Faith Flames rally for comeback win against St. Anthony
Marble Falls Faith Academy offensive lineman Mitch Earwood (No. 50) leads the way for running back Jacob Metcalf (No. 2) during the Flames 47-35 win over the St. Anthony Yellow Jackets of San Antonio on Sept. 6. The Flames host the Austin Eastside Memorial Panthers at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 13 at Marble Falls Middle School Pony Stadium, 1511 Pony Circle. Courtesy photo by Paloma Ortiz
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE SPORTS
MARBLE FALLS — The Faith Academy football team extended its regular season winning streak to 12 on Sept. 6. But the opponent, St. Anthony of San Antonio, was the biggest threat to the streak so far.Faith (2-0) fought back from a 19-point deficit to win 47-35 against the team that had this date circled for more than a year.
“We were able to keep the streak alive at least one more week,” said head coach Russ Roberts.
The contest tested the character and determination of each Flame, said head coach Russ Roberts.
“They started the streak, the wanted to end it,” he said. “They thought they could get it done.”
Sophomore running Jacob Metcalf put Faith on the scoreboard when he ran into the end zone from 42 yards out, though the Flames trailed 19-6.
At halftime, Roberts said he had one message for his squad.
“I told them if they could play hard and stick to the game plan, they could win it,” he said. “The adversity was our own creation. We dug the hole, we jumped in. We had the heart to crawl out.”
With that simple message, the players went back to the field and back to work, scoring on 6-of-8 possessions in the second half compared to 1-of-5 in the first half.
Metcalf started the third quarter the way he ended the second by scoring a touchdown from 3-yards out. Then senior running back Royale Brown added a 6-yard touchdown run.
Jonathan Reyes added the extra point to tie the game at 19-19.
After the Yellowjackets scored, Metcalf found pay dirt from 36-yards out and tied the game by catching a two-point pass conversion from Brown.
Just before the third period ended, Brown caught a 6-yard pass from junior Hanner Shipley. Sophomore Joseph Barclay caught a tipped ball for the two-point conversion for the 35-27 lead.
After St. Anthony tied it, Brown gave the Flames the lead back thanks to a 72-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and sealed the victory by running 73-yards for the final touchdown.
Metcalf finished with 18 rushes for 203 yards and three touchdowns. He also pitched in on defense with an interception and a blocked kick. Brown had 15 rushes for 124 yards and three touchdowns and completed 4-of-4 passes for 70 yards. He also recorded 10 tackles and had one interception.
The victory helped the Flames in two areas, Roberts said.
“It gives us some confidence,” he said. “We found out our young kids can step up and play.”
Faith will welcome Austin Eastside Memorial at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 13 at Pony Stadium on the Marble Falls Middle School campus, 1511 Pony Circle Drive.
jfierro@thepicayune.com