Marble Falls in new football district with Brownwood, Stephenville
The Marble Falls High School football team is now a member of District 4-4A Division I following the 2024 UIL realignment. Staff photo by Nathan Bush
The Marble Falls High School football team will face two historic programs in district play starting in the 2024-25 season. Brownwood and Stephenville join the Mustangs along with Burnet and Lampasas in the newly formed District 4-4A Division I.
The University Interscholastic League, which governs sports in Texas public schools, announced the statewide district changes on Thursday, Feb. 1. Realignment happens every two years.
The announcement came as a surprise for newly hired Marble Falls head football coach and Athletic Director Keri Timmerman.
“None of us were really thinking we would head out west, but that’s the UIL for you,” he said. “You think you have an idea, but you never really do.”
Stephenville is about 120 miles north of Marble Falls toward Abilene; Brownwood is over 100 miles west toward San Angelo. Both cities are about a two-hour drive.
Timmerman is confident in his team’s ability to compete in the new district.
“We know what’s coming,” he said.
As 4-4A is a five-team district, Marble Falls and the other teams will have to schedule a sixth non-district game instead of the typical five contests.
The scheduling oddity presents a challenge, Timmerman said.
“It’s always hard to have a six-game non-district schedule,” he said. “When you’re in district and something happens like an injury, you understand that’s part of it. That sixth non-district game is kind of tough because it’s such a long non-district season.”
But it does come with a benefit, Timmerman said.
“It’s an opportunity for our kids to get a little bit cleaner and a little bit better in what we do defensively and offensively before we actually get to the major games,” he said. “District is what counts.”
The new coach was pleased to keep longtime cross-county rival Burnet on the district schedule.
“I think it’s an opportunity for our kids to experience something that has been there for years,” he said. “You never want to lose that. They’ll be a great opponent.”
Timmerman also looks forward to playing Brownwood in district. The Mustangs have battled the Lions in non-district play for the past two seasons.
“Familiarity is awesome,” he said. “It’s important for our kids to know that they’ve already rubbed up against a tough opponent, and now it’s time to go compete with them and fight for a district spot with them.”
The new district is heavy with history.
Brownwood, the Stephenville Yellow Jackets, and the Lampasas Badgers have a combined 13 state titles and 117 playoff appearances.
“It’s always fun to play storied programs,” Timmerman said. “Besides, for us to be a playoff team, we have to play tough people. It will be a great opportunity for us to fight in a tough district and experience some history, too.”
Realignment had no effect on the school’s volleyball and basketball programs. The two teams remain in District 24-4A, which includes Burnet, Georgetown Gateway, Jarrell, Lampasas, Salado, and Taylor.
Realignment for the other sports will be announced in the spring.