Badgers best Mustangs 42-7
The Marble Falls Mustangs lost 42-7 to the Lampasas Badgers on Oct. 27. Staff photo by Nathan Bush
The Marble Falls Mustangs (1-8, 0-4 district) lost 42-7 to the Lampasas Badgers (7-2, 3-1 district) on Oct. 27. The District 13-4A contest was the final road game of the season for the Mustangs.
Marble Falls’ lack of defensive output in the game led to a 35-0 first half deficit. The Mustangs managed to alleviate many of their first half miscues in the second half and match the Badgers’ second half scoring at a touchdown each.
The Marble Falls defense opened the game with several batted balls, which affected the psyche of the Badgers passing offense. Lampasas countered by running the ball with junior quarterback Reed Jerome and sophomore running back Jett Walker. After several run plays, the Badgers went back to the air on a play action pass to junior tight end Haegan Oncken to put the ball on the 1-yard line. Walker punched the ball into the end zone on a run inside to give the Badgers a 7-0 advantage.
Walker and the Badgers’ offensive line continued to dominate the trenches the following drive after an unsuccessful possession by the Mustangs. Marble Falls attempted to battle back by stacking the line of scrimmage to limit potential holes for Walker to run through. Lampasas didn’t hesitate to make the Mustangs pay for the defensive adjustment, dialing up a 14-yard touchdown throw from Jerome to freshman wide receiver Ty Johnson.
The Badgers built on their first quarter dominance in the second quarter with a steady blend of run and pass plays to keep the Mustangs defense guessing. A 16-yard screen pass to Oncken set up an 8-yard touchdown run by Walker to advance Lampasas’ lead to 21-0.
A strong Lampasas punt return by senior Landon Richardson following an unsuccessful drive by the Mustangs put the Badgers in excellent field position to start their next drive. A 28-yard touchdown by Johnson on a screen pass to the right side added to the Badgers’ lead.
Mustangs senior Jaime Castillo appeared determined to bring his squad back into the game after stacking up back-to-back runs for a grand total of over 30 yards to put the Mustangs in scoring position with less than three minutes left in the half. Marble Falls failed to convert on fourth down after an errant pass by junior quarterback Colton Minor intended for senior tight end Sergio Hernandez led to an incompletion.
After forcing the first Badger punt of the game, the Mustangs coughed up the football on a backward pass from Minor to Castillo. The Badgers immediately cashed in on the turnover with a 14-yard option run by Jerome to push the score to 35-0 heading into halftime.
Following a few stagnant drives by both team’s offenses to start the second half, the Mustangs were able to end the cold streak with a quarterback sneak by Minor on a fourth-down conversion. Castillo added to the Mustangs’ momentum on the next play, rushing for 27 yards before being illegally tackled by his facemask. Referees added another 15 yards to the run because of the transgression committed by the Lampasas defense. Castillo casually walked into the end zone on a stretch run play several downs later for the Mustangs’ first points of the game.
The Badgers responded to the late Marble Falls touchdown with a drive led by junior backup quarterback JT Posten. The second-string passer wrapped up the 45-yard drive with a 7-yard scamper for the final score of the contest.
The Mustangs close their 2023 season against the Davenport Wolves (6-2, 3-0 district) at Mustang Stadium, 2101 Mustang Drive, on Nov. 3. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.