Marble Falls in playoff hunt with road games ahead

JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF

MARBLE FALLS — Moments after capturing a hard-fought 49-46 win against Leander on Oct. 17, Marble Falls High School head football coach Matt Green learned the results of the other District 25-5A games.

After taking the weekend to examine the schedules of the other three teams tied for third place with the Mustangs (4-3 overall, 2-2 district), Green said the playoff picture remains cloudy.

“There’s no way to know,” he said. “There’s way too many intangibles. There’s a scenario where we have to win out; there’s a scenario where we have to go 2-1; and there’s a scenario where we could go 1-2.”

Marble Falls is preparing for the first of two road games beginning Oct. 24 against Cedar Park (4-3, 2-2) at Gupton Stadium, 200 Gupton Way Drive in Cedar Park. Game time is 7:30 p.m. Both squads are in a four-way tie for third with Leander Vandegrift and Georgetown.

Cedar Park Vista Ridge is atop the standings at 4-0 and has clinched a playoff berth; Georgetown East View is 3-1.

The four playoff teams will have at least four district victories. By all indications, the final two spots may not be decided until the final week of the regular season in early November.

Plenty is at stake for the Mustangs and the Timberwolves. In addition to getting a mark in the win column, the winner also takes the first tiebreaker, which is the result of the head-to-head matchup.

“The approach you have to take is this game only,” Green said. “These are three teams that are really good, all of them are highly ranked.”

The Timberwolves are led by senior quarterback Amir Alzer, who has completed 46 passes for 688 yards, six touchdowns and one interception and has rushed 54 times for 239 yards and two touchdowns. Senior running back Chris Hutchings has 55 rushes for 364 yards and five touchdowns. Junior receiver Jack Grimm has caught 16 passes for 240 yards and a score.

Cedar Park averages 227 rushing and 169 passing yards per game.

The strength of the Cedar Park team, however, is its defense. It has four all-district players led by senior linebacker Thomas Hutchings, who has 75 tackles and an interception; senior defensive end Jake Barber with 15 tackles; defensive back Ryan Lemmons with 26 tackles; and senior linebacker Clay Bremer with 30 tackles and an interception.

“They can run the ball, and they can throw the ball,” Green said. “The defense is flat-out aggressive and scheme-oriented.”

The reason the Mustangs remain in the playoff conversation is because of their homecoming win against Leander. The Lions didn’t play like a squad searching for its first win of the season. The offenses combined for seven fourth-quarter touchdowns. And Marble Falls didn’t secure the victory until junior linebacker Jeff Ramey recovered a fumble on a lateral on the final play of the game. In all, the Mustangs recovered five turnovers.

“I think, in the end, our kids made the plays,” Green said. “Our kids refused to lose the game. The best part is we did not quit.”

Marble Falls played an almost flawless first half in taking a 21-10 lead. The defense forced three turnovers and turned one into points when linebacker Travis Dilworth fell on a fumble in the end zone. In the second half, sophomore defensive back Sam Harkins caught a fumble and ran it 55 yards for a score. Senior linebacker Tyler Ryan recovered a fumble, while junior safety Jackson Cox had an interception.

Marble Falls maintained the lead until the fourth quarter but scored on their final offensive possession. Junior quarterback Brennen Wooten marched Marble Falls 84 yards in 13 plays highlighted by his touchdown pass to junior receiver Jacob Metcalf for a seven-yard score. The possession took three minutes and 12 seconds to complete, leaving Leander with 17 seconds.

Wooten said it took multiple athletes playing on both sides of the ball to earn this win.

“They all did a great job,” he said. “If the defense doesn’t score, obviously, we lose. We wouldn’t have won without them.”

jfierro@thepicayune.com