Faith Academy seeks first win in matchup with tough Holy Cross
JENNIFER FIERRO • STAFF WRITER
MARBLE FALLS — The Faith Academy of Marble Falls football team is at home and looking for its first win of the season.
But the Flames (0-2) will face their toughest opponent on the schedule, San Antonio Holy Cross, Faith head coach Randy Denton said.
The game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 11 at Pony Stadium, 1511 Pony Circle Drive in Marble Falls.
“They’re big,” he said about Holy Cross (1-1). “I don’t think they’re quite as athletic as (Austin) St. Andrew’s from top to bottom, but they’re bigger than St. Andrew’s. I expect a tough game. But I think it’s good for us.”
Holy Cross defeated San Antonio Christian 43-14 to begin the season and suffered a 20-6 loss on Sept. 4 to San Antonio Antonian.
The Knights are led by junior quarterback Vincent Compian, who has completed 20 of 40 passes for 220 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.
Compian has thrown to a handful of targets, including junior Steven Gutierrez, who has five catches for 45 yards and a touchdown, and senior receiver Johnathan Bailey, who has two receptions for 63 yards and two touchdowns.
The Holy Cross ground attack is led by junior running back Robert Adame, who has 40 carries for 244 yards and running back Josh Martinez with 33 carries for 175 yards.
The Knights’ size is what concerns Denton the most, he said, simply because he believes they’ll try to establish a power run game in an attempt to make defenders think twice about tackling them.
Holy Cross uses some of the same defensive concepts as St. Andrew’s and Boerne Geneva, two teams the Flames have already played this season.
“That helps us in our preparation,” he said. “There’s not a lot of surprises in changing blocking schemes or anything like that, but I just think they’re going to do it better. They’re going to create a challenge for us in our power running game.”
Faith has been averaging about five yards a carry. Senior running back Jonathan Reyes has 16 carries for 94 yards and two touchdowns and six catches for 54 yards. Senior quarterback Rich Coleman has 19 rushes for 79 yards and has completed 13 of 23 passes for 114 yards and two interceptions.
Ideally, running for five yards on first down means they’re not behind the chains. That also gives Denton options on what to call on second down.
“It is very important that we get positive yards on first down and stay on schedule and continue to move the ball downfield,” he said. “We have some kids with some big play capability. It’s going to be one of those deals where we have to be patient. If they miss an assignment or miss a tackle, then we have the opportunity for an explosive play.
The coach believes the Knights will prepare the Flames for Texas School for the Deaf, their first Division 3, District III opponent.
“I’m excited to see how we line up and play a little smash-mouth football with these guys and see where we stand,” he said. “I think it’ll be good for some of our less experienced guys to really get in there with a physical team.”
jfierro@thepicayune.com