Highland Lakes football is back
Highland Lakes high school football teams take the field this week for the first games of the 2025 season. The Marble Falls Mustangs, Burnet Bulldogs, and Faith Academy Flames are on the road, while the Llano Yellowjackets play at home.
Marble Falls vs. Crockett Cougars (neutral site)
KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28
WHERE: Toney Burger Athletic Center, 3200 Jones Road in Austin
LISTEN/WATCH: Listen to the contest on KBEY 103.9 FM Radio Picayune or at KBEYFM.COM starting with a 7 p.m. pregame show. You can also watch a livestream of the game at DailyTrib.com.
LAST SEASON: Marble Falls was 2-8 overall and 0-4 in District 4-4A.
The Mustangs are charging into the first game of 2025 hoping to capitalize on off-season gains.
“We are excited about our growth in understanding our defense and offense at all positions,” head coach Keri Timmerman told DailyTrib.com. “We have spent a lot of our year gaining weight, strength, and speed and building our culture in the locker room. We are excited for what the kids are going to show on the field because of that.”
This is Timmerman’s second season with Marble Falls.
The coach is looking to seniors Brody Graham, Kaleb Bielfeldt, Doak Timmerman, Greg Lemon, Madden Hernandez, and Tyler Levrett to be leaders on the field. He also noted that senior running back Joaquin Aguilar should be in top form.
The Mustangs’ opening opponent, the Crockett Cougars, were winless in 2024, which began with a 56-0 thrashing by Marble Falls.
Burnet Bulldogs at Lago Vista Vikings
KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29
WHERE: Lago Vista High School Stadium, 5185 Lohman Ford Road in Lago Vista
PREVIEW: Tune in to KBEY 103.9 FM Radio Picayune at 9 a.m. Wednesdays throughout the season for In the Bulldogs’ huddle with head coach Ben Speer, who will join host Ben Shields for a chat about everything Burnet football.
LAST SEASON: Burnet was 5-6 overall and 1-3 in District 4-4A.
The Bulldogs are barking to get under the Friday night lights for their first game of the season.
“We’re doing well; we’re undefeated,” joked head coach Ben Speer in an interview with KBEY 103.9 FM Radio Picayune host Ben Shields the week of the game. “Right now, everyone is happy and we’re looking forward to getting after Lago on Friday.”
Speer has a sober view of competition this year, acknowledging tough non-district and district play ahead.
“Our non-district schedule is challenging and will be a great test to prepare us for the tough competition in our district,” he said. “We’ve got some tough opponents early on, which will push us to improve every week.”
This will be Speer’s second season leading the Bulldogs.
The Lago Vista Vikings went 9-4 overall and 4-2 in district play last season, beating Burnet 23-20 in the opener.
Speer pointed to seniors Riley Howell and Shane Ikonen as the likely leaders on the field this season. He also acknowledged that a few newcomers—Alex Perez, Rodrigo Valdez, and Matthew Williams—could make their marks this year.
Faith Academy Flames at Logos Prep Lions
KICKOFF: 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28
WHERE: Bay Area Athletics Facility, 13303 Southwest Freeway in Sugar Land
LAST SEASON: Faith Academy was 5-7 overall 3-0 in TAPPS Division 2 District 4 (six-man).
The Flames are looking to lick the Lions for their first game of the season. Head coach Jay Silvers has high expectations for the large Faith Academy squad this year, with his eyes set on a state championship.
“Winning district was great last year, but that was not our goal,” Silvers told DailyTrib.com. “We want a state title. I have coached these seniors since they were in flag football. Our goal is to give them and the school its first state title in football.”
Silvers is now in his second year as the Faith Academy head football coach.
The Flames’ six-man football team has seen a big boost in membership, with 27 players on the roster this year compared to last year’s 16. The depth should ease the burden on athletes who were playing both sides of the ball last year.
Silvers is looking to a powerful core of seniors to lead this year’s team, including Andrew Huoy, Sawyer Jones, and Adam Merlick.
Faith’s opening opponent, Logos Prep Academy, went 3-6 overall and 0-4 in district play in 2024. The two teams did not face each other last season.
Llano Yellowjackets vs. Lytle Pirates
KICKOFF: 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29
WHERE: Jacket Stadium, 400 Texas 71 East in Llano
LAST SEASON: Llano was 12-2 overall and 5-0 in District 13-3A.
The Yellowjackets are buzzing to get back on the field. Llano had a powerhouse season in 2024, dominating its district and driving deep into the playoffs before falling to the Edna Cowboys in the state quarterfinals.
Their opponent on Friday, the Lytle Pirates, went 5-5 overall and 1-4 in district play last season. The Yellowjackets stung the Pirates 47-0 in the 2024 season opener.