Marble Falls coach pleased with play in first scrimmage
Marble Falls High School junior running back Dalton Mayberry (5) sees a hole created by the Mustang offensive linemen and runs for positive yards.
JENNIFER FIERRO • STAFF WRITER
BROWNWOOD — The Marble Falls and Brownwood high school football teams played to a 1-1 tie in a scrimmage Aug. 15.
The Mustangs’ touchdown was on a 31-yard pass to senior receiver Jacob Metcalf from junior quarterback Cade Cool. The Lions’ score came on the last play of the scrimmage when Marble Falls had pulled its starting unit.
Mustangs head coach Matt Green said he was happy to leave without any injuries.
“I thought they played really well for a first scrimmage,” he said. “They played with enthusiasm and aggression. Our kids played really aggressive.”
The Lions, who had a solid quarterback, two good running backs and three returning starting offensive linemen, had very little success offensively as the Mustangs were able to swarm to the ball. They didn’t give up an explosive play on the ground. And when Brownwood had two passes for 30 yards and 15 yards, Mustang senior defensive back Jackson Cox came across the field to force fumbles that allowed his teammates to recover.
“(Cox) popped the runner,” Green said. “We were hitting hard and forced the ball out.”
By agreement, when the offenses reached the opponent’s 20-yard line, they had four plays to get a first down. Brownwood got to the Marble Falls 20, but the Mustangs held.
“Our kids really tackled well,” Green said. “We had a lot of penetration in the box. They did not run well; they did not throw the ball well against us.”
Offensively, the Mustangs had their moments, Green said. After not scoring on their opening drive of 12 plays, coaches gathered the unit and made adjustments.
As a result, Metcalf was able to find the end zone in five plays on the next possession. He finished with more than 100 yards receiving on the day.
Green was pleased with Cool, who demonstrated his knowledge of the passing game. He noted some of the young receivers dropped passes as they were adjusting to the speed.
“That inconsistency would come into play,” the coach said. “We did show we had the capability.”
With former running back Davin Manning transferring to San Angelo Central, the Mustangs turned the running duties over to juniors Sam Harkins and Dalton Mayberry.
Green credited Brownwood for its defensive front, noting its linebackers quickly found the ball carrier.
“You’re going to have trouble being consistent and actively throwing the ball,” he said.
Overall, the coach said Marble Falls found out a lot about itself during the scrimmage, especially the players’ ability to make in-game adjustments and then execute them on the next series.
The defense’s play also made the ride back to Marble Falls enjoyable.
“We were very physical on that side of the ball,” Green said. “They’re going to have to be ringleaders and play well for us to be competitive.”
The Mustangs’ final scrimmage will be at Kerrville Tivy on Aug. 21 with the freshmen playing at 4 p.m., the junior varsity at 5:30 p.m. and the varsity at 7 p.m. at Antler Stadium, located at Stadium and Holdsworth drives in Kerrville.
jfierro@thepicayune.com