Burnet, Marble Falls football gets new district, region for next 2 years

CAPTION: This year’s annual Burnet County showdown is Friday, Oct. 11, with site and kickoff still to be determined. Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography

The Burnet and Marble Falls high school football programs are now members of the newly formed District 4-4A Division I that includes Brownwood, Lampasas and Stephenville. The University Interscholastic League, the governing body of the public high school extra curricular activities, unveiled realignment Feb. 1.

That also means being in Region I, commonly referred to as the Panhandle region. Marble Falls (1,167.5 students) and Burnet (1,014) say goodbye to Fischer Canyon Lake (1,032), San Antonio Davenport (1,295) and Taylor (1,050).

Meanwhile, the UIL also unveiled realignment for volleyball and basketball for the next two years beginning in 2024-25. Burnet and Marble Falls remain in District 24-4A with Georgetown Gateway (473), Jarrell (951), Lampasas (1,102), Salado (721) and Taylor (1,050). Lago Vista (672.5) is gone.

Marble Falls football head coach Keri Timmerman, who is in his first year leading the program, released his 2024 schedule though it didn’t include sites or kickoff times.

“It’s great competition and an opportunity to play two of the best in the state in Brownwood (960) and Stephenville (1,118),” Timmerman said. “We kept Burnet and Lampasas with whom we have familiarity.”

The Mustangs will scrimmage Lago Vista and Gatesville. The pre-district opponents are Austin Crockett Aug. 30, Jarrell Sept. 6, Llano Sept. 13, San Antonio Brackenridge Sept. 20, LaVernia Sept. 27 and Devine Oct. 4. The district schedule is Burnet Oct. 11, Stephenville Oct. 18, an open date Oct. 25, Lampasas Nov. 1 and Brownwood Nov. 8.

“Our goal is to find a way to get in the playoffs,” Timmerman said. “I’m really focused on those four games. In Texas high school football, you get in the playoffs, you have a shot.”

Bulldogs head coach Ben Speer, fresh out of his meeting with the head coaches of each school, expressed excitement at the prospect of competing in this district.

“I don’t mind going to Region I with Lampasas and Marble Falls,” he said. “We’ll do a lot of traveling with Brownwood and Stephenville. You win one game and you’re in the playoffs. We’ll see if we can find another win or two.”

The Bulldogs and Mustangs have played Brownwood in non-district play the last two years. The Lions beat Burnet 33-20 in 2022 and 24-10 in 2023 and Marble Falls 55-16 in 2022 and 63-7 in 2023.

Speer noted this year’s contest against Brownwood was close at the half. The Lions led 17-14.

“We were in the game until the last quarter,” he said. “Our kids aren’t scared.”

Brownwood finished the 2023 season with a 12-2 record and were the District 2-4A Division I champions at 4-0.

Burnet hasn’t played Stephenville since losing to the Yellowjackets 56-27 Nov. 6, 2012 in a bi-district championship. Last season, Stephenville posted an 11-3 record and were the District 5-4A Division I champions at 4-0.

Speer said the Bulldogs’ 2024 schedule and kickoff times will be released at a later date.

“It’ll be fun with a good group of coaches,” he said. “There are no gimmes in this district. Stephenville and Brownwood don’t rebuild; they reload. They’re always going to have great kids and numbers.”

Both coaches said District 3-4A Division I, which includes Andrews, Big Spring, Pecos and San Angelo Lake View, will pose their own challenges in the bi-district round of the playoffs.

“It’s a great round one, but you have to be ready,” Timmerman said. “I just want to get in. Let’s look at the opportunity in front of us and find a way to match up with them. If you want to be great, you have to play against great people.”

When the UIL unveiled realignment, Speer said he had the same feeling many in Burnet County had.

“We were surprised about going to Region I,” he said. “We thought we’d stay in Region IV. The UIL always holds their cards. Hopefully we can get a couple of wins. I believe we’ll line up.”

Timmerman said the message in the offseason will remain until Monday, Aug. 5, the first day of fall training camp.

“Let’s focus on us, let’s focus on building our culture,” he said. “They’re the other team on the wrong sideline wearing the wrong color.”

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