Faith Academy football looks to rebound versus Iola

JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF

MARBLE FALLS —  After a 32-0 loss to Austin St. Andrew’s, the Faith Academy of Marble Falls football team is eager to face Iola.

The game is 7:30 p.m. Sept. 5 at Bulldog Stadium, 7282 Fort Worth St. in Iola.

Still, head coach Russ Roberts said the Flames (0-1) will face a Bulldogs squad that is up to the task. Iola enters this contest after already beating Somerville 65-0.

The Bulldogs return eight offensive and nine defensive starters to a squad that qualified for the playoffs last year.

“I know they’re big in weight and stature,” Roberts said.

Defensive lineman Reed Fairbanks is 6-foot-3 and weighs 300 pounds, while offensive linemen Will Mallett is 6-3 and 250 pounds and Dustin Timm is 6-0 and 275 pounds.

Quarterback Hayden Martinez, who was the district’s offensive most valuable player, returns after rushing for 1,889 yards and 26 touchdowns last season. He has rushed for more than 5,000 yards in his career.

“We’re going to get tested,” Roberts said. “I’d say Iola is at least as good as St. Andrew’s.”

But to Roberts, this contest is about his team and its improvement, especially after the lopsided setback to St. Andrew’s.

“We did not play well,” he said.

The Flames suffered too many mistakes — turnovers and penalties — that allowed St. Andrew’s to take advantage.

“We have to push hard, not only to get better but a lot better,” Roberts said.

If Faith needs confidence, the coach can point to defensive stands that stopped the Crusaders from scoring inside the Flames’ 15-yard line.

“I felt very good about that,” the coach said. “Right now, we want improvement. We showed we’re headed in the right direction. We are in a very tough district. I think these early games are going to get us ready.”

jfierro@thepicayune.com