Unity Bowl delivers competitive June football with Marble Falls and Burnet players

By Nathan Hendrix
Sports Editor

The 2019 Unity Bowl all-star football game on Friday, June 7 was the last chance for many high school graduates – including four Marble Falls High School graduates – to play organized football.

Many all-star events are low-impact, high-scoring games that allow the offenses to showcase their speed and athleticism, but this year's Unity Bowl was different. Although the game had no effect on any standings or playoff seeding, both teams wanted to win.

“Once we put the pads on, it just kicks in,” Mustangs guard Braidon Whiteside said.

Whiteside and his Mustangs teammates Genaro Arreguin, Jr., Dillon Mayberry and Chance Haley played in blocking roles for the Gold Team. At several points during the game, the Mustangs represented the left side of the offensive line for the Gold Team.

The Mustangs players echoed Whiteside's thoughts about being competitive at all times on the football field.

“There's no going half speed in between the white lines,” Arreguin said.

“There was still some trash talk too,” Mayberry said. “It was a normal Friday night.”

Mayberry said having four blocking players in an all-star game says a lot about Marble Falls football culture.

“We're a real ground and pound team,” he said. “We're gritty; we're not afraid to get dirty.”

Whiteside said it takes a special player to play in a blocking role.

“We get no credit,” he said. “Everyone running gets the credit, we're just blocking.”

The chemistry built in the Mustangs regular season was put to good use in the second half of Friday's Unity Bowl. The Gold Team failed to score in the first half and found themselves down 10-0 at halftime.

“We had to make a few adjustments with the run scheme,” Arreguin said. “We came out of halftime, and it worked.” . . .

Find out how the game turned out and a photo page on the event in the Tuesday, June 11 issue of The Highlander. To offer a comment or news tip, email nathan@highlandernews.com.