Marble Falls football enjoys productive first week

CAPTION: Receiver Noah Ortiz is fighting through the grasp of the Mustang secondary that includes Jace Williams (right). Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

The Marble Falls High School football team enjoyed a very productive week of practice that began with a dazzling display of energy and enthusiasm at its second annual Midnight Madness Aug. 4.

After the Mustangs ran through their tunnel to enter the playing field, they broke into position-specific drills. In all, the program has around 130 high school players.

Quarterbacks went with head coach Keri Timmerman, who serves as that position’s coach. After a while, they reunited with the receivers and tight ends to go over play calls and shift accordingly.

Later they went through the playbook then went to defensive drills before ending the practice.

Senior Atreyu Machacek and sophomore Crawford Mattox are still battling to be the starting quarterback. Timmerman said he is looking for several traits before he names a starter.

“Confidence,” he said. “You can’t play that position if you’re not confident.”

Another is the ability to get his teammates to believe in him to go all out on every play for a positive outcome.

“How fast can I go and get everyone with me,” the coach said.

Timmerman, who is in his second year leading the Mustangs, said there’s a process of learning that comes by spending time in a system. It’s only year two for the Mustangs in his version of the spread offense. While the players are making tremendous headway, he noted there’s still plenty more to learn.

“It’s going to take us awhile to be where I want it to be,” he said. “It takes so much time year to year. It should be improving. I think our quarterbacks are both getting better.”

Seniors Joaquin Aguilar and Doak Timmerman, the coach’s son, are among the running backs in that room. While Aguilar spent much of 7 on 7 at running back, the younger Timmerman lined up at linebacker.

The coach said Aguilar “is explosive and a very good running back.”

“I’m excited to see what (Aguilar) does this fall. We’ll have Doak as a back-up,” he said. “I’m impressed with our offensive line. I’m excited to see what they do.”

Timmerman noted the Mustangs who attended Forge ’25, the department’s summer strength and conditioning program, were in shape to take on the speed and efficiency of a first week, especially during the first practice.

He said the Mustangs don’t typically line up and run lines because of their attendance and dedication to showing up in shape for training camp. He credits the encouragement from players and coaches to attend summer conditioning for the result.

“As long as practice is efficient and we’re going full speed,” he said. “Our energy was good. It’s a good feeling.”

It also helped that the core group of coaches stayed together, Timmerman said.

“There’s a flow of practice in the season of how we want to practice,” he said.

He compared it to knowing how to dance where partners move in perfect synchronicity. It looks flawless and effortless as they move and turn.

“It’s planned, it flows,” the coach said. “It’s very much like a dance. It’s very fluid, very efficient. Coaches work around each other.”

He was pleased with the athletes’ retention of the playbook, adding that coaches “reinstall everything every year.”

“It should be a review,” he said. “The retention was good to see.”

Defensively, the Mustangs are adjusting “to a little bit of a staffing change.” Ryan Craven and Austin Silva are the co-defensive coordinators with Silva coordinating the front end and Craven coordinating the back end.

What hasn’t changed is the pursuit of the football.

“I think our alignment is good,” Timmerman said. “How fast do we run to the ball.”

He noted a kickoff to preparations to the start of this season doesn’t happen without the help of numerous people and businesses including  J & L Builders, which donated T-shirts, Kingsland HEB, 5C Seasonings, Firebull Charcoal, Truck Country Outfitters and Chicken Express. Granite Shoals Police Chief John Ortis and Officer Benjamin Bales cooked pulled pork for sandwiches.

“Shoutout to all the vendors and the Marble Falls Athletic Booster Club,” he said. “A lot of people put a lot into that. I’m grateful.”

The Mustangs will end the first week of practice with an intrasquad scrimmage Saturday, Aug. 9. They’ll begin the 2025 season against Austin Crockett Thursday, Aug. 28.

“I’m very happy with the job our kids and our coaches are doing,” Timmerman said. “I feel like we’ve improved as a team from last year.”

CAPTION: Defensive back Greg Lemon assists in tackling running back Joaquin Aguilar. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro