Falls offense. The Tigers didn’t threaten again.

The safety said Salazar emphasized the importance of getting a turnover.

“‘All it takes is all of you to come together and get it done,'” Petrosky recalled Salazar saying. “‘When the ball comes your way, you need to make a big play.’ I guess I did.”

Jerome ended the ensuing driving with a 34-yard touchdown run. By the end of the contest, he rushed 27 times for 297 yards and six touchdowns and caught four passes for 67 yards and a touchdown.

He credited his teammates for his best night in a Mustangs uniform.

“The offensive line just blocked well and opened up some holes,” he said, “and (senior receiver) Garrett (Gray) was a decoy every time they triple teamed him or double teamed him. The receivers stuck with the plays and kept working until they heard the whistle. We know what’s at stake. It’s our senior year. We’re laying it all out on the line.”

jfierro@thepicayune.com