How Faith Academy football uses its center
CAPTION: Cooper Hansard is playing a key position for the Flames this season thanks to his offseason work and preparation. Photos by Stennis Shotts
The Faith Academy of Marble Falls football team used several weeks of 6-on-6 touch football to look at different players in different positions.
One of the most overlooked might be center. Unlike 11-man football, the center in six-man football is an eligible receiver, and head coach Jay Silvers used three players in that spot: juniors Ronin Burns and Austin Edwards and senior Cooper Hansard.
“The way I have them drawn up in my system is they’re just another weapon out there for us to use,” Silvers said. “(Defenses) just never know. Are they going to be the ones leading the block or are they the ones doing the route and going out there?”
Burns and Edwards played significant minutes for defensive coordinator Garrett Cole. Edwards is known for his ability to zero in on the ball carrier and get solo tackles behind the line of scrimmage, while Burns lives up to his name as he is unafraid to take on a couple of opposing players in order to make a play.
The ability to make solo tackles is imperative in the sport, especially in six-man football where ball carriers count on busting one tackle to see plenty of green field in front of them for a touchdown. Usually when they bust that one tackle, they go the rest of the way untouched.
That’s why having a player like Hansard, who has been on the varsity roster for awhile, may be a luxury other teams don’t have. In short, the senior may provide the depth that allows the Flames to be as aggressive as they want defensively with Burns and Edwards.
“That’s the benefit of Cooper,” Silvers said. “He’s going to give you 100 percent when he’s out there, and he’s that sneaky kind of wide receiver. It’s kind of wild how he figures out where those little gaps are, and he’ll run into those gaps.”
The coach indicated Hansard uses every tool available to him – scouting reports, film study and getting mentally prepared to play, even if he’s not starting. Though Hansard didn’t start on the offense, when he got his chance to play he was ready, Silvers said.
“He’s very good at getting the attention of the quarterback,” he said. “He may not be that first or second read, but when we’re moving the ball around a lot in the back field and we try to create as much time as we can, he’ll find a spot and he’ll sit in it. And he’s got great hands, which I’ve always loved.”
Since last season, Hansard has committed himself to being in better physical shape, and the coach outlined how impactful that is for the 2026 season.
“He’s gotten bigger and stronger, so that’s definitely helped him in that aspect, and he really is kind of like the guy that you just rely on,” he said. “And he snaps the ball where you want it every time. He really hasn’t made any mistake snapping the ball, but he’s just that reliable guy, because the center has to start the play. So that’s the biggest part for me is we just have to get the ball back there quick, and he does that. We can use him in a whole lot of different aspects of our offense.”
CAPTION: Faith Academy’s Austin Edwards (26) sets a block for teammate Price Rosamond during a game last season.
