Marble Falls begins 7 on 7 with stronger, faster Mustangs

CAPTION: Marble Falls head coach Keri Timmerman (left) talks to rising sophomore Crawford Mattox and rising senior Atreyu Machacek, who both lined up at quarterback during the first night of the Burnet 7-on-7 May League. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

The Marble Falls High School 7-on-7 varsity football team began play in the opening night of the Burnet May League May 5.

The Mustangs faced Llano and Burnet.

At quarterback were rising senior Atreyu Machacek and rising sophomores Anderson Liscum and Crawford Mattox. All three spent the majority of their spring playing significant roles for the Mustang baseball team that finished third in the District 24-4A campaign.

The baseball team lost to China Spring in a bi-district series in the Class 4A Division I playoffs. That series ended May 2.

During 7 on 7, Machacek took the first series and alternated each series with Mattox. They spent a lot of time talking to head coach Keri Timmerman, who serves as the program’s quarterback coach. Timmerman pointed out some things he saw and helped his pupils with their progressions.

“Those guys are training with me, and they’re going to start working through concepts and reads, which is normal,” he said. “A lot of times, as competitive as they are, sometimes it’s discouraging. We want to make sure they understand we’re in the process and not getting frustrated. This is giving us a chance to throw and catch.”

He believes these players experiencing success on the baseball diamond will drive their competitive natures for success on the gridiron.

Timmerman left encouraged by a number of positives. Top of the list is the retention by the receivers, tight ends and H-backs. He noted that in May 2024, the Mustangs were learning a brand new scheme – Timmerman’s version of the spread offense. That May was devoted to a lot of teaching on foot work, hand placement, how to run routes, and creating rapport with the quarterbacks. At that time they were Doak Timmerman, the coach’s son, and Colton Minor. Minor is graduating and Timmerman is rising senior fullback and linebacker.

So this year, the coach saw some comfort among his returners, especially rising senior running back Joaquin Aguilar, who is fresh from the boys soccer and track and field teams, rising junior tight end Kaleb Bielfeldt, and others.

“We set up more comfortably in our alignments and passing plays,” the coach said. “Year one is hard anyway because they have so much to learn. It’s like drinking water from a fire hose. There’s some new stuff we’re doing, teaching and changing. They’re understanding it. It’s developing kids and having them throw and catch the ball consistently.”

Timmerman started the Marble Falls job in January 2024 and hired Karl “Beef” Bielfeldt to be the athletic department’s strength and conditioning coach The two created a program that transformed many Mustangs in at least 12 months.

“We’re a lot stronger and a lot faster than we were last year,” TImmerman said. “Our H-backs and tight ends are going to be really strong. They’re in their second year in the program. They understand their dual roles.”

That means they know they must block, run routes and make catches to extend drives. The plays are straight from Timmerman’s playbook.

“I’m not running a mesh offense,” he said. “I’m going to run our offense and our defense. We do so our kids are six to seven practices better.”

Right now isn’t so much about wins and losses; it’s about helping the different groups learn their roles and create chemistry with their teammates by making catches and extending drives. The reps are what excite Timmerman.

“Our quarterbacks understand there’s a little bit of timing and execution,” he said. “Our receivers are understanding where they need to get open and when.”

Defensively, the Mustangs were tested with several deep balls, but opponents didn’t score at will like they wanted. That’s a credit to Doak Timmerman and rising defensive back Gregory Lemon among others.

“I think they’re doing a good job,” the coach said.

Because of the track banquet, some players weren’t in attendance.

And Timmerman made it clear that whoever doesn’t start at quarterback will be used in other ways. He doesn’t believe in having players on the varsity stand next to him on the sideline. His goal is that athletes play meaningful minutes where they’re learning and developing into the players they want to be.

“I’m definitely encouraged by the kids and what they’re turning into,” he said. “Their football IQ is growing. We’re throwing a lot at them and cleaning it up as we go.”

Burnet’s league begins at 5 p.m. Monday, May 12 and 19. Then the teams will compete in the Llano June League.