Faith Academy football opens district with Texas School for the Deaf
Faith Academy’s Dylan Bradberry (4) intercepts a pass in the Flames’ 34-7 loss to San Antonio St. Anthony on Sept. 20. Faith begins District 3 Division III play against the Texas School for the Deaf on Sept. 26. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at 1102 S. Congress Ave. in Austin. Photo by Ian Friedel
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
MARBLE FALLS — The Faith Academy football team is preparing for its fifth consecutive road game. But this one is different because it’s the first match in District 3 Division III of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools.
The Flames (1-3) go to Texas School for the Deaf (2-1), 1102 S. Congress Ave. in Austin, for a 7 p.m. start Sept. 26.
The Rangers enter the contest after a 43-6 loss to Fort Worth Lake Country Christian but have wins against Dallas Christian Home Educators (48-6) and Waco Texas Wind (52-0).
Texas School for the Deaf returns nine offensive and nine defensive starters led by Alvin Anthony and Iosif Shayman.
The Flames have played two games after short weeks and another on a Saturday, so head coach Russ Roberts said he looks forward to facing an opponent on a Friday night.
“Playing on a Friday night will be cooler and easier,” he said. “At least they’ll be closer to our numbers.”
And he believes Texas School for the Deaf will not feature players with the size of last week’s opponent, San Antonio St. Anthony. The Flames lost 34-7.
Faith got the start it wanted against St. Anthony on Sept. 20 when senior Hunter Marino ran the opening kickoff back 90 yards for a touchdown. That score stood until the second quarter.
T he Flames defense “had a great goal-line stand” in the first quarter, Roberts said. “You can’t get any better start than that.”
But in the second quarter, the Yellow Jackets scored three touchdowns. After St. Anthony tied the game, the Flames fumbled the ensuing kickoff. That turnover gave the Yellow Jackets their first lead. A Faith punt went for four yards, and St. Anthony scored again for a 21-7 halftime lead.
Roberts said playing a game that started at noon with a roster in the low 20s made it difficult for the Flames.
“Fatigue set in,” he said. “I was disappointed we couldn’t play better. It became difficult to play at a high level. You get tired, and that’s when you get negative plays.”
One of the benefits is that players who were not counted on to be big contributors are getting multiple minutes because of the injuries to teammates who were penciled in as starters in late August.
“We’ve had more guys who’ve had to play,” Roberts said. “They’re showing promise.”
jfierro@thepicayune.com