Burnet football to host 7-on-7 league

For those starving for some football, Highland Lakes high school programs are offering an appetizer.

The Burnet Bulldogs will host their annual 7-on-7 league at 5 p.m. Monday, May 6, 13 and 20, at Bulldog Field. Llano and Marble Falls will participate.

Each team will play two games weekly. The divisions are for rising eighth-graders, freshmen, junior varsity and varsity.

These activities are a way for players to learn the passing routes and familiarize themselves with each other’s tendencies. And since the Mustangs are learning a brand new offensive scheme with new jargon introduced by new head coach Keri Timmerman, the next few weeks will be vital.

“Our numbers seem good,” he said. “The kids are excited. It’s fun to watch young men get excited.”

Since baseball season wrapped up, the Mustangs will have those players available to participate in 7 on 7.

Timmerman noted the players and coaches are using every minute to be as productive as they can. Some are arriving at 7 a.m. for weight lifting sessions. During the class period it’s “nothing but football.”

Coaches have been installing the scheme for the last several months. The coach pointed out one trait he isn’t struggling to get out of the Mustangs is motivation and determination.

“It’s fun to see young men doing that,” he said. “The kids are a hungry group. The kids are enjoying it. It’s a lot of work. We’re coming up earlier and staying a little later.”

While offenses light up 7-on-7, defensive backs get plenty of work as they’re adjusting to different routes while covering receivers.

Meanwhile, the Marble Falls Middle School football players have participated in 7-on-7 since mid April.

“They’re catching and throwing,” Timmerman said. “They’re learning a little bit of our scheme and terminology.”

Some of the volunteer coaches are the high school players, he said, which also illustrates a desire to ensure the program grows and is successful.

“Twenty-five of our players have come out,” he said. “It’s fun to see our older kids serve our younger kids.”

Burnet head coach Ben Speer said he and his staff purposely kept the league to these three programs.

“I think it works better for the kids,” he said. “We’re all on the same page, and we know what we’re doing. We’re trying to keep it small to give us that value for the teams.”

The next few weeks will help teams prepare for state qualifying tournaments. Burnet will host one Saturday, June 1.

The state tournament is Thursday-Saturday, June 27-29, at Veterans Park in College Station.

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