Marble Falls 7 on 7 continues to make positive strides

CAPTION: Junior Anderson Liscum split duties for the Mustangs June 8. He played receiver and quarterback. Staff photos by Jennifer Fierro

The Marble Falls High School 7-on-7 team played with rhythm June 8 at the Llano June League.

Opposing coaches pointed out how well the Mustangs are performed on both sides of the ball. Offensively, they are extending drives with more first downs and are finishing with touchdowns. Defensively, they’re getting stops and forcing opponents to turn the ball over on downs.

A month ago, the Mustangs showed their strength and speed in getting to the right spots. But overthrows and drops were part of each game. But in the latest night of 7 on 7, the Mustangs were getting open, making catches in traffic, and doing all they could to haul in the pass. Quarterbacks aren’t forcing throws into coverages. If no one is open, they hold the ball and not risk a turnover.

And while 7 on 7 allows offenses to thrive, it’s difficult not to credit the Marble Falls defense under the direction of newly hired coordinator Taylor Wolfe.

Wolfe has attended several afternoons of play and the Burnet State Qualifiers Tournament May 30 where he has stood in the back of the end zone. That way he can see what the Mustang defense is seeing and then offer insights later.

In addition, he has been leading different drills that are part of the athletic department’s Forge summer strength and conditioning program and the football skills work.

“I thought (June 8) was the first night that I’m really starting to see it fit up,” he said. “Last year, their eyes may have been on this, and now I’m putting their eyes here and how we match routes. It’s getting better. I remember after the game, I started seeing it click, and I’m starting to see them do some stuff, and now they’re getting confident in it.”

The Mustangs themselves are encouraged, too, he said.

“A couple kids came to me and said, ‘Coach, it’s starting to make sense,'” he recalled hearing. “‘Now I see why we fit this, I see how we do this.’ So it’s a rep thing and they’re starting to get comfortable with it. You can see them starting to break on certain things differently, you can see them playing a little bit faster, and it’s a confidence thing. And now that they’re gaining the confidence, it’s only going to speed up and get better.”

The part that also was encouraging is that some other Mustangs who may not have been getting as many plays got extensive plays, Wolfe said, because their classmates who had been on the field the last several weeks were on vacations or at camps.

Head coach Keri Timmerman was observing the offense and the quarterbacks.

“It was a chance for me and him to evaluate everybody,” Wolfe said. “So I thought it looked really good. That’s the best we’ve played, I think.”

The Mustangs have two more Mondays remaining, and Wolfe said he is hoping the players continue to build. Games are at 5 p.m. at Llano Stadium.

“Then we’ll start preparing for fall camp and I think is this going to get better as time goes,” he said.

CAPTION: Head coach Keri Timmerman (left) talks to the Mustangs after finishing 7 on 7 as assistant coach Jamie Graham listens.