Faith Academy football host Wylie Prep in playoff game
CAPTION: Faith Academy senior Andrew Houy is an effective defender and quarterback for the Flames. Photo by Stennis Shotts
The Faith Academy of Marble Falls football team welcomes Wylie Prep to begin the Division II playoffs of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools.
The game is set for 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at Britton Field on the Faith campus..
The Patriots have a 6-4 overall record and finished 2-2 in Division II, District 3 play of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools.
The Flames (9-1, 3-0) enter the playoffs as the Division II, District 4 champion.
“It’s good to get two district titles (under my direction) and so we’re not done yet,” Faith head coach Jay Silvers said. “We got one more goal to finish out. And so that’s what we’re pushing for.”
That goal is to win a state championship.
But first, the Flames must face a Wylie Prep opponent that likes high-scoring games. In their losses, the Patriots scored 40 points, 30 points, 60 points and zero points.
In all but one of their wins, they have scored at least 60 points. The one game where they didn’t score 60 but still won was against Dallas Lakehill Prep, prevailing 52-43 Oct. 27.
In that contest, Wylie Prep’s offense had several sets where the Patriots had a quarterback, senior Mitchell Murphree, a center and four receivers.
His top target that day was sophomore Cade Magouyrk, who scored three touchdowns.
One came from 13 yards out when the snap went over Murphree’s head. He ran backward about 10 yards to pick up the ball, ran to his left and threw to Magouyrk in the left side of the end zone for the touchdown.
The two hooked up again when Murphree hit Magouyrk on a 10-yard throw to the flat. Though the defensive back was there for the tackle, Magouyrk spun out of his grasp and galloped to the end zone, about 33 yards officially.
They also used the hook and lateral, resulting in a 39-yard touchdown.
Murphree also passed to senior receiver Brandt Hancock for the 10-yard touchdown and to senior tight end Caleb Caperton for an 18-yard strike on a bubble screen.
When the Patriots run the ball, sophomore Weston Carlisle has been used in short-yardage situations.
The Flames will counter with junior Price Rosamond, who is considered the defensive captain, senior Andrew Houy and a group of talented sophomores who are unafraid to make a play. They are Egan Barnes, Ronin Burns, Madden Kinnee, Graham McGraw, Quinton Merlick and Nick Zarob.
Offensively, the Flames rely heavily on quarterback Houy, who can run and pass the ball well, junior Wade Dillard, who can pass the ball and toss it behind him to become the lead blocker, and sophomore Landon Silvers, whose speed makes it difficult for defenders to catch him. When the Flames have passed the ball, they have distributed to several players including senior Adam Merlick and McGraw.
The difference makers may be in special teams where senior kicker Ben Strmiska has been consistent in connecting on the two-point kicks and Landon Silvers, who has returned several kickoffs for touchdowns.
CAPTION: Faith Academy sophomore Graham McGraw makes the most of his playing time, contributing anywhere he is needed. Photo by Stennis Shotts
