Flames end losing streak with big 55-0 win over St. Gerard
JENNIFER FIERRO • STAFF WRITER
MARBLE FALLS — The Faith Academy of Marble Falls football team ended an 18-game losing streak that dated back to 2013 with an emphatic 55-0 victory against San Antonio St. Gerard on Oct. 9.
Head coach Randy Denton laughed when asked if he felt more happiness or relief after the win.
“It’s a little of both,” he joked. “The kids thought they had a chance going into the game. We executed well, we blocked, we tackled.”
But the Flames’ (1-6, 1-2 in Division III, District 3 of the Texas Associated of Private and Parochial Schools) approach to the game was no laughing matter. Coaches told them to stop thinking and simply compete.
The game couldn’t have started better as senior Rich Coleman picked up a fumble on a punt caused by senior linebacker Asa Ortiz for a three-yard scoop-and-score and a 7-0 lead with 6 minutes 46 seconds left in the opening quarter.
Less than ninety seconds later, quarterback Coleman hit junior receiver Reagan Hanish for a 26-yard touchdown and a 14-0 advantage with 5:05 left in the first quarter.
Just before the quarter ended, senior running back Jonathan Reyes returned a punt 92 yards for a 21-0 lead with 1:21 remaining.
Coleman began the second period with a 44-yard run to the end zone for a 28-0 lead with 8:27 left in the half.
Two minutes later, Ortiz finished a drive with a four-yard touchdown run for a 35-0 lead.
Junior Matt Masterson scored on a 12-yard run for a 41-0 lead with 4:40 left in the half.
The lopsided score allowed Denton to substitute freely, and the Flames responded.
Sophomore running back Isaac Oliver scored on a 24-yard scamper with 1:10 left in the third quarter for a 48-0 advantage.
Sophomore running back Bryson Kennedy finished the scoring with a seven-yard touchdown run to make it 55-0.
Denton said playing several athletes built depth and rewarded their hard work.
“I was happy we got to play some guys in different positions to get experience and have fun,” he said. “Some guys who never played running back had some good runs.”
While he was pleased to see the many ways Faith was able to score, Denton said the shutout means a lot.
“That was one of our goals,” he said. “We hadn’t stopped anybody on an opening drive, but (our defensive players) went out and did it. Good things happened after that. The defense was more aggressive and flew to the ball. I’m most happy with the way the defense played.”
The challenge now, Denton said, is to take this performance into next week’s game at Halletsville Sacred Heart. The two play at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 17 at Brahmas Stadium, 1331 Fourth St. in Halletsville.
“It’s good to get that one (win),” he said. “I told the guys to enjoy it, and let’s get back work. We have three more games to win to make the playoffs.”
jfierro@thepicayune.com
SCORE BY QUARTERS
FIRST QUARTER
FA – Rich Coleman two-yard fumble recovery on a punt (Jonathan Reyes kick), 6:46
FA – Reagan Hanish 26-yard pass from Coleman (Reyes kick), 5:05
FA – Reyes 92-yard punt return (Reyes kick), 1:21
SECOND QUARTER
FA – Coleman 44-yard run (Reyes kick), 8:27
FA – Asa Ortiz four-yard run (Reyes kick), 6:35
FA – Matt Masterson 12-yard run (kick fails), 4:40
THIRD QUARTER
FA – Isaac Oliver 24-yard run (Reyes kick), 1:10
FOURTH QUARTER
FA – Bryson Kennedy seven-yard run (Reyes kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATS
RUSHING – (Faith Academy), Jared Gastineau 5-69, Isaac Oliver 5-37-1 TD, Rich Coleman 2-39-1 TD, Asa Ortiz 5-35-1 TD, Preston Richardson 4-22, Jonathan Reyes 3-4, Matt Masterson 3-11-1 TD, Cab Booth 1-18, Bryson Kennedy 1-7-1 TD
PASSING – (Faith Academy), Rich Coleman 3-5-21-1 TD
RECEIVING – (Faith Academy), Reagan Hanish 1-15-1 TD, Josh Debo 2-6