Marble Falls football 3-0 on first day of Burnet 7-on-7

JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF

BURNET — The Marble Falls High School 7-on-7 football team went 3-0 on the first night of the Burnet 7-on-7 League on May 4.

The Mustangs had wins against Llano, Lampasas and Burnet.

And yet, to head coach Matt Green, the victories weren’t the most important part of the night. He wanted to see how quarterbacks Cade Cool and Robert Atkinson, who are vying for the starting job in 2015, performed when games were going well and not so well. Because while Green enjoys winning, he was curious about leadership, attitude and how players in other positions responded to the quarterbacks.

And few teams challenge the Mustangs more than the Bulldogs.

Burnet took the opening drive 45 yards for the game’s first score and an 8-0 lead. The Bulldogs then forced the Mustangs to turn the ball over on downs on the following possession.

And as Burnet began marching toward another score, Cool gathered his teammates.

“Everybody was getting their heads down,” he said. “I got them in the huddle and said, ‘We know what we’re capable of.’”

The Mustangs held the Bulldogs to stay one score down. When Cool and his offense began their second series, the Mustangs were tuned in. The drive ended when Cool found Micah Wise on a 35-yard touchdown.

“I think it was definitely a momentum change,” Cool said. “We knew we were back in it.”

Marble Falls won the contest 24-22 on the last play of the game when Cool hit receiver Eric Cauble on a sliding 25-yard touchdown.

“The emotion that we showed,” Green said, “it meant something to them.”

Cool said he and Atkinson are chums, calling the starting quarterback battle a friendly competition.

“I like competing, I like knowing we can make each other better,” he said. “We bring the best out of each other. We talk to each other.”

Cool wants to improve on his reads and his decision-making, he said.

“This is my second year in the offense,” he said. “I’m clicking with the receivers. I’ve played with them for years. I feel like I clicked with them (May 4).”

Green said he was pleased with what he saw from all of his players considering it was the first night of 7-on-7.

“I thought both quarterbacks made some good reads and both made excellent throws,” he said. “I saw them miss reads and miss throws, but that’s going to happen with two young quarterbacks.”

The quarterbacks rotated every two series, which is what Green wanted.

“It’s hard to be unselfish,” he said. “I liked the demeanor and attitude regarding playing time.”

Marble Falls beat Llano 8-2 and Lampasas 5-2. Both quarterbacks hit receivers for 45-yard touchdowns at least six times during the contests, displaying strong arms, accurate passing and a comfort level with the offense.

Defensive back Sam Harkins had a very good evening, averaging about two interceptions per contest.

The Mustangs are playing in the Burnet 7-on-7 League because they won’t be participating in spring football for a second straight year. Green said coaches are installing more of the offense and defense during the class period.

“Ultimately, I feel for us that next year. We need all three weeks of two-a-days to prepare for our first game against Burnet (on Aug. 28),” he said. “We’re going play kids both ways. We need those weeks to get kids in shape to play both ways. So we’ll play them both ways and practice them on both sides of the ball. We’ll need the time for them to have as much practice as possible. I believe it to be in our best interest to trade spring football for the extra week of two-a-days.”

Two-a-days begin Aug. 3.

The Burnet 7-on-7 League is conducted each Monday in May beginning at 6 p.m. at the Burnet High School practice fields, 1000 The Green Mile. Each squad is guaranteed three games per night.

Marble Falls will play in state-qualifying tournaments hosted by Lake Travis on May 23, Round Rock Westwood on May 30, Belton on June 6 and San Antonio Alamo Heights on June 13.

jfierro@thepicayune.com