Marble Falls Middle School 7 on 7 has been invaluable

CAPTION: Rising seventh grade receiver Quincy Rodriguez makes an over-the-shoulder catch. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

Marble Falls Middle School 7-on-7 teams recently completed playing their counterparts from Lampasas each week for four weeks.

And coaches believe that work will pay off in the fall.

That’s because each squad was supplied head coach Keri Timmerman’s passing plays that are part of his spread offense. After each play, the Mustangs huddled with a coach, reviewed the play, then sprinted to the line of scrimmage to snap the ball.

Seeing the players continue to familiarize themselves with the passing scheme assists them in so many ways, said sixth-grade coach Nicholas Wood, father of quarterback Charles Wood.

“There’s multiple combinations in the same play,” he said. “It gives us a ton of advantages versus athletes who are competing.”

In other words, the Marble Falls teams approached 7 on 7 as practices where players and coaches strived to get real work in, Wood said.

And that goes back to Timmerman, who believes 7 on 7 is a tool offenses can use to develop rapport, learn more about each position, and gain confidence.

That was especially apparent in the final minutes before halftime of the first game on the final night.

Marble Falls got the ball back, and the Mustangs decided to run a hurry-up offense.

“All the boys are sprinting and running routes,” the coach said. “And we scored with a minute left. Think of how good they’ll be in (a few) years. The chemistry and timing is there. “

Quincy Rodriguez continues to emerge as the every-down receiver. Every time Marble Falls needed to make play, Wood looked for Rodriguez.

“He and Q have spent a lot of time together at practices or at camps,” the older Wood said. “Charles has a lot of confidence that he’ll be there. Q is a big kid, he runs fast, and he hardly drops a ball.”

And the quarterback also has developed a trust with Ayden Alexander and Elijah Sanchez.

“They have great chemistry,” Wood said. “(Alexander) can high-point the ball. Elijah has spent time with Charles and runs great routes. He caught half the touchdowns during 7 on 7. They give us so much of an advantage.”

Nicholas Wood notes the players in this age group have come a long way. Two years ago they won the Hill Country Youth Football league championship by being primarily a run-first offense. Last season, they implemented more of Timmerman’s spread concepts into the game plans. Wood said they called some opponents and told them the Mustangs were going to pass a whole lot more.

“Two years ago in 7 on 7, we would have gotten throttled,” he said. “It’s confidence in the plays and knowing what the plays are. If you’re running a go route on the outside, the quarterback has to know his job is to read the cornerback. Being able to go through that during tackle season and during 7 on 7 is invaluable. The quarterback has to know where to look and the receiver has to know his job.”

Wood credits Timmerman for the progress, noting he has been available to explain and break down the plays so the players can better absorb and remember them.

“He’s really been great with us,” he said. “He’s taught us his plays. They’re exactly the plays he talked about. Our boys are completely confident with them now.”

CAPTION: Rising eighth-grade receiver Jeremiah Crawford leaps for the ball and fights to make the catch in mid air for the touchdown. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro