Mustangs reflect on season after final game
LEANDER — It was a sad scene for players, friends and family after Marble Falls High School’s 56-14 loss to Leander High in final game of the season Nov. 8.
However, there remained good memories of the year and optimism for the future.
“It’s not all about tonight. It’s about the full body of work for this football team,” Mustangs head coach Todd Dodge said after the game. “I think we’re so much closer than we were when we got here as far as getting over the hump.”
Dodge said he liked the Mustangs’ attitude and said the team played hard, just not well enough to get the win.
The Mustangs finish the 2012 season 4-6 overall and 1-5 in District 25-4A. Leander finishes 9-1 overall and 5-1 in district.
The Mustang offense struggled in the first half with a fumble, interception and blocked punt that killed its momentum. Although the team trailed 28-0 at halftime, Marble Falls senior linebacker Brennan Parker was proud of the defense’s performance.
“That’s the best anybody’s done against (Leander) all year was that first half,” Parker said.
Parker said the team grew closer as the year progressed.
“From a defensive standpoint, we’ve grown a lot,” he said. “Two months ago, or when the season started, we couldn’t have done what we did tonight.”
Another senior leader, quarterback Mike Richardson, reflected on the unity within the locker room after the game. Like Parker, Richardson moved to Marble Falls before the school year and began his senior football season with a new team.
This also was Dodge’s first season with Marble Falls.
“Throughout the summer, I thought it would be a good idea to be friends outside of football,” Richardson said.
And that’s why Richardson said his favorite on-field memory won’t be a single game or play.
“Just playing with my guys,” he said. “I’ll miss the Friday night lights.”
Richardson threw for 132 yards and one touchdown in the Nov. 8 game.
Junior running back Keith Jerome got the Mustangs on the board in the third quarter when he took a handoff 62 yards for a touchdown. After rushing for five yards on four attempts in all of the first half, Jerome’s run helped him finish with 70 yards for the night on eight carries.
Later in the fourth quarter, a Leander fumble picked up by senior linebacker Efrain Perez set up Marble Falls for its second score of the game.
Jerome again was responsible for the score as the Mustang offense took advantage of the Lions’ defensive aggression and scored on an 18-yard screen pass.
Leander scored once more on a 17-yard run by Morris Robbins for the game’s final score.