Marble Falls football hosts undefeated Llano
CAPTION: Marble Falls senior linebacker Brody Graham makes sure Jarrell senior running back Kenneth Sims is stopped as senior defensive tackle Jesse Flores (8), junior Jesus Rodriguez (24) and sophomore linebacker Olen Dalton are in pursuit. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro
The Marble Falls High School football team will welcome Llano in a non-district contest featuring the two former district rivals at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12, at Mustang Stadium.
The Mustangs (1-1) are coming off a 41-7 loss to Jarrell last week after shutting out Austin Crockett 49-0 Aug. 28, while the Yellow Jackets (2-0) crushed Comanche 62-23 Sept. 5 and Lytle 55-14 Aug. 29.
“I think that it’s very clear they’re well coached,” Marble Falls head coach Keri Timmerman said. “It’s very clear they’ve got a very good plan of what they’re going to take and what they’re going to give up. What stands out to me is just their effort and they’re very well coached. They play really hard.”
Llano is led by junior quarterback Luke Davis, who is entering his third year as the starter. He has completed 25 of 39 passes for 403 yards with 10 touchdowns and no interceptions and has 19 carries for 119 yards and a score.
Senior Jose Sillas has taken over at starting running back with 17 carries for 144 yards and two touchdowns. He splits carries with senior Brayton Shaw, who has 15 rushes for 138 yards and a score, and senior River Thomison, who has 12 carries for 137 yards.
Senior receiver Graham Prokop has seven receptions for 152 yards and four scores, while junior receiver Cash Lynch has 10 catches for 143 yards and four touchdowns and senior tight end Brady Kelly has four receptions for 100 yards and three scores.
Timmerman noted the Jackets use multiple formations to advance the ball down the field.
“They’re just aggressive in the run game and taking advantage of the quarterback’s legs,” he said. “They’ve got several returners offensively that help them, specifically the quarterback.”
Perhaps the Jackets’ greatest strength is their depth. All four of Kelly’s catches came last week as a reserve. Head coach Matt Green said what helps is having competition for starting jobs that forces players to feel like they’re competing daily to keep their spots.
“Competition creates depth and depth creates greatness within a team,” he said. “Every player on this team knows guys on this team can step into positions. They can step in and make plays.”
The Mustangs will lean heavily on senior linebackers Brody Graham and Doak Timmerman, senior defensive backs Quavyon Alexander and Gregory Lemon and senior defensive lineman Kaleb Bielfeldt. Alexander leads the team with 18 tackles followed by Lemon with 16, and sophomore safety Clayton Thompson, junior linebacker Branson Bunting and Graham with 12 apiece.
Defensively, Llano junior linebacker Cody Greenwood leads the Jackets in tackles with 16 followed by senior defensive back Austin Humphries with 15 tackles and two interceptions, senior cornerback Niko Arms has14 tackles and senior safety Grayson Lilie has 13.
“Defensively, they’re making a shift to a more 3-4 defense,” Keri Timmerman said. “You can see a little change in how they’ve managed playing some different formations and playing some different things. I think they’re just a good, solid football team. They showed that last year when we played them. We’ve got to come out, we’ve got to attack them early.”
Marble Falls will counter with senior running back Joaquin Aguilar and offensive linemen Logan Chapa, Madden Hernandez and David Molina, who are juniors, and Tyler Leverett and Raul Moran, who are seniors.
Aguilar has 23 carries for 202 yards and three scores and four catches for 44 yards.
“We have to stop the run against Marble Falls,” Green said. “There’s no doubt their strength is the offensive line and running back. They are going to run the ball at us. We expect their absolute best. I want us to clean up the turnovers. I want to see us tackle better. I want us to go on the road and show we have the ability to play well from the start.”
