Marble Falls coach: ‘We had a team that wouldn’t quit’
Captains for the Marble Falls High School football team for the final game of the 2014 season include seniors Melvin Sanchez (left), Travis Dilworth, Jacob Bryer and Dylon Jackson. Photo by Virgil Belk/Hill Country Sports Images
DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR
MARBLE FALLS — As he watched some of the seniors walk from one side of the field to the other, Marble Falls High School football coach Matt Green reflected on his first season at the helm.
The Mustangs finished with a 4-6 overall record for the fourth consecutive season. Marble Falls posted a 2-4 record in the rugged District 25-5A, where the four playoff teams — Georgetown East View, Leander Vandegrift, Cedar Park Vista Ridge and Cedar Park — are all co-champions with 5-2 records.
To Green, those district finishes speak for themselves.
“This district is really tough,” he said. “We inherited tough, seasoned kids who battled through adversity.”
He offered his views on the Marble Falls seniors, noting they played for three different head coaches in four years.
“It’s a good group of young men,” he said. “They were really good leaders for our team. A lot of times, when you get a new coach … a lot of kids won’t give you a chance. They’re bitter. This group was anything but that. They let us build relationships with them. The seniors allowed us to get close to them.”
The Mustangs finished the 2014 campaign Nov. 7 with a 45-27 loss to East View (8-2, 5-2). Marble Falls led 14-10 at the half after trailing 7-0 in the first quarter.
But the Patriots held the Mustangs scoreless in the third to build a 24-14 lead headed into the final quarter. East View added two touchdowns to lead 38-14 before the Mustangs scored two touchdowns in three minutes. The Patriots scored the last touchdown of the game with 49 seconds remaining.
While graduation will claim 24 seniors, Marble Falls will have several players returning including quarterback Brennen Wooten, running back Daven Manning, receivers Jacob Metcalf and Aaron Wooten, offensive lineman Ryan Becker and defensive backs Sam Harkins and Jackson Cox.
Brennen Wooten finished the season with 3,212 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions. Metcalf has 1,025 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
One of the traits the Mustangs developed will serve them well for the next several months, the coach said.
“We had a team that wouldn’t quit,” he said. “We showed that time and again. There are a lot of good people. The kids learned how to work hard. Those are things they’ll take, they’ll be better for it. We’re looking forward to getting going in the offseason.”
jfierro@thepicayune.com